How to Get a High Paying Entry Level Web Developer Job

If you are starting out your job hunt, it may seem overwhelming to get an entry level web developer position. Your resume might lack work experience. You might still be getting the hang of coding. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a job. It may surprise you that many people who land entry level jobs attribute their success to their soft skills. It’s not just programming skills that matter. Your soft skills prove to your employer you are worth the hire and you will pay off in the long-run.

What Does an Entry Level Web Developer Do

You want the job, but you’re nervous because you’re not sure what is going to be expected of you. Sure, it’s an entry level web developer job, but what does that mean exactly? The good news is that you won’t be expected to know everything or be perfect at coding. You will have senior developers above you who are happy to help if you get stuck. They might even check your code if something isn’t working. You’ll get a lot of grunt work, or tasks that are easy but take a bit of time to program.

Keep in mind that you’ll be expected to put in your own time to improve your code. If you don’t know something that you’ve been asked to do, try to find the answer on your own. Google and programming books are going to be your best friends for a very long time. Your job will include more than just coding in front of a computer.

In your first entry level position, you’ll also spend significant time in meetings and working in collaboration with your teammates. This is why employers find soft skills as important as programming skills. They want to be sure you can work with your team and be an independent thinker. They want you to be someone who comes up with ideas for how to move projects forward.

How to Find an Entry Level Web Developer Job

One of the easiest ways to find an entry level web developer job is to ask around at your current company. This is especially true if you work in an office setting with web developers. Often, companies like to hire from within. They may even be willing to take someone with less experience if they have a strong work ethic and willingness to learn.

Another way is to get your resume out there on websites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Monster. This is where headhunters and companies will find you. Headhunters are people hired by companies to find qualified developers and they will be the ones that will get you in touch with companies. If you have friends or colleagues that are web developers, it’s a good idea to connect with them and see if their company is hiring. If they can put in a good word for you, then half of your battle is already done.

Get the Skills You Need to Get a Web Developer Job

While your soft skills are important, the better you are at programming, the more likely you are to score that entry level web developer job. If you are serious about changing careers, it might be worth investing in a coding bootcamp. A coding bootcamp is an intensive course that is designed to teach you everything you need to know to be a successful developer. They can also help you with building a portfolio that will show a potential employer just what you can do.

Coding bootcamps are definitely worth the investment as the employment rate for graduates of coding bootcamps are as high as 80%. The better the coding bootcamp, the better the employment rate, with some bootcamps touting rates as high as 93%.

Getting an entry level web developer job isn’t something that you can do overnight. These jobs won’t just get handed to you. You’ve got to have skills and show you have the determination to become a good developer. The best quality of any wannabe programmer is a willingness to learn and a never give up attitude when it comes to writing good code.