Finding a job can be tough, regardless of what line of work you’re in. Web Development isn’t any different. Not so long ago, there was a plethora of jobs from which to choose. No one really understood web development – it was such a new industry. Today, even second computer nerd wants to be one. So, you need to stand out from the crowd. Here are some tips on just how to do that.
Get work experience. Asses if the industry (and which specific area of the industry) is right for you. Work experience will also demonstrates to potential employers that you are serious about a web development career.
Know the industry in general. Know the difference between marketing and PR. Know which area of the industry you are most interested in and (ideally) want to be working in, in 10 years time. Do your research. This way, you won’t come across as naïve; you will be taken seriously.
Speak to anyone you can who already works in the marketing industry. If your sister’s boyfriend’s cousin’s best mate is an Account Director at a big-time advertising agency, organise to take them out for a coffee. Pick their brain. In the process, you will increase your industry knowledge and business networks. A positive referral might just get your foot in the door at that advertising agency.
Get your CV and portfolio spot on. Tailor them to each role you apply for. Show how your specific skills match that specific vacant position. Don’t simply use a generic CV with a generic covering letter where you change the company name (or forget to change the company name – we’ve all done it at some stage!). Don’t expect your CV to be enough. Employers receive hundreds of CVs (and are probably prone to hit delete – especially if you’ve left the wrong company name on the covering letter) so follow up with a phone call. Make them sit up and take notice of you. And don’t include every site you’ve ever worked on in your portfolio. Just pinpoint the handful of your best sites.
If you aren’t having any luck with advertised positions, take a chance and send out your CV to companies you interested in working for. It shows initiative and enthusiasm. It shows you are willing to get out there and make opportunities happen, rather than wait for them to fall in your lap.
If you are lucky enough to get to the all-important interview phase, prepare for it. Research the company beforehand.
Know who the CEO is, know what services they provide, who their clients are. Work out what it is that you have to offer to THIS particular company. Don’t be afraid to ask questions though. Be on-time (or even early), dress neatly, have good posture, be engaged, be likeable. Be honest about your skills, education and experience and be aware of your weaknesses.
Average Web Developer Salary
While we have had a best guestimate on web develop salaries, these are subject to change. So, if it’s wrong, we apologise. Keep in mind too, that for an accurate assessment of your salary, you will need to take into account several factors such as experience and education. If you’re considering getting into web development, and you’re curious about how much you might be raking in one day, the following will give you a basic idea.
Senior Java J2EE Developer $99,000
Java Web Developer $94,000
Sharepoint Developer $94,000
Mobile Application Developer $94,000
UI Developer $89,000
Coldfusion Developer $85,000
Net Web Developer $79,000
Web Designer Developer $75,000
ASP Net Web Developer $74,000
Front End Developer $72,000
Web Developer $72,000
Web Application Developer $74,000
PHP Web Developer $70,000
Junior Web Developer $46,000
As in any industry, your salary is dependent on numerous factors. Did you know that employers pay through the nose for high levels of education and experience? Or that if you were working for a bigger company, you might earn more? Accurately calculating your salary can be tricky but we’ve taken a stab at it for you:
Job Title: having words like ‘senior’ or ‘manager’ in your title mean that you’ll be earning more. They might be out of reach now, but you’ll get there someday. When not start planning now on how to reach those goals?
Geographic Location: if you work in a city, the odds are good that you’ll earn a larger salary than if you live in a small town.
Education Level: unless you are planning on starting up your own business, education is crucial when it comes to job hunting. The higher level of education you attain, the better your prospects and the higher your salary (generally).
Years of Experience: the more experience you have, the more knowledge you have and the higher your salary will be.
Number of reports: the more employees you manage, the higher your pay in certain jobs. Of course, your level of success is also based on the performance of the employees you manage.
Professional associations: go on, join up, be an active member, go to conferences and events. Active participation within the broader web development industry has a positive effect on levels of pay.
Where You Work: will you run your own business, work for someone else, work in-house at a big corporate firm? Your choice of employer many greatly affect your salary.