The Complete Guide to Hiring a Full-Stack Developer Using HackerEarth Assessments

Fullstack development roles became prominent around the early to mid-2010s. This emergence was largely driven by several factors, including the rapid evolution of web technologies, the increasing complexity of web applications, and the demand for more versatile developers capable of handling both client-side and server-side programming.

With the rise of powerful frameworks like MEAN, MERN, Django/Flask, RoR, Spring Boot and Angular/React/Vue building powerful web applications has become easier and Fullstack developers have become one of the most critical members of tech teams.  

The role has consistently seen an increase in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for web developers, including fullstack professionals, is projected to grow by 13% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.

Because fullstack development spans across a broad spectrum of skills it’s not straightforward to assess these skills. Furthermore, each position requires a unique blend of skills and experience. It’s important to look beyond the label and assess their specific strengths in both front-end and back-end technologies, along with their overall understanding of the development process. Additionally, consider tailoring assessments to the specific role and the candidate’s skillset for the most accurate evaluation.

Since we launched full-stack questions as part of our question library in 2022, we have added different question types to our library to cover all types of full-stack assessments. At the time of writing this, our library consists of 220+ full-stack questions divided into various types. 

In this guide, let’s take a look at the different types of question types for full-stack assessments available on HackerEarth, and how they can help your tech recruiting team in assessing candidates better. 

Read More: How to Hire Full Stack Developers

Full-stack question types available on HackerEarth

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the available question types on HackerEarth for full-stack assessments, including their purpose, example questions, and how tech recruiting teams can utilize them.

1. Real-world Problems

• Purpose: This type assesses a candidate’s problem-solving approach in realistic scenarios faced by full-stack developers on the job. It evaluates their ability to analyze, understand, and implement solutions considering real-world complexities.

• Example Questions: 

1. A company’s e-commerce website experiences a sudden surge in traffic, causing performance issues. How would you diagnose and optimize the site for scalability?
2. A user reports encountering inconsistencies when switching between the mobile and desktop versions of your application. How would you approach debugging and resolving this issue?

• Use for Recruiters: Real-world problems provide valuable insights into a candidate’s thought process, technical skills application, and ability to adapt to practical situations. These questions can help identify candidates who can hit the ground running and contribute meaningfully from day one.

2. Short Task-Based Questions

• Purpose: This format allows candidates to showcase their expertise in specific tasks within a limited timeframe. It helps gauge their ability to focus, prioritize, and deliver results under pressure.

• Example Questions:

1. Write a JavaScript function to validate a user’s email address format.
2. Implement a basic API endpoint in Python that returns a list of products from a database.
3. Design a responsive layout for a product page using HTML and CSS.

• Use for Recruiters: Short task-based questions are ideal for evaluating core technical skills in various areas like front-end development, back-end development, and scripting languages. They offer a quick assessment of a candidate’s competency in specific areas relevant to the role.

3. Debugging Questions

• Purpose: This type tests a candidate’s ability to identify, diagnose, and fix errors within code snippets or applications. It assesses their understanding of common coding issues, debugging techniques, and problem-solving skills.

• Example Questions:

1. A provided Python script throws an error when attempting to access a list element. Why is this happening, and how can it be fixed?
2. An HTML page displays layout issues in different browsers. What could be causing this, and how would you debug the problem?

• Use for Recruiters: Debugging questions are crucial for evaluating a candidate’s ability to identify and resolve technical issues in existing code. This skill is essential for full-stack developers, as they often need to maintain and troubleshoot code written by themselves or others.

4. Project-Level Full-Stack Questions

• Purpose: This format requires candidates to build end-to-end projects using specific technology stacks. It provides the most comprehensive assessment of a candidate’s full-stack development skills, covering front-end, back-end, database interaction, and overall project structure.

• Example: Build a simple to-do list application using a chosen technology stack (e.g., ReactJS, NodeJS, MongoDB). The application should allow users to add, edit, and delete tasks.

Use for Recruiters: Project-level full-stack questions provide an in-depth evaluation of a candidate’s ability to plan, develop, and deploy a complete application. This format is ideal for senior roles where full-stack mastery is essential. However, it can also be used for junior positions to assess their learning potential and ability to apply acquired skills in a practical project.

Features supported by the HackerEarth full-stack question types

Some of the more helpful features that we support include, but are not limited to the following:

Building a well-rounded full-stack assessment with HackerEarth

Crafting an effective full-stack assessment on HackerEarth requires a strategic mix of different question types. Here are few pointers that can help you in utilizing each format and building a well-rounded evaluation:

1. Start with the core:

Employ short task-based questions to assess fundamental competencies in front-end (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), back-end (Python, Java, etc.), and scripting languages. Use debugging questions to gauge a candidate’s problem-solving approach and ability to identify and fix errors in code.

2. Dig deeper with real-world challenges:

Introduce real-world problems to evaluate a candidate’s ability to think critically, analyze complex scenarios, and translate technical skills into solutions for practical situations.

3. Evaluate application building skills:

Consider project-level full-stack questions for senior roles. These allow candidates to showcase their ability to plan, develop, and deploy a complete application using a specific technology stack. Alternatively, for junior roles, consider a simplified project that assesses their learning potential and ability to apply acquired skills in a practical context.

4. Tailoring the mix:

Prioritize questions that align with the specific skills required for the role. For example, a front-end heavy position might involve more HTML/CSS questions, while a back-end focused role would emphasize server-side technologies and database interaction.

5. Adjust assessment level according to candidate experience:

Adjust the complexity of questions based on the experience level you’re targeting. Junior developers might benefit from more fundamental tasks, while senior roles can handle in-depth projects and real-world challenges.

Additional tips for crafting a take-home full-stack assessment

1. Balance theory and practical skills: Combine knowledge-based questions with tasks that require applying those skills in a practical scenario.
2. Provide clear instructions and time limits: Provide clear instructions and set realistic time limits for each question type.
3. Keep an eye on the assessment length: Consider the total assessment duration to avoid overwhelming candidates.
4. Have a transparent evaluation criteria: Establish clear evaluation criteria for each question type to ensure consistent scoring.
5. Use a mix of predefined vs. custom questions: Utilize HackerEarth’s question library alongside custom-crafted scenarios specific to your company’s needs.

A strategic combination of these question types, tailored to the specific role and candidate experience, can help you create a full-stack assessment that effectively evaluates the skills and capabilities of potential hires. This will help you identify developers who not only possess the technical expertise but also have the critical thinking and problem-solving skills to thrive in your organization.

Hire your next full-stack developer with HackerEarth!

Earlier this year, the full-stack question usage on our platform went up by 10x. This surge reflects the growing demand for versatile full-stack developers who can manage all aspects of web and application development. The increased adoption of HackerEarth’s full-stack assessments likely stems from several factors. Perhaps companies are recognizing the limitations of traditional hiring methods and seeking a more comprehensive evaluation of a candidate’s skills. Maybe they’re appreciating the ability to tailor assessments to specific roles and company needs. Whatever the reason, we are glad that more and more companies are recognizing the need for customized full-stack assessments and how HackerEarth can be a powerful aid for full-stack developer recruitment.

Are you ready to find your next top full-stack developer with HackerEarth?  Explore our extensive library of pre-built questions, customizable assessment options, and AI-powered insights that make finding your ideal full-stack talent a breeze.  

Sign up for a free trial and unlock a world of effective assessment possibilities. Happy hiring!

Rohit C P Author 3 Blogs