You've decided to become a web developer but don't know where to start?

via GIPHY

Becoming a web developer requires a combination of education and other learned skills. There are also some character traits I believe you need to have (but which can be learned, over time). This article will cover the ends and outs of this career choice to help you make a decision on whether becoming a developer is right for you

The Internet is rapidly becoming the main method for any retail transactions. Due to this, and many other reasons, the Internet has also become the sole provider for any news, entertainment, and solcia media needs, should – and when, they arise. With the Internet continuing to occupy such an integral role in today’s modern world, it makes becoming a Web Developer an excellent, and extremely viable career choice in today’s economy

According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, web development jobs will increase at a rate of 20% through the year 2022, which is higher than the national average. As such, the average salary for a web developer is $62,500 a year (which breaks down to $30.05 an hour). Don’t argue with the numbers; just research for yourself how majoring in Web Development would be the smartest first step at setting you up for success.

Educational Requirements for a Web Developer

There is a common misconception surrounding the job of a web developer, wherein many people believe that the sole duty of the job is coding. This mindset sometimes causes aspiring web developers to believe that they can utilize one of the various online resources that teach a person to code, in order to land a job on their own, without the attendance of formal training.

The reality is, this method is truly only successful if someone plans to launch and monetize their own website for personal use. Otherwise, you will not match up to your peers in the eyes of any potential employers due to lack of formal education. Therefore, most web developers have obtained, at the very least, an associate’s degree in programming. The ideal education path for someone considering a career in web development would be to first obtain a bachelor’s degree in computer science, or any field directly related to computer science.

Typical coursework in the study of computer science includes upper-division mathematics, networking, database management, cyber-security, web design, and programming. However, most degree programs offer students the option to pick a specialization in one of these fields to then tailor their education towards a specific career path.

Pursuing a graduate degree is not a job requirement unless you plan to become a professor of Web Development. Even then, if you do choose this career path, you will have to earn years of field experience to land a job, as well. Therefore, it’s best to land a job through your bachelor’s degree first, so that then you can pursue your master’s degree, all the while gaining valuable experience at the same time.

Skills Required as a Web Developer

There are certain skills required to become a professional web developer, however, by carefully cultivating a combination of the following skills, you’re adding to beginnings of landing your very first job.

Attention to Detail

Coding a website requires meticulous attention to detail. Just one misplaced character can throw off the functionality of an entire website. However, on the plus side, code will flow naturally to you once you have built up enough experience with it. Patience This goes hand-in-hand with attention to detail, as mistakes will arise no matter how careful you are. Web development requires a plethora of patience to be able to pour over pages of code in order to find even the smallest of mistakes.

Good Communication Skills

The web developer’s job is to turn an organization’s idea into a functional website. Something important to note, is that most people do not understand how a website is coded, and therefore will not be able to communicate what they want in programmer’s terms. It is the job of the web developer to interpret the concept from layman’s idea, or terms, into an intricately designed website. If you work within a large organization, this will involve communicating with multiple departments.

A Thirst for Knowledge

We are living in the ‘Age of Technology’; therefore, technology is the field in which advancements have been happening the most rapidly. Web developers are constantly pushing the envelope with new web apps, designs, and widgets to attract web traffic. So, it should be noted that the best web developers have a constant thirst for knowledge that keeps them up to date on the latest trends in web development.

Web Developer Daily Responsibilities

The day-to-day life of a web developer varies depending on the type of company you choose to work for. For example, should you have your own web design company, then a good portion of your day will be spent communicating with clients.On the other hand, if you choose to work for a large company, a large portion of your day will be spent communicating with other departments. While it is a common misconception that computer science majors are anti-social, it is simply untrue. A web developer must use a variety of communication skills every day to ensure they are clearly conveying their customer’s, or organizations, visions throughout their work and designs.

Career Paths as a Web Developer

The ‘Age of Technology’ has opened up several different career paths for web development in recent years, and while it used to be only tech companies that had high-function websites, now it seems almost every site has intricately incorporated design and animation in some form. Therefore, as sites become more complex, the role of the web developer becomes more important. If this sounds interesting, here are a few examples of the career paths in web development:

Working in the ‘Non-Tech’ Sector

Virtually every Fortune 500 company employs at least one web developer, as a company’s website has become an increasingly integral aspect to their marketing and lead generation strategies. These companies will hire web developers to craft their digital image, but while this avenue remains one of the few corporate options available for web developers, it’s a perfect choice for developers who want to work in the business world, but also want to maintain use of their computer skills.

Working at a Web Design Firm

Another obvious job choice available for web developers are web design firms, which specialize in providing high-function websites for clients, as the work climate can vary from firm to firm, and these jobs often offer a more relaxed work atmosphere. Dress attire is likely to be casual, and the offices may be laid out in number unique ways. Thus, working with a group of like-minded individuals at a web design firm can be both socially, and financially, rewarding.

Working for Yourself

Web developers are in high demand, and there is no sign of this trend stopping any time soon. So, if you’ve always wanted to be your boss, then starting your own small, web development business might be the right next move for you. While this option involves more work than the other paths on this list, it also offers the greatest potential reward.

Running your own business involves prospecting for clients, conducting market research, and closing the deal before reaching the developmental stages. Once all of this is completed, you then must deliver the website, and then oversee all accounting components upon payment.

However, as most of this work will be delegated to others as your business grows, this is a task that you should be able to shed as you evolve as the owner of a web development business. Once your business gets off of the ground floor, you can outsource things like accounting and prospecting, so that you are able to focus only on doing what you love.

Web designers and wеb рrоgrаmmеrѕ are соmрlеmеntаrу іn their roles toward the development оf a web ѕіtе. First, you nееd to іdеntіfу where your аbіlіtу lіеѕ, аnd allow that to inform уоur choice оf area оf ѕресіаlіzаtіоn. If you know you hаvе thе ability to wrіtе programs, gо bеуоnd wеb dеѕіgnіng аnd become a web рrоgrаmmеr. However, the truth of the matter is that programming isn’t for everyone, so if you don’t quite posess the skills to write programs, stick to wеb dеѕіgnіng so that you can continue tо grow аnd ѕhаrреn уоur abilities.