Building websites and delivering them quickly can be challenging for many marketing professionals or web designers. This is why web developers are often hired to build websites using coding and programming. Web developers often need specific skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and attention to detail to complete their job.
A web developer is someone who builds websites using coding and programming. They will take an overall website design concept and build it using different coding languages. Web developers often work alongside web designers or the marketing team to ensure that the design is well made and easy to navigate.
The types of duties a web developer is regularly responsible for often vary depending on the type of web developer they are. The different types of web developers include:
A front-end developer will often work more closely with the design of a website. They are usually fluent in JavaScript, CSS, and HTML to successfully complete their jobs. The duties of a front end developer often involve:
Back-end developers will often work more directly with the technical side of website creation. Back end developers can be responsible for:
A full-stack developer works with both front-end and back-end code. This means they can often be in charge of building the entire website from back to front. Since they know both, most full-stack developers can also receive leadership roles to oversee the whole website development.
Since they both involve the creation of a website, it can be easy to confuse a web developer with a web designer. Web designers often create the concept of a website and its overall design. They will build a website design to ensure that it looks visually appealing for users. They will communicate this design vision to the web developer.
The web developer will typically carry out the overall vision the designer creates. Using code, they will make the front and back end of the website to ensure that it meets the web designer’s needs while remaining secure and well-optimized. Once they finish building the website, they will present it to the web designer, who will ensure it meets their standards.
Web developers often study and use coding languages regularly to complete their tasks. Web designers may learn coding languages if they desire, but it’s not usually needed to complete their job.
To complete numerous web development tasks, here are the coding languages web developers should know:
The national average salary of a web developer can depend on the type of education and work experience they receive. They can work as full-time, part-time or contract employees. Many web developers may choose to work full time until they have gained enough experience to begin a freelance web developer position.
Canada Average Salary: $53,471/ year
Follow the steps below to become a web developer:
Though some employers don’t always require a certain degree in web development, others may prefer web developers receive at least a diploma or bachelor’s degree in web development. You can obtain these at specific colleges or universities.
You can receive many certifications to help you advance in your web development career. Some are available online, while others can be received from lectures and courses within a classroom.
Possible web development certifications you can receive include:
Typically, while receiving education and training as a web developer, students may participate in a web developer internship or Co-op to gain more hands-on experience in web development. This can help potential web developers learn more about what the daily tasks of a web developer entail without yet fully committing to the position.
Employers and hiring managers will also be impressed with the hands-on experience you’ve gained as a web developer and will expect to see how you apply the skills gained from your internship to their position.
When reviewing your resume, employers and hiring managers may want you to prove your experience in web development. They may ask you to share your online portfolio in addition to your resume. Your portfolio should contain links and screenshots to the websites you’ve built in the past. You can also provide brief descriptions detailing the coding you used to create these sites, along with more information about making these sites, if desired.
Once your portfolio is built, you can create your web developer resume. Your resume should highlight your work experience, skills, education and certifications. List your work experience in brief, detailed bullet points.
You can then conduct a job search by researching web developer job postings. Web developers who work in larger companies will often have the chance to work precisely as front-end or back-end developers. If you work in a smaller company, you may have to work as both a front-end and back-end developer and possibly serve as a web designer.