Web development is one of the fastest-growing fields right now. There are more than a million web developers in the US alone and the average salary is nothing less than $60,000. This makes it sound like a dream job. But the question is do you need a degree to become a web developer? Is there a way to be a self-taught and successful web developer? Do you need special skills to learn web development? Is web developer education a prerequisite to finding a job in this sector?
Well, the truth is you can be a good web developer without a college degree. In fact, more than 50% of developers are self-taught. Many are just looking for a way to get skills through online courses and tutorials. The other half may not necessarily have a college degree in web development but just any other science course.
5 Tips on How to Become a Web Developer
If you are going to be a self-taught web developer it is time to get to work. Programming may be difficult at first but once you get the hang of it, things should get easier. Here are some tips on how to become a web developer.
1. Define your goals
The first step is for you to define what you really want to achieve. Once you to the rest will be easier. The key is to start working on becoming a web developer as soon as possible. Putting it off will only delay you on your ultimate goal of becoming a developer. Identify which areas you need to be proficient in and the type of development that is interesting for you.
2. Learn how to code
If you are going to be successful in web development, then coding is a must. Coding is not an easy task but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn it. The good news is that there are so many online sources that will help you start coding without any charges. For example, you can use Codecademy. This platform offers interactive learning to beginners.
It offers coding basics including JavaScript, HTML & CSS, and PHP. Other platforms that you can use include:
- Coursera,
- MIT OpenCourseWare,
- Udemy,
- Khan Academy
3. Ask Google
The internet just makes learning easier. Even though you may have a tutor when learning web development, you can always make a search on Google. This shows you that you can find a plethora of information when you look online.
So don’t be shy or ashamed about using the internet to improve your skills. Google will take you to many websites where you can find answers to your queries on web development. It’s better to not only rely on mentors since Google will help you to become independent in problem-solving.
4. Watch YouTube videos
Learning is always better when you watch videos. That’s what YouTube provides. You will find countless videos that will provide you with tips on how to be a better web developer. The best thing is that some of the videos are made by self-taught developers so you will be able to relate to them and this will help you know that you too can do it.
5. Practice your new skills
Practice makes perfect, so if you are going to make the most of your knowledge, then you have to keep practicing. The best way is to create a GitHub account. Here, you can not only show how you resolve programming problems but also each strategy behind your solutions.
This will grab the attention of many employers, who have to search through many résumés. They are not only looking for the work you have done but also want to know how you think. GitHub allows developers to work as a team so that they can handle complex situations.
Conclusion
Well actually, you don’t need to go to college to become a web developer or to learn how to code. All you need to do is to identify your goals and start working from there. There are so many online resources that will get you started, and most of them are free.
Learning how to code will be a very important skill on your journey to becoming a web developer. Don’t be afraid to Google any queries you might have and check other developers works. This will help you learn the common designs that developers use. The process is not an easy task but with practice, you will get better till you are able to solve more complicated problems.
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