Need PHP Developers?
Let’s imagine your company needs a website or mobile app built from scratch, or you want some fancy online tools like a login system or a calculator. You’ll need the expertise in both front- and back-end developers to get the work done. Due to the necessity of communicating with a server and making decisions based on data, skilled back-end engineers are in great demand. To this day, PHP remains one of the most widely used languages for back-end development.
Web development typically involves the usage of PHP, which is a general-purpose programming language. PHP is still one of the computer languages with the most users, even though experts have predicted its demise for many years. 77% of all pages on the internet make use of it, and not all of those uses are legacy ones.
If you’re also interested in using PHP for your projects but lack corresponding specialists, remember that IntelliSoft is always here for you. We create websites on PHP that meet our clients’ expectations and are essential in building a professional image. With the help of modern PHP development tool kits and talented engineers, we allow our clients to achieve their business goals.
Now, it is time to learn more about how to find PHP programmers in today’s market.
Table of Contents
Reasons to Hire PHP Programmer
A PHP developer creates a web application’s logic on server-side-like back-end components. They are adept in designing and integrating plugins for frameworks, integrating front-end developers’ work into back-end systems, and linking programs with external web services.
PHP, a server-side language, is widely used for the back-end creation of sites, apps, and online services, regardless of their complexity. Although it had humble beginnings serving up personal websites, it is now widely utilized for everything from Wikipedia to TED, Yahoo to Badoo. Facebook utilizes PHP too. These giants even developed their variations of this programming language.
Popular content management systems (CMSs) like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla were all developed in PHP and are used to facilitate the creation of websites.
PHP’s application is restricted to backend and web development. This language is unlikely to suit you if you want to work in other fields. Even though you need to be familiar with a few related technologies to program in PHP, it is still one of the easiest languages for beginners.
It is easy to write bad and unreadable code. It will function, but it will be hard to work with. To write good code in PHP, you will need developers that understand the theory behind the program architecture. If your current experts do not know PHP, it is way faster to recruit outsourced PHP programmers.
When You Need to Hire PHP Developer?
Because developers use the language for anything from customer relationship management software to content management systems, newly created businesses and those that have been around for a while frequently require the services of skilled PHP developers.
- Databases
A database is connected to the PHP website. This option makes it faster to edit and add data to the site. This fact dramatically simplifies development because all the information remains in tables, not the code itself.
Let’s consider user information. If we didn’t have databases, we would have to keep all of the authorization data in the code, and this is not a good idea because it would take forever to load.
Let’s continue with the authorization example. The auth.php page gets a username and password. It could then query the database to see if that combination exists. - Forms and website search
If you are familiar with HTML, you know that with it, you cannot just get the information entered by the user. You can create a form, but without PHP or another similar language, all the data will disappear when they click the Submit button.
The <form> tag has two attributes: action and method. The first specifies the page where the data will be sent, and the second is the method of transmission. There are two altogether:
POST – a safe but slow method. It sends confidential information: passwords, logins, addresses, etc.
GET – a simple but vulnerable method. You might have seen links like index.php? page=8& category=2. The information is written right into the link, and anyone can change its value or share it, so it’s better not to pass anything secret like that and take care of extra security. - Dynamic signatures
You may need to hire PHP developer to create dynamic signatures. This function is one of the best features of PHP. Imagine you created ten pages in HTML. You must redo all ten files if you want to change the design. If you have dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of pages, you will have to redo them too.
In PHP, it is sufficient to create one file, responsible for the home page, product catalog, and everything else. To do this, use the GET method. If the user clicks the link index.php, he will be on the home page. And if they enter index.php? page=articles& id=5, they will see an article with ID five. - Cookies
The next exciting feature is sessions and cookies. They are necessary to avoid clogging the database and storing information on the user’s computer. For example, many online stores put data on visits and viewed products in the user’s cookies to display not “Welcome! Check out our gyro scooters!” but “Nice to see you again! Back for your XYZ gyro scooter?” You can also use them to create an authorization system. - Content management system (CMS)
A content management system is a platform designed to speed up and simplify web design. They enable you to manage your content and implement features, allowing you to create your ideal website.
Web page developers typically employ various technologies and programming languages, including ASP, HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript. CMS platforms often use these languages, but the site’s creator may not need to know how they work. Why? Because CMS platforms have a user-friendly interface.
PHP Developer Duties
The responsibilities of a PHP specialist often depend on the expert’s level. Still, some general duties exist:
- Troubleshooting issues with the application and code.
- Integrating solutions for data storage.
- Responding to front-end developers’ integration requests.
- Creating practical PHP modules and writing back-end code.
- Creating back-end entrances with an improved data set.
- Carrying out a study of the needs for the website and application.
- Testing web applications and finalizing back-end features.
- Changing and updating app features to make them work better.
Now, what does each level do? Juniors are responsible for:
- Understanding the main CMS and developing code for at least one of the standard engines (WordPress, MODx, or Magento).
