Professionals with higher degrees also tend to earn more than their counterparts. Web developers can also take CEUs from universities to gain insight into emerging trends and technologies in their field and learn new skills. Most colleges offer online and in-person CEUs. Professionals should also look for postsecondary institutions offering free online courses. Web developers should always seek out opportunities to advance their careers, including by joining a professional organization and taking part in networking events.
Professional organizations provide many useful resources, including scholarly publications, online workshops and seminars, job boards, and conferences. Students and professionals alike can join professional organizations.
Readers should note that most organizations require a membership fee. Attending networking events can lead to collaboration and help professionals find like-minded peers. Networking also allows professionals to make connections and find new job opportunities.
Professionals looking to transition into web development may need to meet new education requirements or receive additional training, depending on their current field.
Many professionals who transition into web development come from other tech fields, such as computer programming and software development. Workers with knowledge and expertise related to coding languages, graphic design, and web-based technologies generally do not need another degree, although some of these professionals may need to complete additional training before taking a new job.
Professionals transitioning from nontechnology fields must often earn a degree in computer programming or a related field. However, web developers only need an associate degree for many entry-level positions. Web developers can find work across the country and in industries like information services, technical consulting, and advertising. Read on to learn more about the most common industries for web development professionals and the locations with the highest employment levels and the most lucrative jobs.
In the digital age, most industries need web developers to create well-designed websites that appeal to users. While some web developers may work for big tech companies, others can find jobs in industries like advertising or consulting.
This industry involves the integration of software and hardware design and manufacturing. Professionals in this field can work solely in web-based technologies or with physical hardware. Software publishers act as the go-between for software developers and software distributors. This industry helps developers find their audience and reach bigger markets. Management, scientific, and technical consultants offer advice and design services to companies.
Consultants also help businesses develop and fix web-based products. Workers in this industry study market demographics and develop the best strategies to reach consumers.
Web developers create websites and manage databases with customer information. These professionals manage and store large amounts of data for businesses. Additionally, hosting may involve placing content on a server for users to access over the internet. Source: BLS. Web developers can pursue tech careers across the country, although the availability of work and the salary outlook differ depending on the state.
California employs the most web developers by far, outpacing the next two biggest employers — Washington and New York. However, the states with the highest employment do not always offer the most lucrative wages.
Washington offers the highest average salary for web developers, followed by California, Georgia, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Cody Swann founded Gunner Technology in His company is now one of the nation's top software development firms based on revenue per employee. As CEO, Cody prefers to operate "from the trenches," often serving as project manager or developer.
Cody is an expert in business optimization and automation, agile methodologies, and isomorphic development. It greatly depends on where they are hired and what their skill level is. I've hired new grads who are senior level in terms of expertise because they've been working on web development projects since they were 11 years old. That's really what you're looking for; however, new graduates with only the skills they learned in school can expect to do a lot of bug fixes at a larger company and pair programming at a smaller company or startup.
Right now, it's a golden ticket. But my career has been writing web development software. That said, I got in it 20 years ago. I'm not sure anyone would even give me a look without a technical degree these days, which is unfortunate because most of what is good to know in web development comes from hands-on experience, not a classroom.
I've been the CEO ever since. I started my own company because I hated the politics and bureaucracy of large companies and I wanted to be in complete control of my own successes and failures. Gunner is obviously a service-oriented company, but a lot of web developers do end up founding startups in the industry, albeit more oriented to product than service. The biggest pro is that you're always learning and new advancements are always being made.
If you're bored as a web developer, you're doing something wrong. The biggest con is that we're a very entitled industry. Everyone thinks they're the best at what they do and deserve what they haven't earned. Have code samples in a Github repository, be prepared to handwrite code on a whiteboard during interviews, and look for a place with a strong mentoring program.
You probably won't end your career where you start, so you want to learn as much as possible. Web development students and professionals should take advantage of professional resources.
Read on to learn more about professional organizations, free online courseware, and scholarly publications relevant to the field of web development. The institute offers professional development opportunities like leadership workshops and certificate courses.
Members receive discounts on conferences, design competitions, health insurance, and web development products. AIGA also delivers job listings, diversity initiatives, and student resources. Association for Computing Machinery : Boasting over , members, ACM is the world's largest computing organization.
The association connects professionals through regional chapters and international conferences. Professionals can seek guidance and apply for jobs through the association's career center. International Web Association : Established in , IWA serves approximately , members in more than countries. The association establishes educational standards and operates certification programs. Professionals can pursue credentials in areas like site design, server administration, e-commerce, and web development.
