We depend on the internet now more than ever. Many of us rely on the internet for work. Children need the internet for school. Connected devices like smart TVs, smart light bulbs, and smart appliances also require the internet to work. Increasingly, our vehicles are connected to the internet, too.
For these reasons, web development is at the forefront of our digital age. It’s no surprise that web developers are in high demand, and the field is growing much faster than average. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job growth in this field is expected to be 23 percent through the end of the decade. With that kind of growth, you might have your pick of web development entry level jobs.
There’s another advantage to pursuing web developer entry level jobs – the pay. The BLS estimates that developer salaries are around $77,000 per year for full-time workers. This number factors in workers with varying levels of education, years of work experience, and job titles, so as a web developer with no experience, you’re likely to earn less than the median. But, as you gain experience and training, your salary could be close to $130,000 when it’s all said and done!
If you’re interested in becoming a web developer, you can do so with no experience. Everyone has to start somewhere, right?
How to Get a Web Developer Job Without Experience
“Web developer no experience jobs” is just a fancy term for entry-level positions. In web development, this means that your first goal is to become a junior web developer. This position is also called a front-end developer. Junior web developers work under senior web developers and learn how to create and update websites with web applications.
Getting a web developer job without experience isn’t especially easy – you have to work for it. If you’re brand new to the field, there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of getting hired when applying for jobs.
Build Your Skills
First, to get into this field, you have to do more than Google “entry level web developer jobs no experience” or “web developer jobs entry level.” Instead, you need knowledge and skills in the basics of web development. This includes learning HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and JavaScript (JS), among other programming languages. You need to have other web development skills as well. You should consider brushing up on the following:
- Basic coding and programmer skills
- iOS development
- Application development
- Responsive design
- Browser developer tools
- Ruby on Rails
- MySQL
- SQL
- GIT
- User Experience (UX) design
Additionally, consider learning about various frameworks for back-end development for web pages, like Django, Laravel, or Express. You’ll also need soft skills like effective communication, problem-solving, and project management skills.
These skills make up the backbone of web development, so take some time to understand how they work. There are a plethora of detailed websites devoted to the building blocks of web design, or you could take a coding boot camp like this one offered through the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Just be aware that the job description for one web developer job is likely to be very different from the next. For example, the necessary skills to be a software developer vary significantly from the skills required to be a front-end engineer. Moreover, a full stack web developer needs to have a specific skill set that differs from the skills needed for WordPress development or API development. In other words, developing a broad set of skills might help you qualify for the most jobs. However, specializing in one area of web development will likely benefit you in the long run. More on that in a bit.
How to Get Into Web Development – Get a Degree
One way to get into web development is to get a degree. This step is a debated one since there isn’t one specific degree or track for web development. Most professional web developers have at least an associate degree in computer science or a related subject. For career advancement, you may need a bachelor’s degree, which takes about four years of full-time study. But to get started, aim for an associate’s degree program, which introduces you to essential topics in web development and takes about two years to finish. You can also enroll in a boot camp rather than (or in addition to) getting a degree, which can save you time and money.
Through formal education, you will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to build on when you start working as a web developer. You will also gain the support of your instructors and peers, allowing networking in the future. Having a solid network of colleagues could mean the difference between getting your foot in the door and being looked over for a job.
However, it’s important to note that many successful web developers don’t have a formal degree – they’re self-taught. What’s more, there are many no experience web developer jobs out there, so getting a degree may or may not be the best option for you. As with any big life decision, figure out your career goals, skills and training, and whether you need a degree to achieve your goals.
Decide Your Web Development Focus
After gaining some web development education, decide whether you want to focus on front-end or back-end web development (or both).
Front-end web developers work on the “front end” of websites, meaning everything the viewer sees. Front-end developers use HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and JQuery to ensure that the website looks aesthetically pleasing and is pleasurable to use.
Back-end developers, as you can guess, work on the “back-end” of websites. These professionals work behind the scenes with the server, applications, and databases to ensure everything runs smoothly on the front end. Back-end developers use languages like Java, Ruby, PHP, and Python. In both cases, you can search for “web developer jobs no experience,” and you’re likely to find quite a few job listings!
There are even more specific areas of focus, too. You might specialize in app development or a particular type of website, like WordPress development. You can become a full stack developer or a developer for Amazon AWS. As noted earlier, many different opportunities are available for you in this field, even without experience.
Build a Portfolio
Your next step in finding entry level web development jobs is to build a website portfolio to showcase your talents and skills to employers. Register a domain and let your web development skills get to work. Share your website with others and offer to build a site for others (you could start with family and friends; no experience is bad experience). You will have the opportunity to add these projects to your portfolio, along with any other work you complete.
Your website should be a true reflection of your abilities as a web developer and will be a vital tool to present your skills. Only put your most relevant and valuable work in your portfolio – there’s no need to include every single project you’ve ever done! Recruiters and potential employers don’t have time to scour through a massive website portfolio, so less is more.
Network with Other Web Developers
A pivotal move in becoming a web developer involves networking with others. You can do this online, of course, through the “largest and most advanced development platform in the world,” GitHub, and the open community for coders, Stack Overflow. Both platforms allow you to look for open-source projects of all types, and you can add your knowledge and gain knowledge from others.
Also, commit to staying up to date on current news and events in the field by reading blogs and articles, listening to podcasts, and joining online communities. Even a simple chat with other developers can help you learn something new or refresh your current skills. Finally, make sure your LinkedIn portfolio is up to par since there’s a good chance potential employers and recruiters will check out your page.
Start Your Job Search
Now that you’ve built your skills, a portfolio, and a network of connections, it’s time to start searching for jobs. Look for entry-level web developer or junior web developer job listings. You might consider starting with a search for part-time jobs, on-site jobs, or jobs adjacent to web development, like entry level software development (doing so will open even more doors for employment). You might qualify for more than one job type, so don’t limit yourself when you initiate your job search.
Job sites like Indeed, Glassdoor, or Upwork will give you an idea of what jobs are available. It’s also worth contacting your local Department of Workforce Services to take advantage of jobs listed with your state.
A Better Job Awaits!
As important as web development is for so many aspects of our lives, it’s a safe bet that it will continue to be a lucrative career for many years to come. Fortunately, you don’t need an expensive, advanced degree (or a degree at all!) to get started in this line of work.
If you follow the steps outlined above, you’ll be in good shape to make a good first impression on prospective employers. Remember, getting a job isn’t just about the skills and talents you possess – it’s also about how you use those skills and talents to help employers address a specific need.
Starting in web development with no experience is no small task. However, if you dedicate yourself to learning the necessary skills, practicing your craft, and getting experience (even if it’s working for friends and family), you might find that an employer is willing to take a chance on you and help you take your career to the next level. The educational barrier to web development is far lower than many other careers. If you take advantage of that, you might find a job sooner than you think!
