Questions to Ask When Interviewing Jira Contractors

For organisations using Atlassian’s Jira project management tool, enlisting expert Jira contractors is often essential for maximising productivity and return on investment. Any tool under the Atlassian umbrella can benefit by having the input and expertise of a specialist in tow, but integrating Jira across an organisation is easier said than done. However, with the help of well-trained, capable Jira experts, organisations can keep workflows and CI/CD pipelines intact while reaping all the benefits of this inclusive, innovative project management platform.

Seasoned Jira specialists can administer the software proficiently, while also optimising it for custom business needs through tailored configurations, workflows, automation and more. Regardless of the complexity of an organisation’s incumbent setup, an experienced Jira contractor can diligently and methodically deploy the tool and its associated features to ensure optimal efficiency and maximum benefit for every firm. 

However, finding the right Jira contractors with specific knowledge bases can be challenging amid a limited talent pool. The job market is incredibly tough, particularly in software and web development, which is why the Jira recruitment experts at ClearHub have compiled this short guide. To ensure candidate expertise aligns with your requirements for Jira administration, development, or consultancy roles, ask these key questions during interviews to maximise your chances of securing the best talent for your organisation.

Technical Jira Skills and Experience

Understanding candidates’ hands-on experience with Jira and its various products is crucial for evaluating competency. Entrusting a contractor with only rudimentary, basic-level Jira experience into a managerial role with heavy responsibilities and implications could be disastrous for both the organisation and the candidate. 

Useful questions to gauge their technical capabilities include:

• • • What versions of Jira have you worked with most extensively?
    • Which Jira apps, plugins or add-ons are you well-versed in configuring? (e.g. Workflow Toolbox (JWT), PowerScripts, eazyBI, ScriptRunner, and others)
    • Describe your experience administering permissions and user access in Jira.
    • How have you implemented Jira Service Management for IT teams?
    • What processes did you follow for data migrations between Jira platforms?
    • What particular challenges have you come across during migrations, and how where they resolved?
    • Walk me through your typical Jira issue or workflow customisation approach.
    • What methodologies do you recommend for testing Jira changes?

Listen for specific examples displaying deep, proven expertise across core Jira administration tasks and products based on your current or future needs.

Jira in the Software Lifecycle

For contractors filling developer or engineering roles, assess how they leverage Jira functionality as part of continuous software delivery processes.

Consider these questions:

• • • How have you integrated Jira with Git repositories, CI/CD pipelines, testing tools etc.?
    • What experience do you have using Jira to plan sprints?
    • Describe your processes for tracking issues or bugs from development to deployment.
    • How did you report progress and metrics from Jira to stakeholders?

Freelance developers may be familiar with the Atlassian Jira setup and interface but may have deployed similar solutions (such as Agile, Confluence or Bitbucket) akin to the above examples. If they are aware of how to leverage a Jira development setup even with no professional experience, it may be worth considering a pre-employment exercise and task to assess their familiarity and problem-solving capabilities. 

Adapting Jira to Business Contexts

Many organisations sector-wide leverage Jira and other Atlassian tools beyond software development for business workflows. Jira, like many other tools in the Atlassian stack, offers features that complement a wide range of in-house teams, many of which may mandate a contractor’s impartial input to execute correctly.

Assess contractors’ business analysis abilities through prompts like:

• • • Have you configured Jira for departments outside engineering or development? (sales, marketing, HR, legal etc.)
    • Describe a time you built custom Jira processes to support a client’s unique approach.
    • Describe a time you had to overcome resistance.
    • How did you evaluate existing systems or processes before tailoring Jira?
    • What strategies do you use for training non-technical staff on Jira adoption?

Contractors who can demonstrate a strategic approach to deploying Jira across a business landscape will be best placed to ensure multiple departments witness the advantages of the tool and provide business-wide value.

Working Style and Approach

Technical experience with Jira is essential, but when interviewing Jira contractors, it’s crucial to assess their interpersonal and communication skills. Even if they’re not employed on a full-time basis with the organisation, they should be able to collaborate smoothly and confidently with employees. This will offer a much more positive experience than working with one who is hesitant and comes across as unapproachable.

Useful questions to gauge a candidate’s suitability here include:

• • • How do you balance working independently with taking direction from clients?
    • What processes do you use to understand stakeholder requirements?
    • Describe a situation where you had to explain complex technical concepts simply.
    • How do you stay updated on new Jira versions, features, and trends?

Of course, tailor these hypothetical prompts to prioritise the skills and demands most crucial for your specific needs – whatever Atlassian tool(s) you deploy. 

The Trusted Jira Contractor Solution

For fast, reliable access to pre-screened Jira and Atlassian talent able to drive impact from day one, choose ClearHub. As a leading technical recruitment agency with vast experience in helping our clients fill Jira and Atlassian vacancies promptly, our vast network of global contractors enables us to swiftly provide best-fit resources for any Atlassian project or role.

ClearHub’s dedicated team facilitates the entire hiring process from initial scoping through to successful onboarding and offboarding. We rigorously screen all candidates through technical evaluations, reference checks and cultural fit assessments tailored to each client’s environment. Our transparent, communication-focused approach means you only receive profiles from contractors whose skills and expertise we’ve carefully vetted and verified.

Whatever your Jira needs, simply outline your requirements and timeframes to our recruitment specialists, and then let us take care of the heavy lifting for you. With our input, guidance, and advice, we’ll position best-in-class Jira applicants and talent who we believe will be firmly positioned to add value to your organisation. Contact us today to find out more or arrange a no-obligation chat with one of our experts.