How to Become a Web Developer (And Get Real Gigs)

How to Become a Web Developer (And Get Real Gigs) ROBERT MENING I'm a Web Developer & Designer behind WebsiteSetup.org Last updated: March 2, 2017. 4 Comments 0616 Becoming a web developer isn’t easy. It won’t happen overnight. I started back in 2004 and I’m still learning. But it’s one of the best decisions you can make, here’s why: No upfront investment Flexible working hours Ability to travel or work from anywhere Always in demand (by companies or individuals looking to set up a website) Here’s a complete guide to becoming a web developer (and getting real gigs). 1. Start Learning Web Development Developers are in high demand because they’re able to fuse together a few technical skillsets to produce something magical (like a beautiful website) literally out of thin air. Here are a few of the skill sets you should get started with. 1. Learn WordPress (for beginners) WordPress LogoIf you want to get going real quick, you should start off with WordPress. After all, 25% of all websites are powered by this free open-source software which you can install to basically any web host. It’s very simple and straightforward (without a steep learning curve). To help you even more, I’ve put together the following guides: How to Make a WordPress Website How to Make a WordPress Blog How to Customize WordPress 2. Get to Know the Basics of HTML, CSS, and Javascript HTML and CSSThese are the nuts and bolts of all website development that you’ll work with daily if you decide to build websites for a living. HTML dictates the structure CSS will make it look pretty Javascript will make it function Learning these basic skills also has a cross-over effect into other areas. For example, SEO relies heavily on a basic understanding of how websites work. Doing anything remotely advanced in Google Analytics does too. So learning the ‘backbone’ of web development in HTML, CSS and javascript can also help you become a better marketer and business person. Resources for learning HTML: HTML Beginner’s Guide HTML Cheat Sheet CSS Cheat Sheet CodeAcademy Tutorial (course) 3. Understand the Basics of User Experience (Design) UX and UI designMost developers are not design experts. They’re two distinctly different skill sets. So you shouldn’t worry about being a design rockstar, either. But learning the fundamentals of user experience design can help you understand how a website is supposed to work in order to keep more users on site, help them find what they’re looking for, and ultimately spend more money on that site (for whatever business we’re talking about). The building blocks of design skills will come with learning the Adobe Creative Suite. Photoshop is the go-to for most serious designers (although Sketch is a rising star as well). The reason it’s popular is because it’s so powerful. There’s so many options and filters and layers and… other stuff you’ll soon see. But that’s also what makes it kinda a pain in the butt. There’s a learning curve to master before you can even make the most basic edits. Resources for learning UI & UX: Online sites like Treehouse and Lynda both offer excellent beginner courses in both Photoshop and general design concepts. 4. Learn SQL & PHP (more advanced) I lump these two together because they’re like two sides of the same coin. SQL is a database technology that stores information. And PHP is a ‘scripting’ language that places or pulls stuff from a database. Think about WordPress for example. It uses MySQL to store and manage information (like blog posts, page content, comments, user information, etc.) in a database ‘table’. PHP is what makes a WordPress website dynamic, interacting with all of these different elements and properly updating the database as you go. Learning more about how SQL and PHP work together can help you master WordPress site development, which literally hundreds (if not thousands) of people are looking for every day on job and project boards across the internet. Additional resources for learning PHP and SQL: SQL Course TutorialsPoint (PHP) It’s not easy. You won’t master all of these over a week or two. But over time, becoming familiar and then good at these skill sets will mean you always have a profitable career ahead of you. Where to Find a Web Developer Jobs? Becoming a Web DeveloperOk. You’ve made it this far. Now for the fun part. Money. Once you’ve leveled up your skill sets and are ready to hit the market, you’ve got two choices: A) get a development job B) start freelancing (which will touch on in the next section). Getting a job straight after learning to become a developer can help (a) fast track your own learning and (b) provide a steady income right out of the gate. Cranking away at all hours, while sitting next to other developers, is one of the best ways to quickly learn how real-world development works. A steady paycheck also doesn’t hurt. Many ‘formal’ coding schools, like General Assembly, attract big companies looking for top tech talent. So it works the same as attending a big university (except, a fraction of the cost and you can make way more money afterward). Just by being an ‘alumni’ of their program gives you a big head start in the job search process. The best job opportunities always come through some support network (like the one listed above) or friends and family. Ask around. Create a portfolio site that showcases your work so far. Start sending a few emails. Attending events in your downtime doesn’t hurt either. Coworking spaces like WeWork hold events weekly that are attended by many other designers and developers who work with big companies or agencies. They’d be the perfect people to meet (and ask for advice). Developers are among the most in-demand at the moment in most forward-thinking companies. Getting out there and becoming a part of the community will probably give you a better opportunity at landing a good job than firing off resumes on Indeed.com