- Knowing PHP language and MySQL database management system.
- Understanding the principles of MVC design pattern.
- Learning the basics of object-oriented programming.
- Working with version control systems, preferably Git.
After 1-3 years, a PHP programmer can grow to the middle level. This one is an experienced independent professional who solves complex problems, helps dummies, and makes constructive suggestions for the optimization and development of projects. They must:
- Know and practice MVC.
- Be confident in using Git, MySQL, and other standard tools.
- Be fluent in programming in PHP of different versions, JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.
- Be able to find optimal solutions to problems.
- Read other experts’ code and optimize it.
A senior PHP developer is someone ready to take responsibility for an entire project or team. They possess a wealth of experience, an advanced mastery of essential web development tools, and are eager to learn new ones.
Such a programmer sets their tasks, predicts the result, has leadership qualities and high communication skills, can delegate assignments, interacts with the company’s key persons, takes into account the specifics of the customers, and packages the product correctly. On average, reaching the senior level takes 5-8 years.
Daily Tasks
There are some assignments that an average PHP developer should accomplish almost every day. Know them to hire PHP developer who will perfectly match your team.
- Code analysis. Reviewing the present code, its functionality, and any enhancements regularly. A PHP developer’s constant goal is to make the code more streamlined and efficient.
- Testing & implementation. PHP developers need to do the tasks of testing and debugging their websites and web apps consistently.
- Development and database optimization. A skilled PHP developer will ensure that a website has an optimized database, that the servers are operating correctly, that the website is dynamic and loads rapidly, and that new functions are being developed.
- Post-support. Bugs and unforeseen problems may be avoided by routine maintenance, upkeep, and analysis, like with any technology application.
Skills That a PHP Developer Should Master
Professional PHP programmers know how to assess the task at hand rationally to choose the easiest and most effective way to implement it. Their work is tightly related to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, OOP, and MVC knowledge. A true professional must be able to work in a team and know English to read technical literature.
- Expertise with PHP frameworks
Modern frameworks for the PHP programming language have emerged, making it more straightforward and robust. Beyond the fundamentals, any PHP developer should be familiar with some of the most important ones, such as Symfony, Laravel, CodeIgniter, Zend, etc. - Knowledge of multiple programming languages
The abilities of a PHP developer go beyond those of a simple script writer. By assessing the website’s needs and intended audience, they contribute significantly to the design process. They are also developing new backend features for users and integrating database solutions. . - Problem-solving
A PHP developer should have problem-solving and analytical ability to handle real-time challenges and a collaborative attitude to working with other developers and troubleshooting. - Tech skills
To be a well-rounded PHP developer, you must be proficient in various technical abilities. They should be capable full-stack engineers working with HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. - Object-oriented programming skills
PHP programmers ought to be familiar with object-oriented programming (OOP). Moreover, they ought to carry out the Don’t Rehash the same thing (DRY) interaction to guarantee the code is not difficult to investigate and adjust on the off chance that another engineer is dealing with it.
Levels of PHP Developers
In the table below, you can see the difference between PHP developers of all three levels.
How to Hire PHP Developer (Step-by-Step)
Based on our experience, we have gathered several crucial steps for you to take to hire PHP programmer to fit your project.
Define What Your Dream PHP Developer Should Do
The main thing in the vacancy is the project that the developer will have to work on. If you specify this information right away, you will eliminate unsuitable applicants. Applicants should be able to assess the scale and complexity of the task at a glance and compare it with their capabilities.
Specify the tasks you expect the candidate to perform. Specify the frameworks and skills that will be needed. There is no need to list as many technologies and additional skills as possible – this will only discourage experienced PHP developers. Limit yourself to what’s valuable to the developer.
Decide Between Outsourcing Developers vs. In-House Employees
While it is obvious who in-house employees are, some may face such terms as outsourcing for the first time. This concept refers to the transfer of specific business processes to specialized contractors. This management tool is widely used in large, medium, and small enterprises of any form of management and activities.
As a rule, auxiliary tasks are delegated, including accounting, marketing, security, etc. A special place is given to transfer tasks for the management of hired employees. This solution makes it possible to avoid problems associated with personnel administration and also increase labor productivity. It is possible to delegate the following processes to a specialized contractor:
- Employee selection
- Registration of labor relations
- Maintenance of the required documentation
- Training and adaptation of employees to the project
- Replacement of employees (if needed)
- Calculating and accruing wages
- Preparing and submitting mandatory reporting to the regulatory authorities
- Payment of payroll taxes and the accrual of unified social tax.
In personnel management, outsourcing reduces the load on HR and accounting departments and simplifies the task of managers at all levels.
Come up with a Compelling Job Description
It is worth dividing the vacancy description into several logical sections. The first is the mandatory requirements. They should specify what an employee should do daily. The bigger this section is, the fewer potential applicants will be willing to try their hand. The employer should also prepare for each item in advance to come up with how to test the candidate’s knowledge.
