How to Hire the Best React Native Developer in 2023

Companies are actively seeking to hire excellent React Native developers to complete their projects. React Native developers are in high demand because React is the most popular framework for developing interactive mobile applications. With the high demand to hire React Native developers, companies often find it challenging to onboard these skilled professionals. Our 'How to hire React Native developers' guide can help you get the perfect React Native developer your company needs.

What is React Native?

Looking to hire dedicated React Native developers or a React Native app developer? Built on Meta's ReactJS, React Native is a JavaScript framework that empowers developers to craft mobile applications for both iOS and Android. React Native leverages a combination of JavaScript and JSX, resembling XML-style markup.

React Native applications utilize native rendering APIs, with Java for Android and Objective C for iOS. By exposing JavaScript interfaces to platform APIs, React Native mobile apps gain access to the user's location, the phone's camera, and other device features. As a result, React Native developers have the capability to create exceptional mobile applications using web-based JavaScript.

Why does your company need React Native engineers?

The use of mobile devices has witnessed significant growth over the past decade. According to Statista, 83.96 percent of people now own smartphones. This surge in mobile usage has, in turn, led to a higher demand for mobile applications, driving the need for React Native developers. Mobile applications have become indispensable in various aspects of our lives, from banking to grocery shopping. Furthermore, the mobile application industry is projected to generate a staggering $935 billion in revenue by 2023. Companies can seize a substantial portion of this revenue by hiring experienced and proficient React Native developers.

Creating enterprise-level applications demands a considerable amount of expertise and time. Moreover, there are various types of mobile applications, including cross-platform, hybrid, native, and web apps. React Native developers possess the capability to support all these application types without compromising user experience. React Native stands out as one of the top frameworks for developing both iOS and Android apps. React Native developers can craft dynamic applications in a cost-effective manner, making them easy to maintain, update, and support.

One significant advantage is that React Native developers only need to write code once for both Android and iOS applications, which translates into time and cost savings for the company. Furthermore, developers who are familiar with React JS and other JavaScript frameworks can readily adapt to React Native.

Certain Tasks and Functions of React Native Developers

1. Designing Seamless UI: React Native developers are tasked with creating a cohesive user interface for both iOS and Android platforms. This involves translating wireframes and prototypes into functional components.
2. Code Conversion: React Native developers are responsible for producing clean and maintainable code that aligns with client specifications. Additionally, the code they generate should be designed for reusability.
3. Quality Assurance: React Native developers play a vital role in conducting performance tests and rectifying any identified errors during the development process.
4. Integration of Native Modules and APIs: When necessary, developers need to seamlessly integrate native modules and APIs for iOS and Android. They must also work with third-party dependencies such as typo, FontAwesome, Andesign, and others.
5. Collaborative Teamwork: React Native developers are required to collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the timely and successful development of applications.

Benefits of hiring React Native developers

1. Large community: React Native developer community offers a lot of support, training material, and help to developers.
2. Hot reloading support: React Native provides a hot reloading plugin that allows React components to load live without any loss of state.
3. Third-party plugins support: React Native developers can easily use third-party plugins, enjoying greater flexibility and customization for their framework.
4. Less development time: React Native developers can reuse up to 90 percent of their code. Companies do not have to create two separate apps, thereby saving a lot of development time.
5. Real-time feedback and preview: React Native developers enjoy the benefit of seeing the changes they have made to their code live. By looking at the changes, they can take into account real-time feedback and make the best decision.
6. Flexible architecture: Developers of React Native can easily rope in their team on their code. The flexible architecture allows other React Native engineers to make suggestions and facilitates easy updates too.
7. SEO friendly: React Native developers can create applications with fast loading time. This helps them get a better SEO ranking and higher traffic.

How to screen React Native developers?

At times, companies may face difficulties in evaluating candidates who apply for a job, particularly when the recruiter is unfamiliar with the specific job role. Here is a list of questions that interviewers should consider asking during the interview process:

What is your proficiency level in JavaScript? 
Answer: For React Native developers, a proficiency level of JavaScript ES6 or higher is expected.

How well-acquainted are you with React Native components? 
Answer: Candidates should possess knowledge of React Native components, including JSX, the virtual DOM, customizable props, and the component lifecycle.

Among technologies like Redux, MobX, Bower, Gulp, Enzyme, and HockeyApp, how many are you familiar with?

Answer: Recruiters often prioritize React Native developers with familiarity with these technologies. Redux and MobX are state management libraries that provide control over app logic to ensure expected performance. Other tools like Enzyme, HockeyApp, Bower, and Gulp contribute to expedited full-stack development and testing.

These common questions can serve as valuable tools for assessing candidates' proficiency in React Native. They also enable recruiters to ask technical questions that they might not otherwise be equipped to evaluate. Furthermore, we've outlined the soft skills and technical skills that developers should possess in terms of experience when applying for the role of a React Native developer or engineer.

