Lighthouse

Term from Web Development industry explained for recruiters

Lighthouse is a tool created by Google that helps check how well websites perform and follow best practices. Think of it as a website inspector that gives scores and suggestions for improvement. When developers mention Lighthouse in their resumes, they're typically talking about using it to make websites faster, more accessible, and easier to find in search engines. It's like a report card for websites that helps developers identify and fix problems that might affect user experience or search engine rankings. This tool is especially important for businesses that want their websites to perform well on Google searches and provide a good experience for their users.

Examples in Resumes

Improved website performance scores from 65 to 95 using Lighthouse optimization techniques

Conducted Lighthouse audits on client websites to enhance SEO and accessibility

Led website optimization projects using Lighthouse and Google Lighthouse recommendations

Typical job title: "Web Performance Engineers"

Also try searching for:

Frontend Developer Web Developer Performance Engineer SEO Specialist Web Performance Specialist Frontend Engineer Technical SEO Engineer

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you implement Lighthouse in a continuous integration pipeline?

Expected Answer: Should explain how to automate website testing using Lighthouse, setting up performance budgets, and creating alerts when scores drop below acceptable levels. Should mention integration with tools like Jenkins or GitHub Actions.

Q: How do you prioritize Lighthouse recommendations for large-scale websites?

Expected Answer: Should discuss analyzing cost vs. impact, considering business priorities, and creating actionable roadmaps for improvements. Should mention experience with balancing different aspects like performance, SEO, and accessibility.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the key metrics in a Lighthouse report and why are they important?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain main metrics like First Contentful Paint, Time to Interactive, and Speed Index in non-technical terms and their impact on user experience.

Q: How would you improve a website's performance score in Lighthouse?

Expected Answer: Should discuss common optimization techniques like image optimization, code splitting, caching strategies, and removing unused code, explaining these in business-friendly terms.

Junior Level Questions

Q: How do you run a Lighthouse audit?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain how to use Chrome DevTools or command line to run Lighthouse audits and generate basic reports.

Q: What are the main categories that Lighthouse tests for?

Expected Answer: Should identify the main categories: Performance, Accessibility, Best Practices, SEO, and Progressive Web App, with basic understanding of what each means.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic website performance testing
  • Understanding Lighthouse reports
  • Simple performance optimizations
  • Basic SEO improvements

Mid (2-4 years)

  • Advanced performance optimization
  • Automated testing setup
  • Cross-browser testing
  • Detailed report analysis

Senior (4+ years)

  • Performance strategy development
  • Team training and mentoring
  • Complex optimization projects
  • Integration with development workflows

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No understanding of basic web performance concepts
  • Unable to interpret Lighthouse reports
  • No experience with real-world optimization
  • Lack of knowledge about SEO and accessibility basics

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