If you’re interested in working as a Web Developer, then you’ve made an excellent choice; the field of web development has seen significant growth in the past few years and only continues to expand. Web development is also a very lucrative field, which makes it an even more attractive career option. But how exactly do you get started? This guide will give you five essential tips to point you in the right direction and help you launch a new career in web development.
Tip 1: Conduct Research Before Choosing a Specialty
If you want to start a career in web development, you must take time to research the industry a bit before you choose which area to focus on. Web development is a broad field with several different specialties; if you jump in with both feet before researching each one, you could eventually end up in a career you don’t enjoy.
The three basic specialties within the field of web development are front-end, back-end, and full-stack development. Front-end Web Developers deal exclusively with the parts of a website that users interact with while Back-end Web Developers code and maintain the website’s database, server, and applications. As a combination of both front-end and back-end development, full-stack web development incorporates aspects of both types. There are other specialties as well such as Python, Ruby, and JavaScript development, but developers usually work on either the front-end, back-end, or full-stack for a while before specializing even further.
Once you’ve done your research on the three specialties, you can choose which one you’d like to pursue. Try to select the area of concentration that best aligns with your personality and interests. For example, the best specialization for those who tend to be creative, visual type of people is probably front-end web development. If you’re more analytical and love digging into complex problems to produce workable solutions, then you should probably lean toward back-end web development. Because Full Stack Web Developers work on both the front and back-end of a website, this is an excellent option for someone who’s a jack-of-all-trades.
Of course, these are generalized descriptions of the three concentrations; you should conduct further research to find out which is the best fit for you before making a final decision. You might even try talking to professionals currently working in web development or taking a couple of online classes to see which one aligns with your talents, interests, and career goals.
Tip 2: Learn the Fundamentals Then Expand Your Knowledge
Another tip to help you get started in web development is to focus on the fundamentals first. While you may be tempted to jump ahead because you’re eager to begin your new career, it’s important to have a firm grasp of elementary coding concepts before you start tackling anything too advanced.
So what are the fundamentals? If you’re interested in working on the front-end of websites, you’ll start by learning HTML then move on to CSS and JavaScript. On the back-end, you should begin with JavaScript then pick up another server-side language like Python or Ruby. It’s also useful to know HTML, even though you’re working on the back-end. Prospective Front-end Web Developers should follow the same path as Front-end Developers by studying HTML, CSS, and JavaScript then learning a back-end language or two.
Once you’ve learned these languages, then you can turn your attention to essential front-end tools, libraries, and frameworks that will help speed up your programming. One of the best tools to learn is Git, a popular version control system that helps developers manage changes made to code. Another useful tool is Node Package Manager (npm), which simplifies the management of multiple code versions and resolves dependency conflicts between various code packages. But remember not to tackle these too soon; make sure you have the fundamentals in place first or else you could end up becoming overwhelmed and confused, which could delay the start of your web development career.
Tip 3: Practice Every Day to Apply What You’ve Learned
After you’ve learned how to use a few programming languages and essential tools, you must apply your newly acquired skills by practicing consistently. Programming every day will solidify your knowledge of coding fundamentals and improve your overall skill level. Daily practice will also help you become better at detecting your errors and avoiding similar mistakes in the future, which makes you a better coder in the long run.
While you might find it challenging to practice every single day, you should try your best to stick to a routine and make it a habit. The more time you take off from coding, the harder it is to restart; one day off stretches into two or three days and your skills start to degrade. You’ll find yourself having to refresh your memory and review old concepts instead of working your way toward a new career. The more faithful you are about coding regularly, the sooner you’ll be able to start working as a Web Developer.
Tip 4: Create a Portfolio That’s Tailored for the Job You Want
After you’ve had a chance to develop your skills, you’ll be ready to create a portfolio to showcase your abilities. As you do, try to work with an ideal client or employer in mind. You’re not trying to appeal to all of the companies on the face of the earth; you’re attempting to find employment that matches your skills, expertise, and interests. If you’re passionate about building WordPress sites for small businesses, be sure to say that on your website. Or if you want to leverage your past work experience as a Med Tech to become a Web Developer in the healthcare industry, state that plainly.
As you put your portfolio website together, be clear about your specialty and what type of work you’re looking for. Putting these kinds of specifics on your portfolio will help weed out those employers or clients who don’t meet your requirements. It’s better to let potential employers view your portfolio and screen themselves based on what you’re looking for instead of going through a lengthy interview process only to find out you’re not a match.
Tip 5: Know What You're Looking for in an Employer
Once you have a strong portfolio ready to show off to potential employers, it’s time to look for your first professional web development job. While you might feel like you can't be picky as a new Web Developer, it would be wise to consider what type of company you’d prefer to work with so you don’t end up in a position you loathe.
For example, would you rather work for a large or small company? What industry would you most like to work in: marketing, tech, education, manufacturing, government, hospitality, finance, construction, entertainment, or something else? Do you prefer a remote or on-site position? Are you open to working for a start-up or would you rather find a job at an established company?
Even though you’re new to the industry, don’t feel like you have to take any position that comes along. Yes, you’ll be working as a Junior Developer to start, but you still have some say about the type of industry, company, and position you’re willing to accept. While this may make your initial job search a bit more challenging, it will start you on a career path you’re more likely to enjoy—something you’ll be thankful for years down the road.
Bonus Tip: the Most Efficient Way to Get Started in Web Development
Are you eager to start your career in web development? The fastest and most efficient way to do this is by completing a web development bootcamp. Bootcamps are specialized skills-focused programs that operate on an abbreviated schedule; they’re considered an excellent alternative to university education because they can get you career-ready in several months as opposed to the four years required to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Depending upon your location, you may be able to find a web development bootcamp in your area. If there are none available, a viable alternative would be enrolling in an online web development bootcamp. By taking your bootcamp online, you get the same expert instruction and live feedback as you would from an in-person class except you don’t have to deal with troublesome traffic.
If you’re not quite ready for an immersive bootcamp, another possibility would be enrolling in individual web development classes. That way you can get started on your learning journey while testing your interest in pursuing web development as a career. If you’re trying to fit your education in with a full-time job or busy home life, then online web development classes might be the best choice for you. They offer you maximum convenience with the same high-quality curriculum as in-person classes.