In the digital era, web developers are needed by almost all companies. So the opportunity to get a job is wide open. Moreover, this profession promises a high salary.

Interested in pursuing this profession, bro? Come on, find out how.

About Web Developer

Web developers are responsible for building and maintaining websites and web applications. A web developer writes the code that creates the functionality and appearance of the web.

Web developers also have a major role in ensuring that the website is visually appealing and easy to navigate. However, many web developers are also responsible for maintaining the performance and capacity of the website.

In a company, web developers work with various other departments to build a suitable website, such as web designers and product managers.

How to Become a Web Developer

Job opportunities for web developers are increasing along with the development of digital marketing. So, it is not surprising that more and more people are interested in pursuing work as web developers.

For those of you who are interested, you can follow these steps to become a web developer:

1. Determine the Goal

First of all, you need to define your goals specifically. This is because there are several different types of web developers.

Meanwhile, each requires a different skill set. So by determining the goal first, you can focus on learning the specific skills needed.

Also Read: Top 10 Backend Frameworks for Developers

Reporting from Coursera, here are the common types of web developers:

Back-end web developer: specifically handles back-end programs, such as database storage, server management, security, integration, and program logic.
Front-end web developer: works on the part of the website that visitors can interact with and see. This type of web developer designs the physical layout of each page, adds graphics, and improves performance.
Full-stack developer: plays a role in back-end and front-end web development and understands all the technologies needed to strengthen the website.
Webmaster: acts as a website manager. The webmaster has the main task of keeping the website always updated, ensuring that every link and application works normally.

2. Learn the Basics of Web Development

After determining your goals by choosing a specific type of web developer, you then need to learn the basics of web development. This means you need to hone technical skills such as:

Understanding common programming languages: For example HTML, PHP, and JavaScript for front-end web developers. Meanwhile, if you are interested in studying back-end development, you can learn Python, Ruby, or Java.
Understanding web design concepts: A developer must be able to create a responsive website so that it looks good on various devices.
Understand technical SEO: many factors in web design affect a website’s ranking in search engines. So understanding how SEO works can be beneficial for web developers.
Understanding the basic principles of design: The goal is to create an attractive website. Some important visual design principles include the use of white space, font selection, and adding images.

3. Consider Further Studies

Although graduates are not always required to be in the profession of web developer, undergoing further studies at college is certainly still beneficial.

Therefore, it is a good idea to consider studying in a study program (prodi) that suits the needs of your desired profession. If you are interested in becoming a back-end web developer, then you can take a computer science study program.

Meanwhile, if you are more interested in front-end development, you can choose to study web design.

4. Take Training

How to become a web developer does not always have to go to college. You can develop your skills in other ways, such as taking courses and training to learn programming languages.

Also Read: Web Development: Front-end & Back-end Basics

In fact, you can take online training to hone various important skills to prepare you to become a web developer.

5. Create a Personal Project

After you have coding skills and understand the basics of programming, you can start building a website. It’s easy, you can create a personal project.

It doesn’t have to be too grandiose, bro. You can start with a simple project. Then, increase the difficulty over time as you learn.

Personal projects allow you to gain hands-on experience to test your skills. In addition, you can later use this project as portfolio material.

6. Create a Web Developer Portfolio

As a web developer, a portfolio is often one of the most important parts of a job application. A portfolio contains records of the projects you have worked on.

One of the powerful portfolios is a website because it is in accordance with the scope of work. Potential clients will check your portfolio to assess your skill level, including the types of projects you are best at.

7. Find a Mentor and Network

The next tip to become a web developer is to find a mentor and network. This can help you stand out from your competitors.

You can join a web developer community to expand your network. From the community, you can also find a mentor to help you solve difficult coding problems and direct you to resources.

8. Sharpening Soft Skills for Web Developers

Technical skills alone are not enough. To become a great web developer, you also need to hone various soft skills, such as:

Good communication with clients and team to discuss design and steps in working on the project.
Customer service. Web developers build websites for clients, so it’s important to prioritize the client’s needs and wants.
Time management, project execution, and budget management skills are also important for web developers to have.

9. Get Certified to Become a Certified Web Developer

Certification serves to validate your skills as a web developer. Therefore, clients often consider certification as an important consideration.

Well, usually the course or training you take will provide certification to participants. You can also increase the number of certificates, for example from well-known vendors such as Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSD).

10. Become a Freelancer or Join a Company

Web developers can be either full-time or freelance positions. It is a good idea to consider whether you want to pursue a freelance web developer profession or join a company.

Each option has its own pros and cons. Freelancing provides a wide opportunity to gain experience in different industries and flexible working hours.

Meanwhile, full-time jobs require certain working hours and guarantee salary stability.

11. Open to Change

Web development is an industry that is constantly evolving. In fact, this industry is changing rapidly.

So, as a web developer, you need to be open to changes in trends and technology. Not only that, you need to follow the development of web technology so that you can use the latest technology in doing your work.

FAQ

What is the most widely used programming language?

Quoting from BrainStation, JavaScript, Python, and SQL are the most popular types of programming languages.

Do web developers need to understand all programming languages?

No. However, the more programming languages you master, the better.

Is there a faster way to become a web developer?

One way to become a web developer in a relatively short time is by taking a boot camp or certification.

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