Look for Applicants
You can either search offline or online – it is up to you.
- Attending professional fairs and events
It is enough to check the best upcoming PHP events and conferences in 2023. This way, you will know where the qualified experts meet so that you can catch up with them. - Using AI tools for applicant tracking/screening
HR specialists need help with searching for new employees. Another difficulty is that applicants do not read the job description and send irrelevant resumes, the rejection of which takes a long time.
AI will take care of that. Burger King, for example, has introduced a voice-activated robot that calls candidates and asks scripted questions. If the person is a good fit for the company, the virtual assistant transfers info to the recruiter. The use of such bots is way cheaper than human labor.
There are ready-made platforms on the market to optimize recruiting. For example, AI hiring tools can evaluate resumes, ask questions over the phone, and analyze video interviews.
Ordering services from an outsourcing agency
Personnel outsourcing is a widespread practice nowadays, which can be explained by customers’ desire to save time and money.
Outsourcing can be a significant advantage when you need several narrow specialists for a project, but there is no need to permanently keep them on the staff.
Outsourcing staff ensures that the specialists are entirely focused on the project, eliminating the possibility of being swapped out for a million different assignments simultaneously. IntelliSoft, a PHP web development company, is one such solution. You can hire a full dedicated team from us..
Promoting your employer brand on social networks
It is important to remember that developers construct communities in many social networks; therefore, you should not discount Facebook, Reddit, or other platforms.
Refrain from being under the illusion that after you post your job in the right group, you will receive a flood of resumes. However, membership in these communities will give you access to the list of graduates among whom you can find your candidate.
Posting vacancies on specialized job boards
You may consider GitHub, a platform where developers post their projects. It can be challenging to understand the profile immediately.
StackOverFlow is a place for sharing experiences. To search for candidates, you must be clever and use SQL queries. The StackExchange Data Explorer can help with this. If you don’t feel like figuring it out, you can turn to query generators. The good news is that GitHub and StackOverFlow are excellent X-ray scans.
Verify Candidates and Their Skills
Before you make a choice, you need to know what you want and your needs. We have already stressed that sometimes employers do not clearly distinguish between PHP programmers and developers. When you make a clear distinction in this regard, it will be easier to assess your candidate’s knowledge base. Please ask a question such as why they choose PHP over some other programming languages.
From the detailed answer that should follow, you will be able to assess their knowledge, how they would use it in your company, and how they think in general. In addition, address questions related to improving the candidate’s knowledge of PHP and how well they follow the latest technological trends, which will be necessary for your future projects.
Check Their Portfolio and References
Let’s face it: creating a portfolio is something that many candidates can sometimes overdo. Mostly, candidates claim to have some skills they may not have mastered perfectly. That’s why it’s essential to look at previous project experience and check out some of the skills mentioned. Some, like an e-commerce site, can be more complex than others. Here again, we need to rely on our reasonable judgment – and the needs of our company and clients.
Interview Your Potential PHP Developer
To hire PHP programmer, prepare in advance a list of questions you are going to ask. The answers will help you assess whether the candidate’s experience and skills match the tasks and whether they can work in a team. Depending on the job’s specifics, these may be different questions, but there are a few universal options.
Ask for whatever is missing on the resume. You may ask applicants to tell you more details about specific cases. Dig deeper into their experience. You will be able to detect if the applicant is lying in case they cannot describe how they accomplished projects from their portfolio.
How Much Would It Cost to Hire a Professional PHP Developer?
In general, the costs associated with hiring a PHP developer range widely. To begin, evaluate your current skill set and determine the minimum required degree of expertise.
Juniors are inexpensive and straightforward to locate (on Upwork or elsewhere) but can only tackle some projects. If your business is significant, you should look for seniors rather than middle managers.
Remote specialists from nations with modest price ranges will be less expensive than on-site US developers. PHP developers charge anything from $15 per hour for juniors in India to $70 per hour for medium and upper-class Americans.
Related readings:
- In-House vs. Outsourcing Software Development Teams
- What Threatens Your Web Application Security
- Creating Technology Roadmap for the Product: Free Technology Roadmap Template
- Making Sense of Databases: How to Choose the Right One
- Laravel vs CodeIgniter: Choosing Best PHP Framework in 2023
What to Ask When Hiring a PHP Developer?
The right developer is available; it’s simply a question of knowing how to look for them. The individual with the right abilities and demeanor can be what’s absent in your tech group. Look for both the necessary soft skills and technical skills for the job by asking specific questions:
How IntelliSoft Can Help?
There are many places where you can find a PHP developer: social networks, LinkedIn, online programmer hangouts, freelance exchanges, Telegram channels, and job search sites. Remember, however, that the best developers don’t look for jobs. Employers hunt them down themselves. We at IntelliSoft are here to help you find developers, product managers, and other professionals. Use our online calculator today to check out how much it may cost you.
