In the modern world, we all use computers every day. Whether it’s for work or play, we are always browsing the web and visiting sites. But have you ever wondered what it takes to build a website or application? The person who does this for a living is called a web developer. They are programmers who develop the design and build the layout of the website. In some cases, they will work for one company and will look after the website and browsers. They will constantly update it to ensure it appeals to clients and is fully functional. The web developer will bring their client’s ideas to life and add features like SEO to help draw customers. For this role, they will work at the facility or at home and will take on daily tasks. Or they might work for themselves and develop a number of client’s websites.
They will get a set timescale and will create a website for that client or even help them to solve an issue with a site. A lot of people worry that web developing is a tricky skill to learn. The idea of coding puts a lot of people off following this career path. But being a web developer is a highly rewarding job and is in an industry which is constantly expanding. Therefore, you will not have to worry about the work drying up any time soon. There are a few things you can do to help you secure a job in this career field. So here are some vital tips on how to become a web developer.
You need to work on your computer skills
To be a web developer, you need to have a love for computers. Passion for tech is a top attribute that employers will look for at interviews. You should work on computers in your own time and talk about this in your CV. You should practice your computer skills while at home on your own computer. There are many skills you need to develop if you want to head down the web developer route. In fact, these are the priority over education if you want to work in this field. For starters, you need to work on your HTML and CSS skills. These are the main languages you use in coding. You can make your own website using this skill to put it into practice. It’s also wise to learn JavaScript which helps to run the website efficiently. This is a software you will need if you want to progress in your career as a web developer.
Photoshop is also an essential skill if you design websites for clients. Whether you need to create a logo or a banner, this is the software you will use so it’s best to get to grips with this programme. Learning how to use the WordPress platform is important when you work with a client’s website. So many companies use this to launch their own website in the UK. You can use WordPress to start a blog to help you to get to grips with the basics.
SEO is also an important skill as you will need to know about this when working on a site. After all, it helps the company to build up a customer base which will lead to sales, as well as an increase in search engine rankings if it’s well optimized. Responsive design skills will help you to learn how sites work on mobile phones and tablets. After all, this is the future of web developing. You will find that you will specialize in one of these skills when you become a web developer and your work will mainly focus on this specific skill. Therefore, getting to grips with them all will help you to decide which one to specialize in when you begin your career.
You need to complete a course
To get that role of a web developer, you will need a good set of qualifications behind you. While skills are of high importance, a good education background will help you to secure a role in this sector. You need a good set of GCSEs in a range of subjects including Information Technology. You will need to work hard to get a good grade in this subject. You should then follow this with A levels in subjects which include Maths and IT. With high grades in these subjects, you can then gain acceptance onto a diploma or degree in web design. A course in these will help you gain a job as a web developer.
After all, you will learn all the skills you need to help you start in an entry-role position. You could also look at doing courses in specific skills you need for this career such as SEO or HTML. You can often do this at home via companies such as NCC Home Learning which will fit around your current work life. Once you have these credentials, it will help you to win over those roles in web developing as it will show you have toned those required skills. If you haven’t been to college or university, you can still go into web developing via an apprenticeship. A lot of IT companies take on school leavers and train them as they work in the role. It’s an excellent way to get experience while training at the same time.
You need to get some work experience
It’s so important you get some work experience if you want to become a web developer. While you might have a great diploma or degree, you still need to show you have experience in the field if you want to secure a role. Doing some experience helps you to put your skills into practice. It’s something you can talk about when you do go for a role at a company. You could email different companies in your area to ask if they offer a work experience placement. A few days or weeks will help you to learn the role and you will pick up some tips. You can shadow a professional and learn from experienced professionals.
You might hear about potential job roles that you can then apply for at the company. As you have already done some work for the company, it will help you to get a foot in the door. You could also go down the freelancer route which will give you some opportunities to practice your skills. As it says on Skill Crush, you can find a whole range of freelancing opportunities online which will give you a chance to create a web page or solve a troubleshooting issue. For some people, they find that freelancing is a flexible and rewarding way to make a living out of web developing. By doing this, you can build your portfolio so you have work to show a potential employer. After all, they will want to see proof of your experience. They will need to see your coding and web design skills before starting your employment. You can also work with family and friends if you need to boost your portfolio. Create websites for your close friends and then you can show your skills when you go for that all-important interview.
Great post. Very useful for us