all day. Some job boards, like We Work Remotely, are also a decent place to look for job openings from tech-savvy companies. Even if freelancing isn’t your desired route (for whatever reason), you could always freelance while looking for a full time job just to bring in some side cash and cover basic living expenses. Here’s how to start looking for gigs. How to Get Real Gigs (as a Freelancer) Freelance Web Developer Day Freelancing doesn’t afford the same guaranteed paycheck that a job does. However, there are three huge benefits that Freedom: No more clocking in and clocking out. You might still work the same hours (or more), but your schedule, location, and living circumstances are completely up to you. (Plus, no commuting.) Money: Once you become a good freelancer, you’ll have a better shot at making more money (than waiting for a measly 3% raise each year). Prestige: Over time, you’ll have the opportunity to build your own personal work and brand to a point that eventually guarantees you a The toughest part, of course, if figuring out where your next gig (and check) is coming from. Most beginning freelancers start with job boards. These are easy ways to find people that are already looking for what you do. Which means you don’t really have to convince them. You just have to outsell everyone else responding to the same job posting. (We’ll come back to that in a second.) Many large communities like WordPress even have their own job boards. These are good if you specialize in a particular language or framework. The WeWork coworking network has their own job board as well. You shouldn’t rely on job boards forever, though. Here’s why. Step #1. Build Your Brand Job boards make your skills a commodity. Which typically means you can expect commodity-like (read: low) pay. The quality of clients are also very hit-or-miss. Some might be great. Others less so. Many times they attract people who are inexperienced with hiring/running development problems, which can create a lot of problems when you’re trying to work with them. Many times job boards will also attract people with unrealistic time frames and budgets. Proceed with caution is all I’m saying. You might need some cash. But you don’t want to hate your life in the process. And ideally speaking, all of your work should help set you up to get more work. Which means, the projects you’re taking on should be good enough that you can show future prospects or employers as evidence of your quality. Over-relying on job boards (for too long) won’t give you the opportunity (or free time) to start building your own brand. Attracting ‘inbound’ attention for your work will ultimately land you the best (and highest paying) clients at the end of the day. Michael Port’s Book Yourself Solid talks about having a “Velvet Rope Policy.” Think of it like a nightclub. They don’t just let anyone in. Only the best. Because that enhances the ‘perceived’ value of the establishment. But it also allows you, as a freelancer with limited time, to focus on the projects you’re most excited and passionate about (which allows you to do the best work possible). As quickly as possible, put together a portfolio site. Even design-centric communities like Dribbble (design-focused) or even Instagram can be a great place to promote your work. (One friend was flown out to Nike to discuss potential projects because her work was discovered on Instagram.) But… how do you land project? Step #2. Selling Projects The best developers aren’t just code-jockeys, toiling away in dimly lit rooms. At least, not the best freelancing developers. That behavior is fine if you work for Google or Apple. Freelancing developers, on the other hand, need to be strategists. Thinkers and communicators, not just doers. They need to be able to speak in English (not code), manage timelines, and sell. Your first step in sales should always be to qualify (or disqualify) a potential prospect. That means even if you’re scanning job boards, you’re only picking out the best ones that fit your skillset or trying to look for red flags that might warn you about a potential project or problem client. Like working on eCommerce sites? WordPress ones? Start building a specialty in those niches. Do as much work as possible in them (even if it’s for little-to-no payment initially) so you can build up a solid portfolio that will help you charge 2-3x on the next project. That positions you as an expert (which is the second ingredient in sales). Your experience and work speaks for itself. It sets you apart when you do reach out and make contact to what looks like a good project. If someone’s looking for an eCommerce, WordPress website, and you’ve done 10 of them (that looks great because your old clients also invested in design), you’ll be at the front of the pack to get that project. Even if you charge more than the next guy (or girl). Experts don’t work for peanuts. They charge fair rates and deliver high-quality work on time. The best clients, with the best projects, understand and appreciate that. Build an expertise. Act like an expert. And you can charge like an expert. Job Board to Find Web Development Gigs: PeoplePerHour.com Codable.io (for WordPress) TopTal.com (for WordPress) UpWork.com Conclusion Listen: Most economies in the world are kinda faltering right now. Companies are laying people off. Entire industries are getting outsourced. But there’s one career path that’s blasting off like a rocket: developers. Not only are they in demand, but their average salaries are higher than most as well. And that’s assuming you’re not taking the freelance approach to work flexible hours (and still make a lot of money). It won’t happen overnight. It takes patience and time invested. But becoming a web developer is one of the best decisions you can make if you value location-independence, interesting and rewarding work, and a future outlook of being paid well for the long term. So what are you waiting for?