Technology has become an essential aspect of our daily life, from how we consume information to how we interact. It has completely transformed all facets of society and is a driving force for growth across major commercial sectors. Moreover, the rapid growth of the tech industry has given rise to a never-seen-before demand for skilled professionals.
Tech is a vast and dynamic field with various career paths. And within the industry, web development is one of the most promising career paths, making it the ideal choice for anyone looking to launch a tech career.
What is web development?
In simpler terms, web development is the foundation of everything you do over the internet, whether surfing, scrolling, or shopping online. Web development is the process of developing user-friendly, intuitive, and functional web-based applications according to the client’s requirements. It also includes releasing updates and performing routine maintenance to ensure that the application continues functioning as intended.
If you want to become a successful web developer, continue reading to learn five career tips to kickstart a successful career as a web developer.
Five career tips for web developers
1. Master the fundamentals – Focus on one
Web developers use several languages and frameworks to develop web-based applications. And although you have some choice over which languages you learn, it’s better to focus on the fundamentals before grappling with advanced concepts. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript make up the fundamentals of web development, and the best way to master these fundamentals is by practicing what you learn. What better way to put your knowledge into practice than joining a digital skills internship program? Internships can help you gain employable skills for future roles and help you stand out in the industry.
Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, you can learn any framework, library, or language as you see fit. As web development is a growing industry, it’s best to stick to the ideals of lifelong learning to stay at the top of all the developments and advancements in web development.
2. Determine your specialization
Although web development may seem like a linear career path, it has its specializations with different roles and responsibilities. There are three main specializations in web development, which include:
- Front-end development
It deals with the visual aspects of the website. It involves developing the feel of a website, as well as its usability and intuitiveness. Every web asset a user can interact with on a website falls under front-end development, and a front-end developer develops all these assets.
- Back-end development
It deals with the website’s functionality and constitutes the logic behind every interaction on the website. The back-end developer is responsible for making the website functional for the user and oversees every aspect of server-side logic, from databases and networks to the domain and hosting.
- Full-stack development
It combines front-end and back-end development and focuses on developing a complete website experience for the user. A full-stack developer is responsible for all web development stages and is proficient in front-end and back-end programming languages. They have the experience and expertise to handle and implement every aspect of a functional website from start to finish.
3. Earn certifications
Another important tip is to earn certifications, which can significantly improve your resume and help you stand out from your competition. After all, web development is a highly challenging and competitive career path; to break into the industry, you need to show that you have what it takes to do the job.
Earned certifications show potential employers that you are committed to keeping up with industry standards and possess the knowledge and skills they’re looking for. Furthermore, candidates with certificates to back their skills and knowledge have the upper hand over candidates with nothing to show for themselves.
4. Practice your skills via coding projects
Once you have mastered the fundamentals of web development and programming, the next step to growing your professional skills is to start practicing what you’ve learned. One of the best ways to do so is by building beginner-friendly projects, allowing you to learn new concepts and develop new skills. After all, experience is the best teacher, and as you build projects and play around with code, your proficiency will naturally improve. Plus, as you progress, you should continue to challenge your bottom line by moving on to more advanced projects.
Although web design is not part of the job, web developers can significantly benefit from grasping the fundamentals of design, with a focus on responsive design. A website’s visual aspects fall under a web designer’s responsibility. However, web developers, especially front-end devs, should understand design principles to implement intuitive user-centered designs that meet all user requirements. Still, your primary focus should be to hone your hard skills, such as your proficiency in programming languages like jQuery and JavaScript and tools like git.
5. Build a portfolio
As soon as you feel comfortable with the fundamentals of web programming, it’s time to start developing a portfolio showcasing your work. After all, when it comes to the job hunt, nothing showcases your skills better than a portfolio. There are three things you should consider if you want to build a portfolio that highlights your strong suits and helps you stand out from the crowd.
First, your portfolio should fully demonstrate your ability to work across a spectrum of web development projects. It shouldn’t include every single one of your projects; instead, it should serve as a highlight reel of your best work, demonstrating your quality as a developer. Next, your selections should represent your interests while demonstrating your grasp of web development to show that you’re a perfect fit for the position you’re applying for. Lastly, conduct background research on prospective employers and tailor your portfolio according to their needs before applying by removing any irrelevant projects.
Bottom Line
Tech is everywhere, the industry is booming like never before, and web development is the backbone of the industry. However, it is a challenging and competitive industry, and consistent efforts are key to making it as a web developer. As the influence tech holds over our lives will only grow with time, there has never been a better time to kickstart a tech career in web development. Follow these five career tips to stand out from the pack and land your dream job.