ECMAScript Developer Hiring Guide

Hiring Guide for ECMAScript Engineers

Ask the right questions to secure the right ECMAScript talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

ECMAScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language that serves as the foundation for JavaScript, JScript and ActionScript. It was first standardized by Ecma International - a non-profit standards organization - in June 1997 to ensure interoperability of web-based applications across different browsers. The standardization process involved key industry players such as Netscape and Microsoft. ECMAScript has since evolved through several editions, with ES6 (ECMAScript 2015) introducing significant changes like classes and modules. Its dynamic typing, first-class functions and prototype-based object-orientation make it an essential tool for web development today.

First 20 minutes

General ECMAScript knowledge and experience

The next 20 minutes of the interview should attempt to focus more specifically on the development questions used, and the level of depth and skill the engineer possesses.

How would you create an object in ECMAScript?

An object in ECMAScript can be created using the object literal syntax, or the new keyword. For example: var obj = {}; or var obj = new Object();

What is the use of 'this' keyword in ECMAScript?

'this' keyword refers to the object from where it was called. It provides a reference to the current object.

Describe the difference between == and === in ECMAScript.

The == operator checks for equality of values but not type, while the === operator checks for both equality of values and type.

How would you declare a variable in ECMAScript?

In ECMAScript, a variable can be declared using var, let, or const keywords. For example: var x; let y; const z = 10;

What are the different data types in ECMAScript?

The different data types in ECMAScript are Undefined, Null, Boolean, String, Symbol, BigInt, Number, and Object.

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What youre looking for early-on

Does the candidate have experience working in a team and using version control systems like Git?

Collaboration skills and experience with version control systems are important for working effectively in a team and managing codebase.

How well does the candidate understand and apply ECMAScript best practices?

Understanding and applying best practices is key to writing clean, efficient, and maintainable code.

Does the candidate have experience with ECMAScript testing frameworks?

Experience with testing frameworks is important for ensuring code quality and reliability.

Is the candidate familiar with the latest ECMAScript features and updates?

Keeping up-to-date with the latest features and updates is important for maximizing the potential of the language and staying relevant in the field.

Can the candidate solve complex problems using ECMAScript?

Problem-solving skills are essential for any developer role, as they will often need to find solutions to complex coding issues.

Does the candidate have a solid understanding of ECMAScript fundamentals?

A strong foundation in ECMAScript is crucial for developing efficient, reliable, and maintainable code.

Next 20 minutes

Specific ECMAScript development questions

The next 20 minutes of the interview should attempt to focus more specifically on the development questions used, and the level of depth and skill the engineer possesses.

What are promises in ECMAScript?

Promises in ECMAScript are objects that represent the eventual completion or failure of an asynchronous operation, and its resulting value.

How would you handle exceptions in ECMAScript?

In ECMAScript, exceptions can be handled using try-catch-finally blocks. The try block contains the code that might throw an exception, the catch block handles the exception, and the finally block executes code after try and catch, regardless of the result.

What is the use of 'use strict' in ECMAScript?

'use strict' is a directive to enforce strict mode in ECMAScript. It helps catch common coding mistakes and unsafe actions.

Describe the difference between null and undefined in ECMAScript.

In ECMAScript, undefined means a variable has been declared but has not yet been assigned a value. Null is an assignment value that means no value or no object.

What are closures in ECMAScript?

Closures are functions that have access to the parent scope, even after the parent function has closed.

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The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the ECMAScript engineer at this point.

At this point, a skilled ECMAScript engineer should display strong technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of modern ECMAScript standards and features. Red flags would include lack of hands-on experience, inability to articulate complex concepts clearly, or unfamiliarity with essential software development practices and principles.

Digging deeper

Code questions

These will help you see the candidate's real-world development capabilities with ECMAScript.

What does the following code do?

let x = 10;
let y = x++;
console.log(y);

The code declares a variable x and assigns it a value of 10. Then it declares another variable y and assigns it the value of x before incrementing x by 1. Finally, it logs the value of y to the console, which will be 10.

What will be the output of the following code?

let x = '5';
let y = +x;
console.log(typeof y);

The code first declares a variable x and assigns it a string value of '5'. It then declares another variable y and assigns it the value of x, but with a unary plus operator that converts x to a number. Finally, it logs the type of y to the console, which will be 'number'.

What does the following code do?

let arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
let sum = arr.reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0);
console.log(sum);

The code declares an array arr of numbers. It then uses the reduce method to sum up the numbers in the array, with an initial value of 0. Finally, it logs the sum to the console, which will be 15.

What does the following code do?

let promise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
  setTimeout(() => resolve('Done!'), 1000);
});
promise.then(alert);

The code creates a new Promise that resolves with the string 'Done!' after a delay of 1 second. It then sets up a then handler to alert the result of the Promise when it resolves.

What does the following code do?

class Circle {
  constructor(radius) {
    this.radius = radius;
  }
  getArea() {
    return Math.PI * this.radius * this.radius;
  }
}
let circle = new Circle(5);
console.log(circle.getArea());

The code defines a class Circle with a constructor that takes a radius parameter and a method getArea that calculates the area of the circle. It then creates an instance of the Circle class with a radius of 5 and logs the area of the circle to the console.

What will be the output of the following code?

let x = () => {};
console.log(typeof x);

The code declares a variable x and assigns it an arrow function. It then logs the type of x to the console, which will be 'function'.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for ECMAScript role questions

The final few interview questions for a ECMAScript candidate should typically focus on a combination of technical skills, personal goals, growth potential, team dynamics, and company culture.

Describe the difference between synchronous and asynchronous programming in ECMAScript.

Synchronous programming means that the code is executed sequentially from top-to-bottom, blocking execution until each operation completes. Asynchronous programming means that the engine runs in an event loop, allowing it to perform non-blocking operations such as network requests.

What are generators in ECMAScript and how would you use them?

Generators are special functions in ECMAScript that can be exited and later re-entered, with their context (variable bindings) saved across re-entrances. They are defined using function* syntax.

How would you implement inheritance in ECMAScript?

In ECMAScript, inheritance can be implemented using the extends keyword in class declarations or class expressions to create a class as a child of another class.

What are arrow functions in ECMAScript?

Arrow functions are a shorthand syntax for writing function expressions in ECMAScript. They are anonymous and change the way 'this' binds in functions.

Describe the difference between let, const and var in ECMAScript.

var is function scoped, while let and const are block scoped. const is a read-only reference to a value, meaning the value of const can't be changed.

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ECMAScript application related

Product Perfect's ECMAScript development capabilities

Beyond hiring for your ECMAScript engineering team, you may be in the market for additional help. Product Perfect provides seasoned expertise in ECMAScript projects, and can engage in multiple capacities.