Front end web developer jobs are easy to come by, with the industry projected for record job numbers over the next decade. Being qualified for these jobs, however, is another story. Nailing a high-paying front end web developer job requires specific skills and education, however, certification and experience don’t come automatically. Therefore, those who plan on applying for these jobs need to know what employers are looking for in potential applicants.
Employers can use this article as well to figure out what they should be requiring of their new hires. Thus, this information about the specific duties and skills of a front end web developer can help anyone, employee or employer, navigate their expectations for this growing career field.
What is a Front End Web Developer?
Front end web developers, in simple terms, build the interface of websites. However, they do not design the look of the site. All the icons, menus, and layout that goes into a website’s look has to be created by a web designer. These are often confused with front end developers, who design how the sites are accessed, navigated, and used.
This requires experience in many programming skills and frameworks. Most people who want to build a website for their brand know that user experience is the most important factor. Front end web development can make or break a site by dictating how the code allows people to find and interact with that site on the internet.
Front End Web Developer Job Skills
A front end web developer’s main job involves coding. This code operates inside browsers to help users navigate to the sites they want to visit. If the code isn’t right, it would be like mismarked street signs. Potential website users would lose their way.
Coding Languages
Therefore, front end web developers need experience in HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. These are what’s called “coding languages.” They’re the foundation of designing and implementing websites on the internet.
Imagine this code is a house you’re building. A front end web developer uses HTML and CSS like the wood, steel, and stone that builds the foundation of the house. But if you just build a foundation and walls, even if the house stands, it’s not exactly functional. That’s where JavaScript comes in.
JavaScript is like the doors, windows, furniture, and appliances. In other words, it’s what makes websites functional. Any interactive aspect of a site needs JavaScript to function. Developers can even make interactive games with it if they want.
Mobile Development
Just as many people use the internet on their phones as other devices. Therefore, any website that expects to be popular needs to have a design optimized for mobile. If a site isn’t as interactive and functional on phones as it is on a laptop, in other words, it stands a chance of falling way behind its competition.
Front end web developers need to be able to design for mobile as well.
The Takeaway
Front end web developer jobs are in high demand. As more companies build websites, the market becomes more competitive, favoring better designs. To create interactive websites that people can find, front end web developers need experience in several coding languages. They also can’t forget that their designs need to work just as well on phones.
Whether you’re an employee or employer, use this information to jumpstart your interest in this growing field.