Hiring a React developer can look straightforward until you actually start reviewing applications.
You might receive dozens of resumes mentioning React, JavaScript, frontend development, and modern frameworks. But how do you know who can actually build reliable products, solve problems, collaborate with engineers, and adapt when requirements change?
For recruiters, the challenge isn't becoming a developer overnight. It's understanding enough about React and the role to ask better questions, identify relevant experience, and work effectively with technical hiring managers.
At PlaceMeRight, we help businesses recruit technology professionals and build stronger technical teams. Here's a practical guide recruiters can use when hiring React developers.
- Understand What React Actually Is
React is a JavaScript library commonly used to build user interfaces, particularly for web applications.
You don't need to understand every technical detail, but you should know the basics.
A React developer may work with:
• React
• JavaScript or TypeScript
• HTML and CSS
• APIs
• Git
• State management
• Testing tools
• Build tools
• Backend services
The exact technology stack will depend on the company and product.
- Define the Role Before Searching
One of the biggest recruitment mistakes is starting the candidate search before understanding the actual role.
Speak with the engineering manager and clarify:
• What will the developer build?
• What level of React experience is required?
• Which supporting technologies are used?
• Is TypeScript required?
• Will the developer work independently?
• Will they collaborate with backend engineers and designers?
• What will success look like after six months?
A clear role makes sourcing much easier.
- Know the Difference Between React and General Frontend Experience
A candidate may have several years of frontend experience without extensive React experience.
That isn't necessarily a problem.
If React is essential from day one, make it a clear requirement. If the team is willing to train someone with strong JavaScript and another modern frontend framework, keep the candidate pool broader.
Avoid rejecting potentially strong developers simply because their resume doesn't contain every keyword.
- Look for Relevant Technical Skills
A strong React developer usually needs more than knowledge of React itself.
Depending on the position, look for experience with:
• JavaScript
• TypeScript
• HTML
• CSS
• REST APIs
• Git
• Responsive design
• Testing
• State management
• Performance optimisation
You don't necessarily need every skill listed as mandatory. Focus on what the person will actually use in the role.
- Look Beyond the Resume
A resume can tell you where someone worked and which technologies they claim to know.
It doesn't always show how they approach problems.
Look for evidence such as:
• Personal projects
• GitHub repositories
• Open source contributions
• Technical blogs
• Portfolio websites
• Previous product work
A candidate who can explain what they built, why they made certain decisions, and what they learned from challenges can provide much more useful information than a list of technologies.
- Ask Better Screening Questions
Recruiters don't need to conduct a deep technical interview, but basic technical screening questions can help.
For example:
• How long have you worked with React?
• What kind of applications have you built?
• Have you worked with TypeScript?
• What was your role in your most recent React project?
• Have you worked with APIs?
• How did your team handle testing?
• What was the most challenging frontend problem you solved?
Pay attention to how candidates explain their work.
Someone who genuinely worked on a project should usually be able to describe their responsibilities, challenges, decisions, and results naturally.
- Use Technical Assessments Carefully
Technical assessments can be useful, but they should reflect the actual job.
Avoid lengthy assignments that take candidates several days unless there is a strong reason for them.
Depending on the role, companies can consider:
• Short coding exercises
• Pair programming
• Code review
• Portfolio discussions
• Practical frontend tasks
• Technical interviews
The goal is to understand how someone thinks and works, not simply how quickly they can complete a puzzle.
- Evaluate Problem Solving and Communication
Technical skills are important, but they aren't the whole picture.
React developers often work closely with designers, backend engineers, product managers, QA teams, and other developers.
Look for candidates who can:
• Explain technical decisions clearly
• Ask useful questions
• Accept feedback
• Collaborate with others
• Debug problems systematically
• Learn unfamiliar technologies
A developer with strong communication and problem solving skills can often become a much stronger long term team member.
- Don't Overfocus on Years of Experience
Five years of experience doesn't automatically make someone better than a developer with two years of highly relevant experience.
Instead of focusing only on years, consider:
• Complexity of projects
• Level of ownership
• Technical responsibilities
• Product scale
• Problem solving ability
• Learning speed
The quality and relevance of experience matter more than the number printed on a resume.
- Make the Opportunity Attractive
Good React developers may have several opportunities available to them.
That means recruitment is a two way conversation.
Candidates want to know:
• What product will I work on?
• What technologies will I use?
• Who will I work with?
• How much ownership will I have?
• What can I learn?
• What is the engineering culture like?
• Where can this role take my career?
Give candidates real answers instead of generic employer branding language.
- Keep the Hiring Process Moving
A slow hiring process can cost you strong candidates.
If your process includes a recruiter call, technical interview, assessment, manager discussion, and final interview, make sure each stage has a clear purpose.
Keep candidates informed about:
• Interview timelines
• Next steps
• Assessment expectations
• Decision timelines
Even a short update is better than leaving someone wondering whether the company is still interested.
- Work Closely With Technical Hiring Managers
Recruiters and engineers bring different strengths to the hiring process.
Recruiters understand sourcing, communication, candidate experience, and market availability.
Engineering managers understand technical requirements and team fit.
The strongest results happen when both sides agree on what a successful candidate looks like before recruitment begins.
At PlaceMeRight, we help businesses bridge this gap by combining recruitment expertise with a practical understanding of technical hiring requirements.
Final Thoughts
Hiring React developers isn't about finding the resume with the most impressive list of technologies.
It's about finding someone who has relevant technical skills, can solve real problems, communicates well, and fits the needs of your engineering team.
Start with a clear job description, understand the technology at a practical level, source beyond traditional job boards, evaluate real skills, and keep the candidate experience simple and respectful.
At PlaceMeRight, we help startups, growing companies, and enterprises find software developers and other technology professionals through targeted sourcing and structured recruitment strategies.
If you're hiring React developers and want help finding the right technical talent, visit https://placemeright.in to explore PlaceMeRight's recruitment solutions.
The right React developer isn't just someone who knows React. They're someone who can use it to build, improve, and solve real problems for your product and your users.
