Career Guide

CAREER GUIDE

How to Become a
Web Developer

BrainStation's Web Developer career guide is

intended to help you take the first steps toward

a lucrative career in web development. The
guide provides an in-depth overview of the

development skills you should learn, the best

web development training options, career paths
in web development, how to become a Web
Developer, and more.

Ready to start your career in Development?

Find out more about BrainStation's
Web Development Bootcamp
How Do You Become a Web
Developer?

To become a Web Developer, you should have an understanding

of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s also recommended to learn

about CSS and CSS frameworks. Developing these fundamental

web development skills will give you the foundation and logic for

communicating with programming languages.

How to become a Web Developer in five steps:

1. Learn web development fundamentals

2. Choose a development specialization

3. Learn key programming languages for web development

4. Work on projects to develop your Web Developer skills

5. Build a web development portfolio

1. Learn Web Development

Fundamentals

The best first step to becoming a Web Developer is to start

learning web development fundamentals, including an

 g p , g
understanding of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), CSS
(Cascading Style Sheets), and JavaScript.

Many aspiring Web Developers are now using coding bootcamps

to fast-track the learning process. Coding bootcamps have

thrived because they are short, immersive, and focused on

outcomes and employment – their goal is to develop job-ready
skills as efficiently as possible, making them an increasingly

worthwhile investment for a would-be Web Developer.

According to the job site Indeed, four out of five companies in the
U.S. have hired a graduate from a coding bootcamp.

In fact, the practical advantages of coding bootcamps are only

getting clearer over time. For one thing, the field of web
development naturally attracts people from all other fields,
many of them making mid-career transitions – people for whom

a clear and efficient path to skills expansion is a top priority.

Further, employers increasingly value skills and experience over
education, placing anyone who can prove their abilities on more

equal footing with Developers holding a college degree.

It’s important to note that Web Developers – more than most

other fields – must be committed to ongoing learning to stay on

top of changes in web development and programming languages,
tools, and trends. This makes mid-career retraining a must

whether or not it’s the line of work you started out in.
2. Choose a Development
Specialization

As you continue to grow your skills, you’ll need to choose an area

of specialization. But what are the types of web development? All

Web Developers are categorized into three main types:

Front-End Developer. A Front-End Developer works on

the “client-side” of web development, meaning any
portion of the site or app that users interact with. This can

include a site’s layout, design, and the way users interact

with it.

Back-End Developer. A Back-End Developer works on the

“server-side” of web development. This is focused on the

way a site functions and can include databases, servers,

networks and hosting, and more.

Full-Stack Developer. A Full-Stack Developer is familiar

with both front-and back-end development and works

with both sides of a website.

3. Learn Key Programming

Languages for Web
Development
Whatever your area of concentration, you’ll need to know how to

use a handful of different programming languages for web

development and web design. So, what are the most common
programming languages?

Three families of programming languages form the basic tools

involved in virtually all aspects of web development:

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

JavaScript

Of course, the list goes on – these are just the beginning. In fact,
web development is such a diverse and varied field that the list of

all the tasks it can include (and all the coding languages and

markup languages you might use to accomplish them) is too long

to fit in this space. Fortunately, as a specialist, you can find and

concentrate on the ones that work best for you.

4. Build Projects to Develop

Your Web Developer Skills
With a grasp of the basics in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and a
foundation of programming skills, you’re ready to begin

building. As you go, you’ll gain experience using an ever-

growing set of Web Developer skills. Some of these are technical

skills, or “hard” skills, like programming in SQL or Python,

using the jQuery library of functions for more efficient

programming, or using tools like Git for version control. The

best way to improve these web development skills is simply to

start messing around – the more you use them, the better you’ll

be.

There are also a number web design skills that are useful for Web

Developers to have, with an understanding that responsive

design is perhaps the most crucial. While Web Developers are not

typically tasked with the overall site design, it’s an advantage for

Developers to also have a solid understanding of common design

principles. Front-End Developers, in particular, program the

screens that users interact with – and they can be far more

successful with a good grasp of user-centered design.

5. Build a Web Development Portfolio

A riveting Web Developer portfolio that shows off your strongest

skills is your best tool when applying for web development jobs.

