Searching  for your favorite movie, browsing a digital catalog, or navigating  between blog posts needs to be effortless. Even the slightest  frustration can cause lost sales and hurt the brand. Front-end  developers are largely responsible for creating that ideal user  experience.  

Talented  front-end developers craft customer-facing websites and apps. They play  a key role in the web development process by ensuring websites are  aligned with company branding. Front-end development also involves  aspects of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design.  

Businesses  are realizing the importance of their digital presence, and as a  result, the demand for front-end developers is booming.  

If you’re an aspiring front-end developer and want to get started in the  field, here are some of the skills you’ll need to be successful. We’ll also cover online UX/UI design courses and software engineering bootcamps you can join to learn these skills and fast-track your way to a high-paid developer position.

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Must-Have Front-End Developer Skills

Anything that the user can see or interact with is handled by the front-end developer. They focus on site design, layout, navigation, structure, fonts, colors, images, and content.

If you're angling for a developer job, getting up to speed with front-end development skills is a great place to start your journey. While the required knowledge for entry-level developer jobs can vary from company to company, many skills are common across the industry. Focusing your efforts on learning these common skills can boost your chances of success in the job market.

Hard Skills Needed for Front-End Development

Here’s a list of core front-end developer skills that are often required by employers in the space:

Soft Skills Needed for Front-End Development

Technical knowledge can only get you so far. Front-end developers must also have excellent soft skills. You’ll be working in teams, communicating with other departments, and even discussing requirements directly with clients. All this requires people skills and a positive attitude.

Here are some soft skills you should perfect to become a successful front-end developer.

Entry-Level Front-End Development Skills

To take the first step toward your new career, you'll need to develop some of the basic skills employers will look for in a Junior Front-End Web Developer.

Some of the tools and languages you'll need to learn right off the bat are:

Once you've grasped those skills, you'll be in a good position to interview for entry-level positions and impress your next employer.

Advanced Skills

One of the great things about front-end development is that it'll continue to challenge you and offer new opportunities. Learning the basics of HTML and CSS is just the beginning.

As you become more advanced, you'll want to get skilled in React, a JavaScript library that's become popular for a variety of coding projects.

You'll also start to explore some basic terms and tools of UX design. Once you know the process of wireframing, user testing and designing, it'll be easier for you to execute projects according to the design team's vision.

And of course, you can always advance your coding knowledge by learning some back-end languages as well. Even in a front-end developer job, your employer and the rest of your team will appreciate it if you can also jump in on smaller back-end projects when needed.

How to Develop Your Front-End Coding Skills

Degrees have traditionally been the most common path for aspiring web developers. However, they can take up to 4 years to complete and cost around $30,000 per year in tuition fees. Even computer science, software engineering, or other design-related degrees cover a wide range of topics, many of which aren't actually relevant for a future in web development.

Fortunately, you've got some alternative ways to learn front-end development.

Education Options

You don't necessarily need a degree to get hired as a front-end developer. An online web development course or coding bootcamp can be equally effective.  Just be sure to choose a format that gives you a structured curriculum and career support.

Self-Teaching

If you're motivated enough to teach yourself to code, then there are plenty of free online resources to choose from. This is the most cost-effective (read: free) option. The downside is that you'll have to keep yourself accountable in order to learn the skills you need to get hired.

Hands-On Practice

Make sure to practice your front-end coding skills by creating your own web pages. You can also volunteer your coding expertise and help out at a local organization or non-profit. Every project you take on will help you become a better developer, and add experience to your resume.

Pursue A Career in Front-End Development

If you’re looking for an affordable, focused, and fast route to kickstarting your tech career, consider enrolling in our Software Engineering bootcamp. Our online program was designed by leading experts to teach you career-ready skills. Our goal is to take you from beginner to hired in just a few months.

You’ll receive personal mentorship from experienced professionals as you work your way through our curriculum. And it all results in that coveted prize: a full-time, front-end developer job.

FAQs:

Can I learn front end development skills on my own?

Yes, you can. If you decide to study front-end development on your own, there's a lot of information available online. Make sure you have a structured plan, which could include following some Medium blogs, looking at Pinterest boards and joining online learning communities.

What type of projects would I work on as a front end developer?

As a front-end web developer, you’ll create the visual elements that users see and interact with within a site, app, or software. You’ll influence the design of web pages and improve user experience.

Does Thinkful teach these skills?

Yes, we offer some of the most popular front-end developer courses that will have you coding beautiful pages in multiple languages. Our full-time web development program offers you the skills, tools and support you need to become a successful front-end developer.

Learn to Code with Thinkful

Take the proven path to a high-income career with professional mentorship and support, flexible ways to pay, and real-world, project-based learning.


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