Hiring a React developer sounds simple until you read fifty near-identical resumes. The difference between a developer who ships and one who struggles shows up in how they think about components, state and performance — not in the list of libraries on their CV.
Decide the engagement model first
- Contract: best for a defined project or sprint.
- Contract-to-hire: reduces risk if you eventually want the person on payroll.
- Full-time dedicated: right when you have a long roadmap and need someone embedded in your team.
Skills worth testing
- Solid JavaScript and TypeScript fundamentals, not just React syntax.
- Component design: when to split, when to lift state, how to avoid prop-drilling.
- Data fetching and caching with tools like React Query.
- Performance: memoisation, code-splitting and measuring with real tools.
- Next.js knowledge if SEO or server rendering matters for your product.
- Testing habits and comfort with code review.
Interview questions that reveal depth
- Walk me through the last component you refactored and why.
- How would you debug a page that re-renders too often?
- How do you decide between local state, context and a state library?
- Show me a pull request you are proud of.
Red flags
- Cannot explain how their own projects were structured.
- No opinion on trade-offs — every answer is 'it depends' without follow-up.
- Portfolio contains only tutorial clones.
Skip the screening with a vetted network
If you would rather not run the entire process yourself, TechVech shortlists pre-vetted React developers within about 48 hours. You still interview them directly before you decide.