There are three things to keep in mind when building a portfolio

that will stand out from the pack.

First, your Web Developer portfolio should include a diverse

selection of web development work. You don’t want to use every

project you’ve ever worked on – your professional portfolio

should be a highlight reel that not only demonstrates your best

work, but shows your versatility. You want to be selective and

highlight your best work, but your selection should be diverse

enough that it demonstrates a solid understanding of the various

elements of the position. When applying for Web Developer jobs,

do a bit of research into the company and the role you’re looking

to fill – then refine your portfolio even further, editing out

unrelated examples and spotlighting your most relevant work.
Second, think about what makes you and your work unique.
Emphasize the web development skills that most make you stand

out – not just in the work you include in your portfolio, but in
how the portfolio itself is presented. If you’re applying for
design-related roles, for instance, your portfolio website should

have a solid front end – a great user experience with a beautiful

interface. And if you’re applying for a Web Developer role, ensure
that your portfolio is displayed on a flawless site. That means no

messy code.

Third, show your process. Employers aren’t looking only at the

quality of work you produce, but at how you approach problems.

Don’t be afraid to frame each example as a case study, providing
a narrative of your thought process and the problem you were

trying to solve with the project. Showing background on how

your projects were created will help Recruiters and Hiring
Managers make sense of your work, and say more than just a

standalone piece. This is also a great opportunity to demonstrate

your communication skills – an important part of excelling in a
position.

Is Web Development a
Growing Field?
Yes, the web development field is booming. There are more than
1.3 million Developer jobs available in North America, and more
than 47,000 new development jobs were created in the last two

years, with the market expected to grow an additional 15% in the

next 5 years. For these reasons, Mondo found “Web Developer”
the most in-demand job title in tech and one of its top-paying

jobs.

What Is the Salary of a Web

Developer?

According to job site Indeed, the average salary for Web

Developers in the United States is $71,531, with Senior Web

Developers averaging $95,325. That makes web development one

of the most lucrative positions that do not require a degree.
How Can I Become a Web
Developer Fast?

Coding bootcamps have become an increasingly popular option

for aspiring Web Developers as they provide a hands-on learning

experience and the chance to develop job-ready skills – in as

little as 12 weeks.

Traditionally, many Web Developers have started with higher

education in software engineering, computer science, or related
fields. However, it’s also possible to come from a completely

different industry. In fact, a growing number of professionals are

taking steps later in their careers to learn development from
scratch either by becoming self-taught or pursuing a diploma

with a coding bootcamp. In fact, BrainStation’s Digital Skills

Survey found that 55 percent of development respondents began
their career in a different field and 58 percent have only been

programming for five years or less.

 × Hide Table of Contents
What Is Needed to Become
a Web Developer?
CAREER GUIDE

How to Become a Web

Developer
Here are some of the things you’ll need to learn to become a Web

The Basics Developer:

What Is Web Development Foundations: To become a Web Developer, you should

develop a comprehensive understanding of how the web
What is a Web Developer?
works. This will deepen your HTML and CSS knowledge to
build and style more advanced static web pages, using
On The Job
frameworks such as Flexbox. It will also help you establish

problem-solving practices and logic to understand

What Does a Web
advanced programming concepts.
Developer Do?
Programming fundamentals: Foundational knowledge of

What Tools Do Web JavaScript and object-oriented programming should be a

Developers Use? starting point for aspiring Web Developers, as it will
improve your ability to write and build components.
Do Web Developers Work
Front-end frameworks: It’s important for aspiring Web
From Home?
Developers to learn how to use React, a JavaScript
framework, to build complex and dynamic web pages and
Skills
professional-level user interfaces.
Web servers: To become a Web Developer, you’ll need to
What Skills Do You Need to
Be a Web Developer? know how to build servers using a modern back-end

framework and how to develop custom APIs and serve

 Do You Need a Degree to static websites and files.
Be a Web Developer? Server-side programming: It’s important for Web

Developers to have an understanding of Server Side

Why a Web Development
Rendering and Templating Engines, which are used to
Certificate Is Worth It
create empty page templates populated with dynamic

Are Coding Bootcamps data, such as a series of product pages for an eCommerce
Worth It? store.
Databases: Aspiring Web Developers will also have to
Career Path understand core concepts around data and learn how to

Is Web Development a manage databases and data on a web server.

