If you are planning to start a career connected to tech (maybe because of the high starting salaries and flexibility that comes with it), web development jobs are one of the savviest ways to get there.

There’s a clear list of web development skills you have to learn. Once you have learned those skills, it’s one of the easiest entry-level tech roles to land since the industry hires developers based on their portfolios and skills, not on previous job experience.

But first let’s understand what is web development and how exactly do you get started in the field?

What is a Web Developer?

Web development is the process of taking the plans and layouts made by the web designers, then coding them into live, functioning websites. Web developers, also called programmers, are the people who do it.

Web Development can be broken down into 3 general categories:

• Front End Web Developers— A front end web developer use programming languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript to build the parts that you see whenever you visit a website with a web browser. Front end web development is an effective and flexible way to break into tech, since front end web developers do everything from work for established companies to freelancing on their own and building up their skills while working for individual clients.
• Back End Web Developers— While the front end of a website includes everything that the user interacts with directly, thin of the back end as the “under the hood” part of a website. This is not visible to the users. Back end web developers make the website run smoothly.
• Full Stack Web Developers— If you combine the skills of a front end and back end web developer, you will “full stack.” Full stack web developers are programmers who have experience with both front end and back end development.

Web Developer Skills You’ll Need to Know

Now that you have an idea of what web developers do, let’s look at the core skills they use to do it.

FRONT END PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

These are some of the most common programming languages used by a front end web developer.

• HTML
• CSS
• JAVASCRIPT

BACK END PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

These are some of the go-to coding languages used for back end web development.

• PHP
• RUBY AND RUBY ON RAILS
• PYTHON

How to Land a Web Developer Job

1. WORK ON MOCK CODING PROJECTS

Working without getting paid is not something we recommend - except when it comes to padding a body of work before you’ve actually started working. Don’t wait for your first job to put your coding skills to work. Create as many mock projects as you can while you are still trying to land you first paid job.

While you are using these projects as part of your resume and portfolio when you apply for jobs, don’t forget to publish your work publicly on websites such as Codepen, Stack Overflow, and Github. Being an active member of the online developer community, even before you start your first day of work, is a good way of showing clients and employers your dedication and professional curiosity.

2. USE YOUR PORTFOLIO TO SHOW OFF THOSE PROJECTS

Having a crisp, easily shareable digital portfolio is a must in order to win over clients and hiring managers. But what does that mean?

First, you need to find the right website to show off your digital samples.

Second, you have to make sure you are including the kind of web development samples that will resonate with clients and employers.

3. MAKE SURE YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH IS GOOD TO GO

In between trolling job listings and compiling a knockout portfolio, life sometimes just happens. You never know when you might come face-to-face with someone who can hook you up with that dream web developer job. Which means you better have something to say when and if the time comes.