six habits that will help you succeed as a web developer
TRANSCRIPT
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Web development is an excellent career choice if you enjoy deeply intellectually stimulating work that requires you to constantly learn new things and be willing to abandon outdated tools and techniques. The job title of Web Developer has been ranked the 2nd hottest job for 2016; and with good reason. Being a web developer is no walk in the park. It takes a particular type of person to excel at web development, and not everyone has what it takes.
The web development industry is expected to grow exponentially in the next few years. The US Bureau of Labor recently estimated that there will be a roughly 27% increase in the number of web developer jobs available within less than a decade. It is a fantastic field to get into if the work suits you.
We all know that in most jobs there is a big difference between getting by and succeeding. That difference is more evident in some fields of work than others. As a web developer, you do not want to simply ‘get by’. Working in this manner will eventually lead to your services becoming obsolete because you no longer understand the complexities of the inner-workings of the job.
Achieving great success as a web developer is certainly possible, it just takes practice, patience, research, and a lot of trial and error. There are a lot of practices, or habits, that you can apply to your work in order to increase your own success as a web developer however. These are the 6 that I believe to be the most important and relevant.
It is critical that you put together a clean, concise, and flattering portfolio for yourself. If you’re uncomfortable flagrantly promoting yourself or unsure of which of your projects is the best to showcase, just hire a professional to put it together for you.
If you’re just starting out and do not have a broad variety of projects to showcase just yet, there are two solutions. The obvious solution is to get cracking on a new project that tests your current understanding and skill level so that you can show it off. The second is to contribute to open source projects such as GitHub, or others like it.
1. Develop An Outstanding Portfolio
As a web developer you are essentially creating an entire, new reality for your client. You are determining how their page or site will appear cosmetically, how it will function, and how it will be used by both visitors and administrators.
You control every single detail, down to what color the button texts are and what payment types are accepted through the site. It is important that you insure that you know exactlywhat the client wants as an end result before you even begin. This can take some time, especially with clients that are ill-prepared for specific questions. Plan for this and it won’t be a problem.
2. Clear Communication With the Client is Key
Many professions require you to recertify in one way or another; and while web development isn´t one of such officially, it is highly recommended. Recertification is to insure that professionals within the field accurately remember the details of what they’ve learned in the past. However, it is also to bring newer information, technology, and general practices to the attention of those who are already established within their field and are no longer receiving an active education.
When you delve into old information, you inevitably find or notice something new. You also discover the advances that have been made in that area. In web development, it is critical to continuously quest for new knowledge and tech; as well as regularly ‘recertify’ yourself.
3. Revisit Lessons You’ve Already Learned
When you inevitably come across a confusing error message, an application that you have never attempted before and are struggling with, or even a term that you don’t recognize; look in to it.
If you try to learn everything about web development and programming all at once, the volume of information is too overwhelming. It is better to learn the basics, and then continue to further your education and skills as you go. And don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions. It is better to ask a stupid question than practice a stupid technique until someone tells you that it isn’t right.
I’m guilty of using a tool long after it has become obsolete, simply because I already know how to use it and am comfortable with it. Change is difficult. However, change can also be very exciting and rewarding to pursue.
Do your research and keep up on the latest tech, tools, and trends in the web development business. You might be surprised to find some new tools and techniques that you actually really enjoy working with, or that simply save you a lot of time. As the industry is growing, so is the availability of advanced tools and techniques.
Don’t over work yourself. After roughly 6-8 hours of intellectually heavy labor like web development, you begin to make mistakes that negate the progress that you feel like you are making. If you are struggling with a problem take a break from it, take a walk, ask someone else within the field about it; and then approach it from a different angle the next day.
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