Good Career?

As in other tech fields, it’s important for Web Developers to

How Hard Is It to Become a
network and to keep learning, as programming languages and
Web Developer?
techniques change frequently. Apart from coding bootcamps,

What Companies Hire Web web development courses, panel discussions, and workshops,
Developers? you can also stay current by contributing to an open-source
commons, such as GitHub or Bootstrap.
How Much Do Web
Developers Make?
And of course, to become a Web Developer, you will need a

How Long Does It Take to portfolio of completed projects for your job search. Regardless of
Become a Web Developer? your specific interests, it’s important to showcase your
versatility to ensure clients from various industries get a sense of
Getting The Job your abilities.

How to Build a Web

Developer Portfolio
How Many Programming
Web Developer Cover Languages Should I Know?
Web Developer Cover Languages Should I Know?
Letter Templates and
Examples

Web Developer Resume A simple question with a complicated answer. It’s complicated
Examples
because it depends, like so many things in life, on multiple
variables. Are you a beginner Web Developer or a pro? What types
Web Developer Interview
Questions
of projects do you work on, or want to work on? And what does
the future hold?

If you’re a new Web Developer, it makes sense to start with the

basics—but on the other hand, a certain amount of
specialization can set you apart from your competitors.

Ultimately, the solution is to determine which languages are

useful in your field, with the degree of specialization that’s right
for you, and are growing in popularity rather than falling out of

it.

To get a handle on these trends, BrainStation conducted a survey

of the current digital landscape. Based on the answers from

thousands of professional respondents, we’ve put together an
overview to help guide you toward the programming language

you should begin learning now.

The More Programming

Languages You Know, The
Better
Better

If you’re a Web Developer, take comfort in the fact that you’re in

a growth industry. The market for Web Developers is expected to

grow by another 15 percent by 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau
of Labor. Because of this rapid growth, the field has seen an

influx of relatively new talent; 58 percent of our survey

respondents said they’ve been working in development for five
years or less.

Our survey also revealed that the more experience Web

Developers have under their belt, the more likely they are to
work in full-stack development, and the broader their range of
specialties. The takeaway: for a Web Developer to move forward

in their careers, it’s crucial to continue learning new and more

specialized languages—which, ironically, make them less
specialized, and better able to collaborate with or manage teams

working at more stages of a broader range of projects.

The Most Popular Coding

Languages

Another paradox: when it comes to languages, a small number

crop up almost everywhere—and yet the long tail of highly
crop up almost everywhere and yet the long tail of highly

specialized and esoteric languages is just as important.

Asked which programming languages they use currently,

respondents overwhelmingly pointed to JavaScript (80 percent),

with SQL (47 percent), Python (35 percent), and Java (27 percent)

rounding out the leaderboard. Consider these the basics: if you're

a Web Developer, one or more of these is a virtual necessity, no

matter what your area of expertise.

Respondents also identified JavaScript and Python as the most

enjoyable languages to work in, which not only explains their

popularity but also suggests that their popularity in the future is

reasonably assured.

Most remarkable, even with a list of no less than 17

programming languages to choose from, 33 percent of

respondents checked “Other”—making it the third most

common response, and proving that while the industry may have
its favorites, there’s still plenty of demand for more obscure

languages.

Fastest-Growing Languages

As new applications emerge, we should expect the list of most

frequently used languages to change Asked what will have the

frequently used languages to change. Asked what will have the
biggest effect on their industry over the next five to 10 years, a

large majority of respondents (78 percent) chose artificial

intelligence and its subset of machine learning as the biggest

opportunities for growth.

Other trends they’re anticipating: the Internet of things (54

percent), augmented reality (53 percent), and blockchain (41

percent). But while they’re anticipating these technologies will

gain prominence, only a minority of Developers have worked

with them directly—83 percent of respondents have yet to work

on AI platforms or blockchain tech, and 80 percent have no

experience with IoT devices.

