How do you evaluate a WordPress developer's code quality before hiring?
This catches a lot of people off guard because a finished site can look great on the outside while the code behind it is a mess. It's actually one of the main things people overlook when they hire WordPress developers, so here's what I'd actually check:
Ask for a code sample or GitHub link, not just a portfolio. A pretty live site tells you nothing about how the code is structured. Ask to see a snippet of custom plugin or theme code they've written.
Check if they follow WordPress coding standards (WPCS). Things like proper sanitization/escaping of inputs and outputs, use of WordPress hooks instead of hacky overrides, and no direct database queries when the WP API already handles it.
Look at how they handle child themes and updates. If a developer is editing core files or parent themes directly, that's a red flag, which means the site breaks on every WordPress update.
Ask about performance basics. Are they minifying/enquering scripts properly, avoiding plugin bloat, and using caching correctly? A developer who can talk through this without hesitating usually knows what they're doing.
Security practices matter too. Nonces for forms, capability checks, and escaping user input, since they can't explain why these matter, that's worth noting.
Get a small paid trial task first. Even a 2-3 hour task (fix a bug, build a small custom module) tells you more than any interview answer will.
Honestly, this is also why a lot of people skip individual freelancers and go with an established WordPress development company instead of getting to see verified client reviews and ratings upfront rather than relying on one portfolio. For instance, EmizenTech has a 4.9 rating on Clutch from real client reviews, which at least gives you some third-party proof of code quality and project delivery before you commit, instead of just trusting a resume.
But regardless of who you hire, I'd still ask for a code sample and a small trial task; that will be the real test.