IWA also offers online courses and job listings. Professionals collaborate through special-interest groups, online communities, and mentorship programs. In addition to a job bank, the association provides guidance for job seekers and resources for hiring managers. UXPA also offers webinars, volunteer opportunities, and financial awards for students and practitioners.
World Organization of Webmasters : Founded in , WOW supports students, educators, and practicing web professionals. Through an academy program, WOW offers webinars, on-site skill development training, and continuing education opportunities. Professionals can gain certification in areas like e-commerce management, web animation, and mobile app development. Professionals and students who complete the course receive a shareable certificate. Django for Everyone - University of Michigan : This class helps Python programmers create Django applications and websites.
Software Testing and Automation - University of Minnesota : This four-month course helps students create functional tests for front-end and back-end code in their software projects. Students learn how to create a functionality test and how to measure the effectiveness of their testing methods. The class covers black-box and white-box testing, fully automated testing, and testing for web and mobile applications.
The four-month course walks students through project development from user research to creating program architecture and developing sitemaps. ACM Journal on Emerging Technologies in Computing Systems : This publication provides original technical papers in new research and technologies in areas like design analysis, verification, testing, and evaluation of computers and computing systems. The journal also discusses the efficacy of turning new technologies into information systems.
Journal of Usability Studies : This peer-reviewed international publication educates readers on user experience design. Mobile application developers design and build websites and applications for use on mobile devices, such as the iPhone.
The mobile industry is fueling the need for individuals with front-end development talent and back-end integration skills. Surveys from Gartner Inc. A long-standing role in the technology sector, web administrators have experience with Internet protocols e.
They work in web services to manage internal and external corporate web pages; identify and correct server or web page issues; perform application data backups; and monitor network systems, such as firewalls. Information architecture is concerned with how information is organized on a website and how effectively a website can access and communicate that information.
With knowledge of audience and business needs, information architects define the structure and navigation of a website, taking into account usability, user requirements, and overall design. A rapidly emerging field, information architecture combines the technical expertise of programming with the user experience to implement usability best practices. Data analytics—or big data—has created many career opportunities for development and programming professionals.
More and more companies are relying on data analysis to make business decisions, and consequently require individuals with specialized programming skill sets to manage and interpret that information. Using database programs such as Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle, database developers design back-end website integrations and applications for use in e-commerce, and develop database structures.
The thriving tech industry is creating new career opportunities within web design and application development.
The increasing importance of responsive design on mobile devices, the rise of social media, the adoption of online shopping and e-commerce, cloud computing, and managed services e. Below are a few spotlight web development careers that span business to design, and development to user experience.
Front-end designers combine knowledge of user interface best practices with CSS and programming skills to design functional, appealing websites and mobile-based applications. With an eye for clean design, front-end developers translate technical requirements into user-friendly websites and applications.
Job growth is projected to surpass 20 percent between and , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; front-end developers with some back-end knowledge will likely be in the greatest demand.
Software developers are detail-oriented problem solvers who have a foundational understanding of programming languages and frameworks. They develop software programs and applications, and often serve in project management roles, directing an entire development process from planning to coding to product release.
Demand is surging nationwide, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 23 percent growth in the field by and 45 percent within the computer systems design industry.
Combining analytical and marketing skills with experience in Internet technology, e-commerce analysts identify business needs and user requirements, and make recommendations for the design and implementation of e-commerce solutions on websites. The need for analysts is on the upswing, with 43 percent job growth projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics between and Led by tech leaders such as Google, Facebook and Twitter, the hiring landscape in web development is being driven by the need for innovative web applications and technologies.
A healthy start-up industry and the expansion of emerging fields including e-commerce, mobile, social media, big data, and cyber security, are also fueling growth. In particular, notes Robert Half Technology, hospitality and financial services are expected to be hot sectors for web developers as both industries need to provide reliable, secure online services to clients.
Development is a hot topic—whether in software, web applications, websites, mobile applications, or computer hardware. Employment research points to the same conclusion: individuals with programming and development skills are highly valued. A degree in web development can position graduates for career success not only in that specific field, but also across other professional areas, such as the following:. When it comes to computers and the Internet, the IEEE Computer Society is at the forefront, providing professional development and educational programs to its members, as well as information to help promote and advance technology.
A leading non-profit organization dedicated to establishing certification, ethical and instructional standards for web developers and other web professionals.
An online site filled with tools to help web developers create websites. From software to glossaries to tutorials, this site provides information to guide web developers in creating online content.
This is a membership-based organization that facilitates networking between its members. Additionally, WebProfessionals. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mollis sem ac amet turpis at nulla nulla. Neque tempor lorem mattis tempus laoreet purus donec. Luctus non pretium, eu egestas laoreet ut cras. Enim nullam morbi platea nullam malesuada. Sed ipsum convallis elementum, turpis nulla egestas. Nulla natoque tristique mollis dictum diam, sed auctor pharetra.
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Learn everything you need to know about attending plumbing school, and find a program near you on our list of the best programs. If you want to become an HVAC tech, attend a program that teaches what you need and get you hired. Depending on the program, a rad tech degree usually takes two years.
You'll typically need an associate degree to become a radiologic technologist. Read on to find the best radiology tech programs. Web Development Basics. Web Development In-Depth. Step 1. Depending on their specific jobs, web developers will be proficient in using various software programs e. JavaScript frameworks, version control, CSS , and will have not only the specialized knowledge that characterizes their roles, but also an understanding of the process as a whole.
Step 2. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an associate degree is the most common minimum educational requirement for employment. More recently, coding boot camps such as Code Academy and App Academy have emerged as short-term, intensive training options for students to gain career-specific coding skills that can boost their chances for employment.
Step 3. Despite the real advantages that come with an organized education, web development is still a field in which concrete skills can trump education when it comes to employment opportunities. Companies want employees who can produce, and how or where something was learned is secondary to simply being able to do it. Step 4. Web developers learn by doing. Set up a Github account and push code to the site.
An active Github profile can get the attention of employers searching through stacks of resumes, and demonstrates not only what a candidate does to solve programming issues, but also the thinking and strategies behind those solutions. Practicing coding and getting used to using Git prepares developers to work as part of a team, as well as manage complicated site and application builds.
Step 5. Employers want to see results, such as current examples of successful site and application builds. With a portfolio, developers can test new technologies and tools, as well as demonstrate their coding talent and technical capabilities. Standout portfolios can help candidates clear that crucial first hurdle: landing a job interview. Introduction to Coding This class provides a foundation in computer programming and teaches the basic principles of how computers use software.
Skills Gained Learning programming basics, such as syntax, functions and code structure Understanding of hexadecimal and binary numbers Fundamentals of computer networks. JavaScript Programming Building off basic web programming such as HTML, JavaScript is a more advance web programming language that allows for the creation of interactive web pages.
Skills Gained Designing a web application Implementation and testing client and server solutions Learning user-interface principles.
Skills Gained Syntax and principles of HTML coding How to embed other web programming languages The ability to create web pages with desired elements and requirements. Intro to Web Design This course teaches students about all elements needed to successfully create a web page. Skills Gained How web page design elements translate to hardware requirements The interaction of several web programming languages and how they produce desired web pages Maintaining and updating web pages.
Some of the most popular online portals include:. Besides the internet, opportunity may also be lurking in the offline world too. So how can you stand out from dozens, possibly hundreds, of other applicants? However, recruiters will spot this a mile away, and this one-size-fits-all approach rarely pays off.
An example of a job ad for an Entry-Level Frontend Developer taken from indeed. When it comes to finding a job, your online presence can make or break your chances of success. Watch this video on how to impress recruiters in the tech field , and keep reading for the first steps you can take to improve your online presence. Start by optimizing your professional profiles on sites like LinkedIn and AngelList.
Make sure all the information about your skills, experience and qualifications is up-to-date, and upload a professional photo not a selfie.
Reinforce your skills with a concise, captivating heading that sums you up in one or two sentences. For example:. Finally, make sure your social media profiles are either set to private or clear of any content that might deter an employer.
A crucial part of your application package is your web developer portfolio. Your portfolio is a personal website that should:. Before applying for jobs, get your portfolio up-to-date with all your latest and best projects together with the right contact details. Go the extra mile to code in some quirky functionalities and show what you can do as a developer. Web developer portfolio inspiration: Josue Espinosa. On top of this, GitHub also makes it easy to follow certain coding best practices—making it a great tool for beginners.
If you like, you can learn more about why GitHub is so important to web developers. For anyone looking to break into the web development industry, networking is key. Hackathons provide the perfect opportunity to practice your skills and meet new people. A hackathon is basically a design sprint for programmers , bringing lots of developers together to collaborate on various projects.
If the idea of a hackathon seems too intense, try attending tech meetups instead. For many of us, the idea of standing awkwardly in a room full of strangers, trying to strike up a conversation while handing out business cards, is the very definition of a nightmare. Try not to fixate on the idea that you are there to sell yourself.
Rather, focus on the topic at hand and use it to establish common ground with those around you. Make genuine connections with people and, over time, your network and professional opportunities! Of course, there are also plenty of networking opportunities in the online world, with StackOverflow , WebDeveloper. Engage in discussions, share your work and keep up with the latest industry news while making valuable contacts along the way.
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