What skills should you assess in React Native developers?

Before hiring a React Native developer, it is crucial to evaluate both their soft skills and technical skills. In addition to their role within your software team, they will also participate in client meetings. Possessing the requisite soft and technical skills empowers React Native developers to address any client inquiries effectively. Simultaneously, they can provide guidance to fellow React Native developers, ensuring the team moves in the right direction.

Soft skills you must look for in a React Native developer

Time Management:

Most React Native developers have to work on tight deadlines. This is why you must look for a React Native engineer who manages his time well. A good test of this would be to give a small project to the React Native developer with a strict timeline. If they can submit the same within the timeframe of the project, then they will be a good fit for the organization. With remote work being the norm, many companies are also using time-tracking tools to track the productivity and output of their React Native developers. They can see exactly how much time a React Native developer takes to complete a specific project. Also, it helps them inform the clients about the time it will take beforehand and thus build a strong relationship with them. Therefore, you must hire React Native developers with excellent time-management skills.

Communication skills:

Understandably, a React Native developer may not be the best orator around. But, communication skills are essential for this job role. This is because they will be a part of your team interaction and even some client meetings. So, if React Native developers are not able to raise their concerns with the right choice of words, it will take longer than required to complete things. Companies that hire React Native developers with good communication skills can streamline the entire process of implementing the changes the client and company want. Also, they can cross-check with them what they understood after giving them the initial brief to ensure both of them are on the same page.

Teamwork:

Teamwork is one of the most important traits developers must have to succeed anywhere. Software development is a team sport as it requires different inputs at different stages and simultaneous completion of tasks. Companies should hire React Native developers who are always willing to share their knowledge, take responsibility for their work, and listen to feedback. These traits help ensure good camaraderie in the team and increase overall productivity.

Technical Skills to Seek in a React Native Developer

Assessing technical skills in software developers, particularly React Native developers, can be a challenging task. To address this, we've categorized the skills to look for into three tiers: junior, mid-level, and senior React Native developers.

Technical Skills for Junior React Native Developers:

React Native Knowledge: While junior developers may have limited experience, they should have a foundational understanding of React Native, including its main components, APIs, and libraries.

JS6 and Navigation Skills: Proficiency in JS6 or higher and basic app navigation skills are important criteria for junior React Native developers.

Redux: Junior developers should be familiar with Redux, a state management tool crucial for handling shared component states.

Debugging, Testing, and Compilation: Junior React Native developers should be capable of debugging, testing, and compiling code.

Technical Skills for Mid-Level React Native Developers:

Mobile Features: Mid-level developers should possess the skills to create mobile-specific features using React Native and integrate them into applications.

Data Caching: They should be well-versed in various databases and data caching techniques.

App Deployment: Knowledge of the signup flow and application deployment is essential for mid-level developers.

Third-Party Integration: Mid-level developers must be capable of integrating third-party services like Google, PayPal, and Facebook.

Technical Skills for Senior React Native Developers:

Native Languages: Senior developers often have expertise in native languages such as Objective-C, Kotlin, and Swift.

Libraries Integration: They should excel at integrating various frameworks and libraries into applications, enabling the creation of native-like cross-platform applications.

Continuous Integration and Delivery: Senior React Native developers should be proficient in continuous integration and delivery, ensuring the development of bug-free code and real-time features in applications.

Mentorship: Senior developers should have the ability to mentor junior developers, employ multiple approaches, and possess a nuanced understanding of React Native."

This breakdown helps identify the appropriate skill set based on the experience level of React Native developers.

What is the appropriate salary for React Native developers?

Determining the appropriate salary for React Native developers depends on several factors. Experience level is a critical consideration during salary negotiations. Developers with significant experience on large projects typically expect higher salaries. However, companies have the option to assemble a team of junior and mid-level developers who have a track record of successfully completing projects. This approach allows them to allocate resources more efficiently and take on multiple projects with a larger team. Nevertheless, for projects that demand specific expertise and prior experience, cutting corners may not be advisable. In such cases, it's essential to hire React Native developers who are the best fit for the job.

Hiring a React Native developer through Turing offers several advantages. Turing's AI-powered Talent Cloud streamlines the process of sourcing, vetting, and matching developers remotely. With access to over 2 million developers from more than 150 countries worldwide, companies can hire highly skilled React Native engineers with capabilities equivalent to those found in Silicon Valley. Turing's platform has earned the trust of major global companies like Pepsi, Dell, and Disney. The platform's efficiency is highlighted by its ability to fill job roles within just 4 days, saving both time and money. Turing boasts an impressive 97 percent engagement success rate, demonstrating that clients are consistently satisfied with the services provided by React Native engineers and other developers. Turing offers the opportunity to assemble your dream engineering team efficiently.