Interview Questions to Ask a Junior Web Developer Candidate
Questions that surface real evidence of shipped, working code — not just coursework — plus what to actually listen for in the answer, not just whether they say the right buzzwords.
1. How do you make a page work well on both a phone and a large monitor?
What to listen for: Expect responsive layout, flexible units, media queries, testing in browsers and checking performance.
2. A form on your site is not submitting for some users. How do you investigate?
What to listen for: Good answers reproduce, check console and network errors, test validation and browsers, and fix with a test.
3. You are asked to store user passwords in your database. How do you do it?
What to listen for: Look for hashing with a proven algorithm, salting, never storing plain text and using HTTPS.
4. Your deadline is tomorrow and you find a bug in code you wrote last week. What do you do?
What to listen for: Strong answers tell the team, assess impact, fix or flag it, and add a test.
5. What would you do in your first 30 days in this junior web developer role?
What to listen for: Whether their plan is grounded in the role's actual must-haves (html/css/javascript and react or similar framework) or generic ("get to know the team"). Specificity here signals real understanding of the job, not just interview prep.
6. Why are you leaving your current role, and why this one specifically?
What to listen for: Forward-looking motivation tied to something concrete about this role, versus badmouthing a past employer or vague dissatisfaction. Watch for whether their reasons actually match what this role offers.
A warning sign in this interview
Pasting code you cannot explain, or ignoring security basics such as validating input and protecting passwords.
What to look for on the CV before the interview
Live projects, code samples and understanding of how the web works.
Confirm before you make an offer
A portfolio or code to review is the credential. A short practical task helps.
People who may apply under another title
This job is also called Junior Front-End Developer, Web Developer, Associate Web Developer, Junior Full-Stack Developer. A candidate with one of those titles can be a strong match, so ask the same questions and judge the answers, not the title.
Frequently asked questions
How many of these questions should I ask in one interview?
3-4 is realistic for a 30-45 minute interview once you leave room for follow-ups and the candidate's own questions. Divide competencies across panel members rather than every interviewer asking all of them — see the Interview Scorecard tool for a structured version of this.
How is this different from the Interview Scorecard tool?
This page is a generic starting point for the junior web developer role. The tool generates a full panel-ready kit — competency-grouped questions, a 1-5 rating rubric, and strong/weak answer examples — tailored to your actual job description and competencies.
What is a red flag when interviewing a junior web developer?
Pasting code you cannot explain, or ignoring security basics such as validating input and protecting passwords.
What should I confirm before offering a junior web developer the job?
A portfolio or code to review is the credential. A short practical task helps.
Hiring a junior web developer? The rest of the toolkit
- How to write the job description →
Titles, must-haves, credentials and a starting posting.
- Search strings to find candidates →
Five searches from broad to narrow, with exclusions.
- Run the whole hire in one place →
Jobs, CV review, interviews, offers and checks together.