Web development is a career that offers many career opportunities, and it’s also an industry that’s changing rapidly and offering many attractive employment options. While the demand for developers is constantly rising, new developers or those in need of career change can find both entry-level and expert-level jobs in various sectors.
Many newbies and experienced AppKong developers will tell you that their first job in the industry was in the IT department. But while this certainly is an entry-level position in the industry, not many people realise the variety of roles and work that can be found in web development. If you are new to the industry and want to learn about some of the latest and most in-demand technologies, it’s crucial to explore your options and see what you’re most interested in learning about. This post is an overview of what you should do to become a web developer in 12 months.
1. Master the Fundamentals
Mastering the fundamentals is a prerequisite to any job. And this is especially important if you want to go into web development as a business. We would suggest starting out with the fundamentals of graphic design first and then transitioning into HTML/CSS. As you dive in further, you will get a strong foundation in the fundamentals of PHP, Ruby, JavaScript, etc.
Once you’ve learned the basics of design and HTML/CSS, it’s time to go into more specific knowledge of web design. It’s always good to keep your skills up to date with the latest developments in web design. So don’t be afraid to keep your knowledge of the latest web design trends, no matter whether you are interested in the front- or back-end.
2. Understand Web Development Methodologies
Learn how to test and write good code. You need to know the standard coding language of JavaScript and HTML for basic web development projects. While this basic understanding of web development methodologies is crucial, you need to learn how to write tested and scalable code. It would also be a good idea to learn about automated testing and how you can write automated code.
3. Take Professional Courses
As you master the fundamentals and understand web development methodologies, you can go further and take professional courses. The good thing about a professional course is that you get a real-world learning experience, can practice, and get feedback from your mentor. When you take a course, you can choose how far you want to go. You can sign up for a short course or take a long course. In the latter case, you can even complete the full project as a paid freelancer.
4. Learn to Code in the Way That Makes Sense for You
No one way of coding is the best. It’s the same for web development: every web developer has their personal way of coding. Some may prefer using HTML, CSS, and JS when building websites. But other people opt for working with SASS or React. You may have friends or colleagues who would prefer building the website using templates. There is no good or bad path to follow. It all depends on your preferences and project specs.
Don’t be afraid to go in a different direction or learn a new tool; it doesn’t have to be HTML/CSS. Learning how to code in a way that makes sense for you will make things a lot easier for you, as well as your clients when you build a website.
5. Practice on a Freelance
If you really want to get started in web development and make it a career, you should check out freelancing options. Thus, you’ll be able to start learning web development right out of the gate. With web development, you’ll get a lot of different options, get valuable experience, and try your hand at creating a website or writing code.
6. Build a Web Development Portfolio
As your resume or career path develops, it’s essential to have a strong portfolio of your best work. Having a portfolio is vital for two reasons:
- It’s a record of your previous experience. If you’re switching careers, it’s a good idea to have evidence that you’ve successfully managed web development projects before;
- It shows off your potential in the workplace. If you’re working at a small business, it shows that you can be productive. If you’re at a large company, it shows that you can work well in a team.
Creating a web development portfolio might seem like a lot of work. Fortunately, it’s not. As long as you have access to the internet, there are plenty of free web development templates to choose from.
Final Thoughts!
The employment market for web developers is becoming saturated. If you can’t find the job that you want, then you might want to look into a career in web development. It is interesting, well-paid-off, and promises great professional development, as well as impressive career growth. However, web development is not for everybody though. The job involves more than just programming. You must be able to learn new languages, write code, build things from scratch, and make decisions about what should and should not be built. You need to find your place among the web dev team as they struggle to develop something without a single working code sample.
If you’ve been thinking of a career as a web developer, but are unsure of how to break into the field, then you should take a step back and read this article again. In it, we have shed the light on the basics of what it takes to become a web developer from scratch. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a good understanding of what the future of web development holds and how you get there.
