Getting a Job in Web Development

A web developer is someone who specializes in, or regularly is involved in, the construction of World Wide Web software using a server and client model. In this case, the web is the "server," but the client is usually the "user." The web developer creates and maintains a large collection of web pages, often referred to as "webs" or "content" or "e-commerce" applications.

There are a number of different types of web developers. Many people think of web developers as designers but that is not completely correct. While web designers do handle the technically necessary aspects, such as layout (the arrangement of items on a web page), graphic design, images, video and more, web developers deal with the business aspects, such as creating user interfaces for the web pages and providing business-related services.

There are many different places to find qualified web designers. You can find them in design schools or in colleges and universities, both on campus and online. Many web designers start out in either of these fields, then find careers later involving web development. One way to get into the field is to enroll in an intensive course which prepares students to become full-fledged developers. Such programs can take from one year to two years to complete.

Some web designers start out at first as interns or apprentices with established web development companies. This allows them to develop their own skills while gaining experience. Interns might stay in an office or work remotely from a laptop. Companies will send their experienced web designers for training or on short assignments to keep them from having to hire and train new graduates. A company might have a web developer on staff who is capable of more specialized work.

A lot of web developers start as graphic designers. Often web designers and graphic designers will combine their talents in a specialized area. This can be especially true of the visual design and animation field, where a web designer can work as an illustrator, web developer, and even a web developer and animator. Web designers can specialize in web design or basic web development, though most will have broad areas of experience that they can expand into when they feel that they've reached a particular level of expertise.

Other web developers start as web content developers. They write HTML code to put information on websites. These websites often do not contain pictures because web content is considered non-public information. Web content developers might also write script code to create interactive websites.