Are you looking for a high-paying tech job with excellent perks and work-from-home opportunities? Web development could be your answer, and there’s never been a better time to explore a tech career. Web developers enjoy high wages, exciting projects and numerous career opportunities. But how do you get a job with no coding experience? It’s easier than you think.
Web developers come from all career and educational backgrounds. All you need to enter this growing career field is motivation and the right coding experience, which is available from numerous sources. In this article, we’ll explore the most popular paths to a web development career.
Table of Contents
What is Web Development?
Web development is a popular tech career path. However, the term actually refers to several unique jobs with different requirements. Here are the three most common varieties of web developers and what they do.
Front End Developer
Front end developers (or ‘client-side’ developers) are responsible for everything a website user sees and interacts with. These professionals use programming languages like JavaScript and CSS, and markup languages like HTML to design functional and attractive sites.
Backend Developer
Backend developers (or ‘server-side’ developers) work behind the scenes and create the systems that connect sites to the internet. Without backend developers, websites would be little more than images. Backend developers use programming languages such as Ruby and Python.
Full-Stack Developer
Full-stack developers do the work of front end and backend professionals. These individuals learn programming languages to perform client and server-side development duties. Full-stack developers often manage entire sites for small companies.
As you can see, these professionals have a range of career opportunities. Nonetheless, the process of becoming a web developer is the same across the field. Next, we’ll cover the most popular education options for aspiring web developers, and how to get started on your way to a new career.
Web Developer Education Options
The tech industry is progressive, holistic, and encourages diversity at all levels. Thus, professionals in the industry come from every conceivable background, and there’s no ‘correct’ way to train for the field. Plus, the demand for web developers is high—and the supply of qualified programmers is limited. Here are the most common education pathways for web developers.
Self-Taught Developers
Self-taught developers are common in the industry. These individuals have a natural inclination towards coding and have managed to teach themselves the skills necessary to land a job. Thanks to the internet (and platforms like YouTube), there are more than enough free resources to learn how to code. Self-taught developers often start as freelancers and build an impressive portfolio to pitch at job interviews.
Coding Bootcamps
Coding bootcamps are an increasingly popular route into a high-paying tech career. Development programs are short and intensive education programs designed to equip students with marketable programming skills. Bootcamps focus on job placement above all else and aim to cover the latest in-demand technical skills. These programs run for an average of six months and offer one of the fastest career transition opportunities around.
College or University
Many web developers earn college degrees before entering the workforce. These professionals often start with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, though numerous web developers attain an associate’s degree instead. College students often earn higher pay upfront, but all developers enjoy wage-growth opportunities with experience.
How to Choose an Education Program
Choosing the right web development education path doesn’t have to be a hassle. Thanks to the popularity of tech schools, plenty of online resources are available to prospective students. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to break into a tech career. With some research and consideration, you’ll find the web development education pathway that’s right for you.
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