Web Developer Career Path

If you’re interested in becoming a Web Developer, you’re likely to be curious about where to start. How do you go about beginning your career in web development? What would your career journey and growth process look like? Read on to find out.

Getting Started

Before committing to web development as a career, you’ll want to explore the field and what being a Web Developer entails. Many aspiring Web Developers start by reading as much as they can about their potential future career. Some also conduct informational interviews with professional Web Developers. (Note: an informational interview is not a job interview, but rather an opportunity to learn about a potential career from an expert in the field.) Certain libraries and colleges will also have info sessions and even free classes that can help you learn more about web development before you make a financial commitment to that career path.

Do I Need a Degree to Become a Web Developer?

If you don’t have a college degree, or you do have one, but it is not in a field directly relevant to web development, don’t worry! To become a Web Developer, you don’t need a computer science or IT degree. A two-year or four-year computer science degree is just one way to become a Web Developer, but you can take many other paths. A bootcamp is an effective way for aspiring Web Developers to learn coding and other necessary skills.

 Additionally, even if you don’t have a degree, you may have already acquired crucial soft skills, such as communication and teamwork, in your current position, especially if your job involves customer service or mastery of technical procedures. Or perhaps you do have a college degree but fear it may be irrelevant to your web development aspirations. You may be surprised to find that just about any college degree can contribute something to your qualifications. College teaches study skills applicable across fields. 

Read more about if you need a degree to become a Web Developer.

Internships

Getting an internship in web development is a great next step after you’ve studied and gained the necessary skills. Internships provide you with hands-on experience that can help you prepare for the job market. They may be paid or volunteer, but either way, they can boost your applications by giving you a chance to develop excellent projects for your portfolio. An internship is also an opportunity to learn how professional Web Developers approach their jobs and ask lots of questions while you are still in a learning environment. 

Entry-Level Web Developer Jobs

An entry-level Web Developer will typically have either “entry-level” or “junior” at the beginning of their job title. Positions designated as entry-level may not require experience, while positions designated as junior technically do require experience, although that requirement can often be satisfied by internship work. An entry-level or junior Web Developer is often responsible for maintaining the consistency and efficiency of code, troubleshooting the code and content, collaborating with designers on the look of the website or app, and ensuring cross-platform functionality.

Mid-Level Web Developer Jobs

A mid-level Web Developer prepares detailed specifications from which applications will be constructed. They also design, code, test, debug, document, and maintain this program. They will be expected to adapt to new situations and solve complex programming problems. Mid-level Developers may also be called upon to fulfill a leadership role, guiding more junior team members as they work together to create a web product. Another requirement for a mid-level position is keeping track of industry trends and technological advances so that they are prepared to apply that knowledge in their work.

Senior Web Developer Jobs

Senior Web Developers may be solely responsible for an entire application or suite of applications, or they may share that responsibility with a team of fellow Senior Developers. They will lead internal teams and collaborate with outside vendors on the product cycle. Another responsibility of senior developers is the documentation of development phases. They also monitor systems, tools, and applications on an ongoing basis, while adding new projects to their responsibilities.

Another Path: Freelancing

While many Web Developers choose to work for a company or a series of companies during their career, others prefer to operate on a freelance basis. Some web development professionals also start as freelancers before ultimately becoming employed at a company. When you’re just getting going as a Web Developer, freelancing can be a great way to get some real-world experience and develop projects you can then display in your portfolio. But how do you go about starting a freelance web development career?

A freelance Web Developer needs to find a niche to market their skills to, one that fits what they’re good at and like to do. They also need to learn about finance, marketing, and contract law. It’s important, also, to do research into pricing and bear tax laws in mind when deciding on the fees you’ll charge for your services. Once you’re prepared, reach out to your connections and let them know you’re looking for freelance web development projects.

How Do I Find A Web Developer Job?

To find a Web Developer job, you’ll need to know the right job sites, network as much as possible, have excellent materials, be prepared for interviews, and get feedback on your materials and interview skills. The articles in this hub will help you learn about these elements of a successful job search, but getting feedback and mentoring is the most important aspect. If you do a certificate program at Noble Desktop, you’ll get 1-on-1 career mentoring and feedback on your job materials. Your options for relevant certificates at Noble include software engineering, front end web development, JavaScript, full stack development, and Python development.

The best sites to use when searching for web development jobs include Indeed, LinkedIn, Dice, GitHub, and Stack Overflow. If you’re looking for freelance jobs, add in Guru and Upwork. The necessary materials for applying include an excellent portfolio, an efficient resume, a strong cover letter, and a thorough LinkedIn page that includes all of your skills and qualifications. You should have your career mentor review all of these materials so that you can make the best possible impression. You’ll also want to make sure you network by reaching out to people on LinkedIn and attending professional networking events. Knowing someone involved with hiring for a job makes you much more likely to be considered for an interview. There may be hundreds of people applying for the same job, and a personal connection makes it much easier for you to stand out from the crowd.

If you do get an interview, you’ll need to research the company and, if you can, the person or people who will be interviewing you. Then you’ll be prepared to say why you want to work there and connect with your interviewers on a personal level. You’ll also want to research common Web Developer job interview questions and make sure you are ready to answer them. You should be ready for a technical interview, which will usually involve solving a coding problem in real-time. If you want to practice your interviewing skills, you may want to do a “mock interview” with your career mentor. They’ll pretend to be interviewing you, and then you can workshop your answers with them afterward.

Learn the Skills to Become a Web Developer at Noble Desktop

To become a Web Developer, you must learn specific skills critical to the job. Noble Desktop can help you build these skills through in-person or live online instruction. Either way, you’ll have access to expert instructors who can clarify issues when you are confused, provide feedback on your work, and guide you through becoming a Web Developer. Small class sizes and the option to retake any course for free once you’ve completed it are additional incentives for studying with Noble Desktop.

Noble offers several relevant certificate programs demonstrating your Web Developer skills and qualifications to share with potential employers and support you in your job search. Completing the software engineering certificate gives you the broadest qualifications and career path options. If you are primarily interested in developing for the front end, consider the front end web development certificate. JavaScript is becoming increasingly popular for web development, so completing the certificate in JavaScript will boost your resume. Opt for the full stack development certificate if you're interested in front end and back end programming. And if you prefer behind-the-scenes programming, pursue the certificate in Python development.

If you’re a beginner in web development, Noble’s hub of articles and resources on web development is a great place to start and plan your learning path. Noble’s web development courses are excellent if you’re eager to start learning but not yet ready to commit to a full certificate.

Key Takeaways

• Before seeking to become a Web Developer, you should explore the field through research using free tools and events
• Internships are a valuable resource for gaining experience in web development
• Entry-level Web Developers create code and maintain its efficiency, while collaborating with others on the team, such as designers and managers
• Mid-level Web Developers have broader responsibilities, including preparing the specifications from which their teams construct applications and potentially leading teams
• Senior Developers consistently take on leadership roles, sometimes even becoming solely responsible for the management of an entire application or suite of tools
• Some Web Developers also pursue a freelance path, which has a less regular structure but can be equally rewarding
• You can receive comprehensive training to become a Web Developer through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop