web developer

Knowing how to code is the next level of literacy that all of society will eventually need to learn. For the time being, however, it’s an excellent way to make yourself marketable in a huge range of roles. Knowing how to code opens so many doors in terms of where you work and even how you work. One of the most popular ways you can take your career is to become a web developer.

Web developers may take on a huge variety of projects, from websites to apps. Their work will primarily be focused on creating an experience for the target audience (the general public, employees, etc.).

While anyone can become a web developer, you should know that it does take a lot of time and effort to become a good developer. If you have that dedication, then use this guide to help direct your efforts into this exciting career path:

Education Options

How you learn how to code is entirely up to you. Technically, you can use free tools and trial and error to get where you need to be. This is one of the longest and most frustrating options, however, since you’re just as likely to learn something wrong as you are something right.

That’s why you should consider formal education options, starting with a degree. An online computer science degree will cover a range of topics essential for any web developer. You can specialize in web development as well as get trained in many key topics, such as Big Data or even statistics.

Practice Makes Perfect

One of the best ways to improve your portfolio, especially when you are just starting out, is to focus on your own projects. Not only can these projects become a viable business model all onto themselves, but they will also give you real-life practice that you can then use as work experience (even if no one pays you).

Practicing and finishing is great practice, and if the end result is impressive enough it is also a great way to start building up your portfolio.

Job Opportunity Types

When it comes to getting paid for your work, you have a few options. You can work as an in-house developer for either a company or an agency. If you work for an agency, you’ll be working with many different clients that the agency finds on your behalf. You will usually be working in a team in either setting, though it’s not impossible to be working on your own.

The other way to approach your career is to take yourself freelance. You can still work for agencies on an ad hoc basis, but your primary approach to earning an income will be to find clients (and have clients find you).

Advertise Yourself

No matter what route you take, know that your career will be better off if you market yourself. Show what you’ve done on social media, market your skills and the finished results, and you’ll not only grow an audience you can monetize, but you’ll also be showcasing your skills to potential employers and clients.