7 Front-End Developer Interview Questions and Answers

As a front-end web developer, you play an important role in connecting the visual design of a website with the back-end functionality. You’re the go-to person when clients need to build websites that are user-friendly, easy to navigate, and won’t hurt your eyes. But getting hired will require you to demonstrate your competency by answering a series of front-end developer interview questions.

When you become a front-end web developer, you can enjoy job security and good pay. That’s because the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 23% increase in new web developer jobs over the next decade.

Want to get a job in this growing field? Learn how to impress hiring managers with the seven front-end developer interview questions outlined below.

7 Top Front-End Developer Interview Questions

1. What Do You Like About Being a Front-End Developer?
2. What Skills Are Most Relevant to Front-End Web Development?
3. How Would You Ensure a Website Is User-Friendly and Easy to Navigate?
4. Which Programming Languages and Front-End Web Development Tools Are You Proficient In?
5. How Do You Stay Updated on the Latest Trends in Front-End Development?
6. What Are the Most Important Front-End Functions and Features of a Website?
7. Tell Me How You Would Use REST Web Services for Front-End Development.

Question #1: What Do You Like About Being a Front-End Developer?

Hiring managers are more likely to hire candidates who enjoy their work and are interested in growing in their field. That’s why you’ll encounter one or several front-end developer interview questions about your passion for web dev.

In your answer, be sure to reflect on the following:

• What drew you to front-end web development?
• How do you find this career rewarding?
• What are your goals as a front-end web developer?

How You Could Answer

“As a web user myself, there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to navigate a poorly designed and choppy website. Initially, this—and my education in web development—drew me to this field. As a front-end web developer, I enjoy the creative outlet it provides and the opportunity to put my programming skills to work. Plus, I pride myself on ensuring that users can easily navigate and interact with a website. To me, it’s all about creating a great user experience in a tangible end result that I can see and use.”

“I still feel that there is more room to grow and learn about creating websites that run efficiently. I would like to learn more about the processes involved in back-end development, so I can gain a greater understanding of how it works with the front end.”

Question #2: What Skills Are Most Relevant to Front-End Web Development?

As a front-end developer, you’ll be asked interview questions about the technical skills you bring to the job as well as the personal qualities you bring to a team. Both help the hiring manger to determine whether you’re the right fit.

Include the following details when creating your answer:

• Key technical skills required for the job.
• Soft skills relevant to front-end web development.
• Qualities that make a good front-end web developer.

How You Could Answer

“The top technical skills front-end developers need include experience with JAVA, CSS, JavaScript, JSON, React, HTML, and MySQL. Additionally, front-end web developers must have a good eye for small details, be good at problem-solving, and have strong analytical skills. It also helps to be well-organized, an excellent team player, and a good communicator.”

Question #3: How Would You Ensure a Website Is User-Friendly and Easy to Navigate?

In your interview, expect to be asked specific questions about your work process. To respond to a hypothetical scenario about your work, provide examples of your experience from either a previous employer or from building a website on your own.

Here are a few points to include in your answer:

• How a user-friendly website should look and feel.
• The steps that go into building a user-friendly website.
• An example of a website you previously built.

How You Could Answer

“A solid CSS framework is key to ensuring that the overall look and feel of a website is appealing to users. Information on a website should be easy to access and website features should be navigable. Additionally, all images and graphics should be compressed, optimized, and used only as necessary.”

“At my last job working for a web development firm, I completely rebuilt a client’s website that operated slowly, had a high bounce rate, and ranked poorly on SERPs. After rebuilding the site, the bounce rate was significantly lower, the site ranked higher on SERPs, and the client saw an increase in new visits and conversions.”

Question #4: Which Programming Languages and Front-End Web Development Tools Are You Proficient In?

Programming languages are an integral part of front-end web development. You’ll need to show hiring managers you know the difference between Java and JavaScript to move forward in the hiring process.

Try reflecting on the following when discussing programming languages and web dev tools:

• Programming languages you have been trained in or have worked with.
• Tools you currently work with.
• How you best utilize both.

How You Could Answer

“The front-end programming languages I’m most proficient in include CSS, HTML, JavaScript, jQuery, React, and Angular. Some tools I have received training on and worked with include Bootstrap, HTML Boilerplate, Google Fonts, and WordPress. These programming languages and web dev tools are best used to create an efficient and pleasant user experience in all web browsers. That includes the colors, fonts, layout, placement of graphics, and overall site navigation.”

Question #5: How Do You Stay Updated on the Latest Front-End Development Trends?

Front-end web development is always evolving. Keeping an ear to the ground for new trends, tools, and technologies is key to a long and successful career.

Here are a few things to discuss in your answer:

• Outlets you use to stay up to date.
• How you adapt to new trends.

How You Could Answer

“I always keep an eye out for new front-end web development technologies, best practices, and trends. Some outlets I use include tech news publications and forums such as TechCrunch, CNet, Techist, and Mashable. I also follow companies that produce front-end web development tools such as Bootstrap and GitHub. At my last job, I was able to make recommendations to upper-level management about new tools to bring on board to improve functionality and maximize efficiency.”

Question #6: What Are the Most Important Front-End Functions and Features of a Website?

Creating any website comes with some give and take—it’s an iterative process that is constrained by budget, time, bugs, and resources, and it’s never truly done. That’s why hiring managers will ask any prospective front-end developer interview questions about their opinion about priorities when they’re building the front end.

Keep the following in mind when creating your answer:

• User experience.
• Site performance and SEO.

How You Could Answer

“The functions and features of a website’s front-end should be centered around the user experience. One of the most important functions of a website is how content is presented. The content should be easy to read, align with accessibility guidelines, and provide a smooth experience for all users. A website should also have clear navigation so all important information can be easily accessed by users. Lastly, every website should be optimized for mobile, especially since most users access websites from their cell phones now.”

Question #7: Tell Me How You Would Use REST Web Services for Front-End Development.

REST is one of the most widely used application programming interfaces utilized for front-end web development. Employers want to see that you have a full understanding of how REST works and its role in web development.

Here are some ways you can provide an answer to front-end developer interview questions regarding REST:

• Explain why REST web services should be utilized for front-end web development.
• Discuss what REST web services do.
• Describe your experience using REST web services.

How You Could Answer

“REST is important for implementing web services that are based around APIs, which allow software and apps to interact with websites. Its architecture allows front-end web developers to design resource-based web services that can be transferred over HTTP. For example, I would use REST web services to include third-party apps such as a shopping cart or social media interface.”

Join Monster Today to Develop Your Career

Now that you’ve practiced answering these front-end developer interview questions, you just need, well, a job interview. Start searching for front-end developer jobs by uploading your resume at Monster. We’ll get your resume connected with job recruiters who are interested in interviewing candidates like you. Plus, the career advice articles from our experts can provide additional tips on getting and acing a job interview.