Web Developers are in high demand in 2022, so now is the perfect time to consider it as a career. Depending on your skills and interests, there are many types of Web Development jobs that might appeal to you if you want to build websites. Web-Development-related job postings are often listed as “Front-end Developers”, “Full-stack Developers”, “Back-end Developers”, and “Website Developers” amongst other names. In this article, we discuss what it’s like to be a Web Developer; we go over Web Developer requirements, job expectations, salary ranges, and career progression.
What Do Web Developers Do?
Web Developers are usually in charge of creating the company website, as well as managing the necessary changes. Front-end Developers, Back-end Developers, and Full-stack Developers all have separate roles within the website development process.
- Front-end Developers typically handle the client-facing part of the website. This includes the UX/UI design and understanding how users interact with the website. They often work closely with the members of the Marketing Team to incorporate SEO best practices, written content, videos, and design.
- Back-end Developers typically handle the backside or “server-side” of the web development process. They often work closely with the IT department to set up the servers, networks, and other technical infrastructure necessary to create and run a website.
- Full-stack Developers work on both the front-end and back-end of the website development process.
Reke Ogbokor, the Web Developer and SEO Specialist at Microserve, is a full-stack developer. At Microserve, Reke works on both front-end and back-end development tasks. He says, “at Microserve, I occasionally edit back-end code, but also I use CSS, HTML, and WordPress to create the front-end of the website on a regular basis.”
Reke started his career two years ago as a front-end development Intern at Bright Angels. After that, he applied for the Web Development role at Microserve, where he was referred to the position. He said, “a friend of mine worked at Microserve and had great things to say about the job, so he referred me to the role.”
What Do I Need to Become a Web Developer?
If you want to become a Web Developer, you’ll need to work on certain skills to gain an entry-level Web Development position as a Junior Web Developer. Junior Web Development jobs typically require a working understanding of the fundamentals of HTML, Java, JavaScript, and CSS.
Many Junior Developers start by learning JavaScript. Nowadays, a computer science degree is not necessary to get an entry-level position as a Web Developer. There are also coding boot camps or online courses where people can gain the necessary coding skills required to get their first role as a Web Developer.
Reke studied at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. Reke also found coding courses to be a useful addition to his formal education. Reke says, “I used Udemy, FreeCodeCamp, and a few other Coursera courses to learn about things like Java, JavaScript, PHP and SQL.”
Reke advises, “if you want to get your first job as a Developer, keep applying for jobs and include different coding projects on your resume. Keep working and updating your resume with relevant skills. You could also do what I did and hire a resume writing service to create a professional looking resume for you.”
What is the Career Progression like for Web Developers?
Many Developers start off as either Front-end or Back-end Web Developers. Some will continue to specialize in front-end or back-end development, while others will become full-stack developers – combining both front-end and back-end skills.
From there, Web Developers can also become Web Team Managers, IT Managers, or could even explore other IT-related fields like software programming, cybersecurity, and more. Also, with the emergence of innovative technologies like Web3, the decentralized internet concept, and the metaverse, Web Developers could transition into Web3 development in the future.
In the future, Reke hopes to have his own Web Development business. He says, “right now, I’m working as a Web Developer to gain a better understanding of the overall processes required to build successful websites so that I can provide those services to my own clients in the future.”
How to Become a Web Developer
To become a Web Developer, Reke advises to “keep making websites.” He says, “if you see a website that looks cool, try to make it on your own. When you’re learning, it’s easier to copy designs that you see to practice, and then create your own designs when you become a more experienced Web Developer.”
Reke also says he loves the freedom that working at Microserve brings. “My manager is very understanding, gets things done, and everything is efficient. I also love the remote working aspect of being a Web Developer at Microserve and the lack of commute. And the work is very fulfilling to me. I feel great when I get to publish a webpage that I worked on,” says Reke.
If you’re interested in growing a career in the tech industry or becoming a Web Developer, check out the open Careers at Microserve or contact Janine Parmar at JanineP@microserve.ca.