In fact, blockchain tech is still so new that intermediate-level

respondents were more likely to have experience working with it

than senior-level Developers—but this was still only one in four.

These figures suggest that blockchain tech is an area beginners

should brush up on to improve their chances of advancement—

and Senior Developers should learn to ensure they stay relevant.

What Languages Should a

New Web Developer Learn?

Given the “Big five” areas where growth is expected to happen—

AI and machine learning, IoT, AR, and blockchain—what

languages should you learn? While the answer depends, to some

extent, on which of these five areas you choose to focus on, the
same three names came up again and again: C++, Java, and

Python.

Within each of the aforementioned concentrations, more

languages crop up in addition to these three. In Blockchain: Ruby

and Solidity. In IoT: C, JavaScript, and PHP. In AI and machine

learning: R, Lisp, and Prolog. And in AR: C#, JavaScript, and

Swift. But in every case, C++, Java, and Python are among the

leaders.

These are the languages people are using today to work in what

they’ve identified as development’s most burgeoning fields.

What about tomorrow? There’s no surefire way to predict the

future, but we can look at which languages are growing in use the

fastest. One way to do this is to compare search queries—a proxy

for measuring which languages people are currently learning.

Over at Github, a compilation of search queries suggests that the

fastest-growing languages are relatively new—as you’d expect.

In 2018, Java-compatible Kotlin grew the fastest year-over-year,

more than doubling. HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL)

for cloud infrastructure, the JavaScript superset language

TypeScript, Microsoft’s automation framework PowerShell, and

systems programming language Rust round out the top five.

But not far behind, in the eighth position, is Python. Despite its

popularity, Python still managed to chalk up 50 percent year-

over-year growth—the sign of a true juggernaut on the rise.

What Makes a Good Web

Developer?

According to BrainStation's Digital Skills Survey, 50 percent of

executives say they will be doing the most hiring in development.

Interestingly, though, our respondents also found development

the most difficult field to hire for, and as the demand for these

skills increases, it will only become more challenging.

What should companies be looking for? And how can aspiring

Developers stand out when entering the market?

To start, consider the following definition, which provides a

well-rounded picture of a good Developer:

“Writes working code, that has been tested for correctness, in

the time allocated, following accepted best practices, in a way

that can be easily maintained and enhanced, in collaboration

with their team, and continuously improves their knowledge and

skills throughout their career ”

skills throughout their career.

Let’s take a closer look at these ideas to see what makes a good
Developer.

A good Web Developer must:

Write Working Code

Computers are extremely precise, digital machines. The slightest

deviation from what a computer expects means that code won’t

compile, won’t run or will crash. The whole point of

programming and building software is to write code that the

computer successfully processes, producing the desired result. In

other words, a good Web Developer has to write code that works.

He or she has a sharp eye for details and is constantly scanning

code for anything that looks “off.” They write clean code that is
well structured and uses tools to identify potential errors before

the code runs.

Write Code That Works Correctly

Just because the code works, doesn’t mean it works correctly.

Getting the code to work is only the first hurdle.

Code that doesn’t work correctly is as useless as code that

doesn’t work at all, and potentially more dangerous. Wrong
doesn t work at all, and potentially more dangerous. Wrong

results can have consequences, from mundane (and occasionally

humorous) UI annoyances that frustrate end-users and inhibit

their productivity — to the disastrous with loss of life or

business revenue.

All errors missed by Developers will cause program crashes,

system failure, data corruption, security breaches, or turn away

users who expect reliability. These errors become increasingly

expensive to fix as they find their way into production and are
discovered by end-users. Just as physical structures require

thorough testing to ensure they are “up to code,” software

requires the same stringent standards.

A good Developer, therefore, adopts a test-driven mindset,

actively imagining all scenarios where errors can occur, how they

should be handled, and writing tests that prove the code is

correct.

Respect Timelines and Deadlines

Computers represent the promise of efficiency and productivity.

They allow users to accomplish and understand more.

Developers work within this fast-paced world using computers

to bring this productivity and efficiency to reality.

A side-effect of this world is the expectation of having

everything done now. That pressure comes from managers,

clients, users, and the business climate of getting to market first.
That can create a lot of pressure, and Developers are only human.

