What a web developer does
A web developer builds and maintains websites and browser-based applications. The work ranges from turning a designer's mock-ups into responsive pages to building custom features on a content management system, improving page speed, fixing cross-browser issues and connecting forms to back-end systems. Many web developers lean toward the front end, working mainly in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, while others handle server-side code as well.
Your website is often the first place customers judge your business, so slow pages, broken layouts or inaccessible forms cost you enquiries. Many Ontario organizations also have website accessibility obligations under the AODA, which makes accessible markup a practical requirement. Finch screens web developers for the platforms you use, their attention to detail and their ability to work with designers, marketers and content editors.
Typical responsibilities
- Build responsive pages and components from design files
- Develop and customize themes, templates and plugins on content management systems
- Improve page load speed, Core Web Vitals and technical SEO foundations
- Apply accessibility standards such as WCAG to markup, forms and menus
- Test across browsers and devices, and fix layout and script issues
- Work with marketing and content teams on landing pages and site updates
Qualifications and credentials
- A diploma or degree in web development, computer science or a related program, or an equivalent portfolio of work
- Strong HTML, CSS and JavaScript, often with a framework such as React, Vue or Angular
- Experience with platforms such as WordPress, Shopify or a headless CMS, depending on your site
- Working knowledge of WCAG accessibility guidelines and responsive design
- Comfort with Git and a standard deployment workflow
Who hires a web developer
- Digital and marketing agencies
- Retailers and e-commerce brands
- Media and publishing companies
- Colleges, universities and public sector organizations
- Professional services firms with in-house marketing teams
Where we recruit web developer candidates
We fill web developer roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- A portfolio of live sites, with a clear account of what the candidate personally built
- Accessibility knowledge, including keyboard support, semantic markup and form labelling
- Experience with your CMS or e-commerce platform
- Attention to detail across browsers and screen sizes
- Ability to take direction from designers and non-technical stakeholders
Interview questions to ask
- Show me a site you built. How did you make it fast, and how did you measure it?
- How do you make a custom form accessible to someone using a screen reader?
- A marketer asks for a change that would break the layout on mobile. How do you handle it?