With so many technological solutions available in the market, the huge amount of applications that allow us to perform various activities, and the great demand for web developers in the global market, it is normal to want to be part of it.
Schools specialized in programming like WantoDev, can help millions of students to become the best web developers in the world with their programming courses.
This article aims to give you all the information you need to become a successful web developer. You will learn what this job offers and the skills needed, as well as the advantages and disadvantages that this area of work has to offer.
What does a web developer do?
As the name suggests, a web developer is a professional who creates websites using different programming languages, such as HTML, CSS3, or JavaScript. It is also in charge of making the website look and works well.
Web development is complicated and quite dense, that is why it is divided into three areas of specialization where each of them has a more specific function, let’s get to know them:
Front-end Web Developer
Web developers specializing in Front-End are responsible for working on the parts of the website that the user sees and interacts with. While coding, they have to think about the user experience: How do the images look? Is the site accessible? Does it work well in all major browsers?
Back-end Web Developer
This specialist works behind the scenes, taking care of the website infrastructure and all the server-side elements. He makes sure that a website has optimal performance and all the back-end functionality needed for the front-end of the website to run smoothly!
Full Stack Web Developer
This is a “multi-purpose” web developer as it encompasses the skills of both front-end and back-end developers. He/she is responsible for the development of the project, from setting up the servers to designing with CSS, so he/she must understand business logic, hosting and network environments, as well as user experience.
Start by educating yourself
After familiarizing yourself with your chosen web development specialization, the next step is to immerse yourself in it. Of course, there are endless options for this, here everything will be limited to your availability, budget, and goals.
You can always start working on your first project at this stage to see if it is really what you want to do for a living, at this stage, it is ideal to consult free tutorials on youtube and programming discussion forums.
Now, if this is what you want to do for a living, we recommend you to sign up for Wanto.Dev. An online learning platform focused on web development and the different existing programming languages, where you will have classes with professional web programmers and at the end of the course you will be certified as a master of web development!
No matter which path you choose, make sure that the learning is of quality and that it helps you get to where you want to be. This field will need dedication and effort in the learning phase.
Improve and update your skills
Web development is a constantly evolving field, where you must keep up with the latest technologies and market demands.
This means that learning web development or web design should not end after you get a job, you must keep updating your skills and consolidate your credibility as a professional web developer.
Make every effort to learn new technologies and the most innovative programming languages that can open doors for you in large companies. Currently, the vast majority of companies looking for web developers are looking for professionals who are proficient and experienced in the three basic components of programming: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
However, learning Bootstrap, Java, PHP, and tools such as Oracle and SQL Server can be the factor that makes you stand out from other programmers applying for the same job.
Acquire work experience
Work experience will not only give you an understanding of how the market moves, but it will also familiarize you with the industry, improve your programming skills and increase your chances of employment.
Of course, once you have the necessary knowledge, the hardest part is usually to start gaining verifiable work experience. But don’t worry, here we give you a couple of options to make your path much easier, pay attention:
- Reach out to your community: Volunteer work is the easiest way to start gaining work experience. While you may be working for free, allow yourself to see the bigger picture, this experience will allow you to improve your skills while helping your community grow.
- Participate in open source projects: There are several platforms (such as GitHub) where open source projects are exposed and you are allowed to contribute to the source code of the project. Also, it is a good way to improve your skills and connect with other professionals!
- Provide freelance services: Do freelance work, search the web for platforms like PeoplePerHour or Fiver, where individuals, startups, and small businesses post small web development projects in which you could help and get paid for your services.
It’s time to create your online portfolio
It is a reality that employers want to see results, real examples of projects you have developed. An online portfolio will help you keep track of your professional progress and show your credibility as a professional web developer during job interviews.
According to the guys at WantoDev, the best way to do this is to create a website from scratch, in which you can include all the work you have done before.
A very practical and simple solution to start with can be to use CMS like WordPress, which will allow you to go a little further in customization and content management.
The guys at WantoDev have offered us several tips for creating a great web developer portfolio, which we present below:
- Choose a good domain name: If possible, try to go for your name as the domain name for your website. If this is not possible, try to go for a unique domain name that reflects your personality as a web development professional.
- Use a responsive design: You should ensure that your website is accessible and fully functional for all devices with an internet connection. Try as much as possible to keep it as simple as possible and free of clutter!
- Links to your projects: Provide a table of contents with access to all the projects you worked on. You can do this with GitHub and Bitbucket, but remember to provide only the best projects and a bit of context indicating what you did or who you worked for.
- Highlight the skills in which you specialize: Stand out from the competition, showcase all the programming languages, tools, and web development skills you master, and don’t forget to include your most relevant certifications!
F.A.Q about Web Development
By now you should have a fairly general overview of everything you need to become a good web development professional, however, you may still have some specific doubts, so we have prepared this section where we will try to clarify the most frequently asked questions at Wanto.Dev:
How much does a web developer earn?
This will depend on the country you work in and the type of specialization you have, however, the average salary for web developers in the United States is about $74,742 per year.
Full Stack developers tend to have a slightly higher average salary and this is due to the greater number of responsibilities and programming skills they have.
What are the most demanded programming languages?
This answer will depend on the branch of web development in which you specialize since each of them has its programming languages that change according to market demand.
For the Front-End developer, the three most popular languages are HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. While for the Back-End developer the most sought-after are Golang, Node.js, and Python!
Becoming a web developer is difficult?
Becoming a professional web developer is no easy task, like any other specialty it requires a lot of hard work, sacrifice and determination. However, our friends at wanto.dev have some excellent courses that will make you a master of programming in the shortest amount of time possible.
It is important to remember that this is an area that never stops evolving and therefore it will be a continuous learning process, so you must prepare yourself for that if you want to go far in one of the most demanded professional areas worldwide.
Web developers can work from home?
Of course! The nature of this job allows web developers the possibility to work remotely, but this will all depend on the work arrangement you get. Depending on the company’s policies, you may be offered to work in the office, at home, or a combination of both.
(This is something you should stipulate before signing a contract).