Estimating time on projects is a difficult task, as there are many

unknown and unexpected problems that come up when building

complex software. There is always a temptation to underestimate

and overlook the true details required to complete tasks. Yet

underestimating time to delivery is dangerous, creating stress

and burnout, the pressure to cut corners, and negative feelings

from all stakeholders in the project.

It is important to identify all details possible for a project, have a

realistic perspective of the amount of work that can be

accomplished, and reasonably overestimate timelines to account

for the unknown and unexpected. Communication is key when

timelines start slipping and making sure that everyone is aware

of difficulties ahead of time helps to handle and avoid missing

deadlines.

A good Developer sets reasonable expectations, communicates

openly about unexpected roadblocks, and maintains the trust of

their team and other stakeholders.

Follow Web Development Best Practices

Once the code works (and works correctly), then it needs to be

written in the best way possible. Whatever approach the

Developer has taken in writing the code, it should be weighed
against the solutions of the larger Developer community. A

unique, novel approach may be an innovative solution–or it may

lack considerations that other Developers have discovered over

the years.

Writing software is a complex process with a rich history of

many minds thinking about the best way to solve common

problems. The result is numerous best practices.

Following these best practices saves time because problems

don’t need to be re-solved (instead, existing solutions just need

to be applied appropriately). This allows Developers to build “on

the shoulders of giants.” Further, as different Developers

contribute over time, there is a common understanding that any

new Developer on a project can readily understand.

There are two levels of best practices: industry-wide and

company-wide. Company-wide practices will generally be a

subset of industry-wide practices but adapted for the specifics of

a company’s software domain, and the preferences of the

Developers.

A good Developer learns the best practices of their company and

applies industry-wide best practices to save time and improve

the overall quality of the code.
Write Code That Is Easily Maintained and
Enhanced

The code compiles, runs, and has been tested for correctness.

Things look good, but…how easy is it to change the code in the

future? What happens if a new feature needs to be added?

Engineer and Author Martin Fowler says: “Any fool can write

code that a computer can understand. Good Programmers write

code that humans can understand.”

While a computer can run any valid code, ultimately the code is
maintained by humans. At some point, a Developer is going to

have to read, understand, and modify code that may have been

written by another Developer (who may no longer be part of their

team or company).

Software development is a social endeavor, with many people

working and relying on the codebase. Questions such as “How

much is obvious from the code? How much needs to be

explained? How quickly can the code be scanned and

understood?” all help a Developer remember that they are not

writing code for themselves.

A good Developer writes high-quality code that other Web

Developers can easily understand and modify.

Collaborate With Their Team

While a Web Developer spends much of their time interacting

with a computer, the reality of their work environment is social.

It’s important to respect the team, know the roles, and

responsibilities, and what’s expected. Big picture questions

ensure the Developer is properly aligned to the company and

their role: “What is the vision/mission/values of the company?

What is the product suite offered by the company? Who are the
customers? Who do problems get reported to?”

Knowing these details allows a Developer to grow within the

context of their specific company or situation. A good Developer

will, therefore, spend the time needed to understand the

company’s best practices and standards. They will also improve

the development process in ways that save time and increase

productivity. Most importantly, they will have to have a positive

attitude that makes the workplace more productive and

supportive.

A good Developer recognizes that their career and reputation is

their responsibility. They strive to be a pleasure to work with,

and always find ways to make the workload of their team lighter

and more efficient.

A Good Web Developer Is

Continuously Learning
Continuously Learning

Technology is always evolving, which is part of what makes it so

exciting. While some principles and approaches of computer

science have remained for decades, areas of software

development are constantly changing. Some software domains

are more stable, others are more volatile. Legacy software is

entrenched with older technology that requires more

maintenance with little innovation, while emerging domains

may require frequent rewrites every few years as things change.

That’s not necessarily a problem if it is embraced. Knowledge in

domains like data science, UX design, product management,

digital marketing, and SEO, can strengthen a Developer’s overall

understanding of technology, helping them relate and work with

colleagues and clients across departments and industries.

A good Web Developer, in short, is a lifelong learner that is

l l ki d h i k l d d kill
 always looking to expand their knowledge and skills, year over
year.

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