Web Developer Job Sites:

Once you’re searching for a job as a Web Developer, you’ll want to learn how you can get as many opportunities as possible within your job search. You’re probably also wondering how you can optimize your attractiveness as a candidate. The best way to do these things is by attending to the details of the job search and learning how the job search works in web development specifically. Read on to learn tips and best practices for your Web Developer job search.

Network, Network, Network

It may be tempting to simply apply to whatever jobs you can find on LinkedIn, Indeed, Dice, GitHub, Stack Overflow, and/or other career sites, and then just hope that you’ll float to the top of the pile on your qualifications alone. However, this is unlikely to happen in most cases, no matter how excellent you are as a candidate. A LinkedIn survey reveals that 85% of all job openings are filled through networking rather than cold applying. So you’ll have to do some legwork if you want to have the best chance of success.

How do you network? LinkedIn is a great tool for this, as it’s not just a job board but also a social media site of sorts. You can connect with friends and acquaintances, make posts to share your thoughts, and reach out to people you’d like to get to know. Making connections via LinkedIn will allow you to gather more possibilities for people who can refer you for a job opening, or simply share it with you if they know you are looking. Many employees will share on LinkedIn if their employer is hiring, which gives you the opportunity to reach out and ask if they will refer you for the position.

Be Prompt, but Personalize

It is best to be among the earliest people to apply for a position. You will rarely know how long the posting will be open, and some employers may close a posting early if they have an unexpectedly large number of applicants. Also, being prompt makes a good impression by showing that you are on top of things and carefully monitoring for opportunities, which is also a good quality in an employee. This is an important reason to have your resume and LinkedIn in strong shape for each type of position you are looking at so that you don’t have to delay your application too much by having to revamp these materials.

At the same time, it is important to do some judicious personalization for each application, especially if the application site allows you to share a cover letter. The cover letter is where personalization is most important, as you need to show that you are excited about working at that specific company and demonstrate why you are qualified for that particular job. If you choose to have an objective section on your resume, that section should also be personalized for the particular type of job you are applying for. Some applicants even personalize their objective for a specific company, but it’s arguable whether that is really necessary.

Another way you can personalize your approach is by reaching out to recruiters and hiring managers listed on LinkedIn. Some job postings will state who the recruiter or hiring manager is. You can use the messaging system on LinkedIn to reach out to that person and get their individualized attention. That makes it more likely that they will pull your resume from the pile and actually look at it. This technique goes back to the importance of networking.

Prepare Carefully for Interviews 

So, you’ve secured an interview. What do you do next?

Start by researching this particular company. Learn exactly what the company does, what its mission and values are, and what makes it unique in the field. You want to have a great answer for the nearly inevitable “why do you want to work here?” question—one that shows you have done your research and demonstrates why you are a great fit for the company. 

If you know the people who will be interviewing you, research those people as well. Here, it is less about showing you have researched those people and more about finding points of connection that you can use in an interview. For example, if you learn from LinkedIn that your interviewer had a past in education before they became a Web Developer, and you yourself have worked for an edtech company, you can emphasize that experience as a way of connecting with the interviewer.

You’ll also want to review the job posting and make sure you are prepared to address questions about any of the required or preferred qualifications they list. You should be able to give a confident answer even if asked about a qualification you don’t have. If this comes up, emphasize that you are willing to learn. You can even share a brief anecdote that shows a circumstance in which you quickly learned a vital skill for a previous project or position, which will help inspire confidence that you can do so in this case as well.

In addition to being prepared for questions about this specific job, you should also be prepared to answer common questions in Web Developer interviews. These might include why you are interested in web development, what the main responsibilities of a Web Developer are, and which programming languages you are proficient in. You may also be asked about specifics like the differences between types of HTTP or how you would optimize load time on their site or app.

Finally, you should be ready for a technical interview. In a technical interview, you will often be asked to solve a coding problem in real-time, sharing your screen as you code. An important part of the technical interview is sharing your thought process aloud. That will help the hiring manager understand your approach to web development and the strengths you would bring to a position.

Know Your Worth

Now you’ve got an offer and are wondering how to negotiate salary. First, don’t hesitate to negotiate—it’s common practice, and failing to negotiate often leaves money on the table that adds up over the years. 

Your best tool for negotiating is research. Use sites like Glassdoor and Indeed to learn what the average pay range is for someone with your qualifications in the area the employer is located. Then, when you’re actually negotiating, aim for something in the high end of that range, and be prepared to list the qualifications that will make it worth the employer’s while to offer you that amount. You should also think about what you can do that will add financial value to the company. Businesses will always think about you in terms of how much money you can make for them, and you should too when negotiating salary.

Get Feedback

You can practice and ask for feedback on any of the skills listed above, and you should do so. One technique is to set up a “mock interview” with a trusted teacher or advanced professional in the industry. They’ll pretend to interview you for the type of profession you’re looking for, and then you will workshop your answers together so you can improve them before you step into a real interview. For this and other purposes, make sure you choose a certificate program or bootcamp that offers full career support. At Noble Desktop, all certificate programs provide 1-on-1 career mentoring. Certificates offered at Noble include software engineering, front end web development, Javascript, full stack development, and Python development. 

Learn the Skills to Become a Web Developer at Noble Desktop

To become a Web Developer, you must learn specific skills critical to the job. Noble Desktop can help you build these skills through in-person or live online instruction. Either way, you’ll have access to expert instructors who can clarify issues when you are confused, provide feedback on your work, and guide you through becoming a Web Developer. Small class sizes and the option to retake any course for free once you’ve completed it are additional incentives for studying with Noble Desktop.

Noble offers several relevant certificate programs demonstrating your Web Developer skills and qualifications to share with potential employers and support you in your job search. Completing the software engineering certificate gives you the broadest qualifications and career path options. If you are primarily interested in developing for the front end, consider the front end web development certificate. JavaScript is becoming increasingly popular for web development, so completing the certificate in Javascript will boost your resume. Opt for the full stack development certificate if you're interested in front end and back end programming. And if you prefer behind-the-scenes programming, pursue the certificate in Python development.

If you’re a beginner in web development, Noble’s hub of articles and resources on web development is a great place to start and plan your learning path. Noble’s web development courses are excellent if you’re eager to start learning but not yet ready to commit to a full certificate.

Key Takeaways

• Web Developer job search best practices and tips include:
• Network, network, network
• Be prompt, but personalize
• Prepare carefully for interviews
• Know your worth
• Get feedback
• You can receive comprehensive training to become a Web Developer through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop