Career path of a front end developer
The world is fast developing with technology being at the center stage. One of the most lucrative jobs in our world today is front end development. A front-end developer is charged with the task of coding and maintaining a user-facing website or application.
A front-end developer’s work, therefore, is to ensure that all the information contained in a site is not only readable but also accessible in as many browsers and platforms. Before you decide on being a front-end developer; however, there are certain things that you should have in mind.
I will guide you on the career path of a front developer; therefore, to help you understand what you are getting into. Let’s get started.
Freelance or employment?
You must have realized that a lot of developers are self-taught. Therefore, after going into front end development, you need to decide whether you will be a freelancer or you will seek employment.
The good news is, you can still make a pretty good income as a freelancer. Skills touching on web development are highly needed in our today’s world where businesses are finding it resourceful to push their products through technology.
If you are into freelancing, you will get to shape your career. With the increasing demand for front-end developers, you are probably going to earn more than someone in employment. However, employment also has its perks that outshine freelancing. Either way, you will be in a better place.
If you are to chart your way as a freelancer, here are some of the career paths you can choose for yourself;
- Being a UX/UI expert- Now, front end development is highly competitive even though it is on high demand. If you decide to be a freelancer, you need to have the edge over other developers.
One of the ways you can tower above others is learning and being a UX or UI expert. Just like in other professions, you need to have additional skills too. With UI/UX mastery, everything you design will bring joy to your clients or anybody who will get in touch with your products.
Learning UX/UI helps you design great interfaces that are a plus when it comes to excellent user experience.
- Diversifying- Now, today’s world requires a variety of skills. You need to spice up your profession with other additional knowledge that comes in handy in establishing your brand in a highly competitive market.
One of the ways you can build a career as a freelancer is by diversifying and learning more marketing skills. You see, over the years, those who have managed to make a name for themselves and rake in millions in incomes have done so by learning various skills and combing them into their profession.
Therefore, learn marketing and leadership skills and then combine them with your knowledge of front-end development. It would also be resourceful if you knew a thing or two about UX/UI.
- Building an agency- One thing that you will learn as a web developer is that at no time should you limit yourself. Front end development is highly demanding, and different companies are always looking for developers.
You can choose, therefore, to build your career by setting up your agency. Combined with some leadership, management, and marketing skills, you will thrive as a front-end developer.
One of the perks of an agency is that you get to work with a variety of professionals, which is quite useful in career development. You can efficiently work your whole life running an agency and getting some good returns.
However, if you decide to go into employment, here is the career progression
- Junior front end developer
A junior front end developer is a tag given to developers starting out. You are probably just from college with no vast experience. Being a junior front end developer does not mean that you are in any way inadequate.
A junior front end developer is therefore tasked with coding the approved designs into a working web page templates either in HTML5, CSS, or JavaScript. As a junior front end developer; therefore, you are going to work alongside a team of developers to build websites and different applications.
As a junior developer, there are specific skills that you need to have. One, you should be able to learn new things quickly and work well with a team. You should also have a vast knowledge of coding and the ability to debug your code.
A junior front end developer should also be interested in programming and other technologies and be able to break down problems into parts for an easier solution. As a junior front end developer, you are looking for experience.
- Senior front end developer
A senior front-end developer is an experienced developer with vast experience in coding and mastery of several programs. Most people, therefore, spend their entire careers as senior front-end developers.
A senior front end developer is, therefore, tasked with implementing the user interface and engineering the experience of different sites owned by the business. He or she is also responsible for ensuring the efficiency of the said sites by building patterns and abstractions.
A senior front end developer will, therefore, oversee the work of a junior developer while evaluating emerging technologies and settling on cost-effective solutions to make the organization’s site more efficient.
To be a senior front end developer, you have to possess vast experience in a variety of JavaScript frameworks. You should also have experience in creating complex web user interfaces alongside a detailed understanding of user interactions and design principles.
One is also expected to be an exceptional coder with vast knowledge in a variety of server-side web frameworks.
- Lead front end developer
After several years working as a senior front developer, it is only right that one assumes a higher position. A lead front end developer, therefore, has a variety of roles and challenges but not necessarily management.
What then is the role of a lead front end developer if not management? A lead front end developer is a highly-skilled front-end developer who guides other developers directs where they find challenges.
A lead front end developer, therefore, spends most of his time in coordination and decision making. They are also charged with designing complex web user interfaces for other developers. Being a lead front end developer, therefore, requires a heightened level of skills.
One, you should be an exceptional programmer and have a vast knowledge of building several user interfaces. As a lead developer, you should not only be able to design complex user interfaces but also make them.
- iv) Front end development Team Leader
After spending almost half a decade as either a senior front end developer or a lead front end developer, it is only right that one ascends to a management position. A front-end development team manager or leader is responsible for overseeing the undertaking of large projects and managing other front end developers.
One will, therefore, decide who to hire and fire in the lower caliber, inspect the workflow, and oversee the productivity of the company. A front end development team leader; therefore, only answers to senior managers. As a leader, one is tasked with management, and thus skills such as dispute resolution and leadership are critical.
Since it involves hiring and firing employees, one should be open and fair in his or her undertaking. This, therefore, is the first management position.
- v) Director
It is possible to scale the ultimate height as a front-end developer and become a director. A director is purely tasked with oversight responsibility while answering to either the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of directors.
A director, therefore, oversees the work of front-end development managers who answer to him or her. The director makes all the executive decisions touching on front end development. Such decisions include the firm’s long-term strategies, goals, and targets.
A director is also a senior manager who ensures the highest level of accountability. He or she can also fire other lower managers and hire new ones. In case you are likely to go the career way, this is the ultimate step.
Regardless of whether you are plying the freelance or the employment way, there are specific considerations that you should make as a front-end developer. You should be open to new things and try out as many inventions as possible.
Just like any other profession, it is not a must that you end up in management. If you detest the stress that comes with control, you can choose to be a senior front end developer for the better part of your career.
Conclusion
Front end development is a highly rewarding career. Web development keeps on growing even in the advent of mobile applications. It is, therefore, a field with a secure future. However, before starting as a front-end developer, you need to map out your career path.
You can, therefore, either choose to be a freelancer or seek employment. In case you select the employment way, there is an existing career path which we have looked at. With front end development, you just need to be outstanding in your work to get ultimate control of your career.