5 Skills to Power-Up Your Developer Resume
It’s hard to imagine a world where we don’t do everything via the internet. From ordering food to buying clothes to booking vacations, technology has taken over our lives in a huge way. Today, almost every single industry requires people who know who to code.
However, as the industry grows, and the number of web developers along with it, it’s only natural that the field is getting increasingly competitive. In order to stay relevant, developers have to move beyond the basics of JavaScript and HTML. Whether you’re looking to get your big break in the tech world or move up into a management position, adding one of the following skills to your toolbox can help set you apart from the crowd.
UI/UX Design
From an employer’s perspective, hiring a developer who can design is like scoring the ultimate 2-for-1 deal. However, there’s much more to gain from adding this skill to your arsenal than just making yourself a more attractive candidate.
Simply put, website and app users don’t interact with lines of code, they interact with design. By learning to design, you’ll gain a better understanding of the customer and be able to build more user-friendly products. Additionally, even if you don’t become a pro designer, learning more about concepts like wireframing and user flow can help you collaborate better with designers in the future.
You can start by taking an online course – for example, SitePoint has tons of design and UX courses, most of which can completed in under three hours.
Data Analytics
As companies find new ways to capture and store large amounts of information about their customers, products, and services, many of these same businesses are also left scrambling to figure out what to do with it. That’s why it’s no surprise that a recent study named data science as the technical skill with the biggest increase in demand in the last few years.
As a web developer, learning how to work with large sets of data and use it to generate insights and validate ideas can be invaluable to your career. However, data science is an enormous field that can take years to master.
You can learn the basics with tools like Dataquest, which focuses on practicing your skills and building a portfolio. If you’re looking to learn more advanced data science concepts, this in-depth guide offers a variety of learning paths. On a budget? MIT offers courses on data mining, free of charge.
Mobile Development
We’re not just talking about making responsive websites and smartphone apps. With mobile technology use rising at an incredible rate, and its scope expanding beyond the realm of smartphones and tablets to include platforms like Smart TVs and IoT-enabled devices, web developers need to upgrade their skills in order to remain competitive.
For instance, many are calling Progressive Web Apps the “new Responsive Web Design,” as they offer the end user a more mobile-optimized, app-like experience, instead of simply changing the layout of a website to fit different screen sizes. Additionally, incorporating beacons into app development allows businesses to collect in-store data and use hyperlocal marketing to better engage its customers.
Fortunately, Google offers some great overviews about many of these new mobile development trends.
Writing
So you can write code, but can you write… period? You might not think that your writing matters as much as your technical skills, but communication is an important part of any workplace. Writing plays an essential role whether you’re communicating with team members and clients, creating an online portfolio to showcase your work, or updating your resume.
For a quick fix, apps like Grammarly can act like a second pair of eyes on your work, highlighting both common and complex grammatical errors in your writing. If you want to really grow as a writer, taking an online course in business writing or web content writing can help you fine tune your skills with lessons and tips that can be easily applied to a professional setting.
Project Management
No matter where you are in your career, knowing how to manage a web development project from beginning to end can be extremely helpful. Since most companies use the Agile method, learning the ins and outs of being a Scrum Master would be more useful than general project management training.
To get a solid grasp on the fundamentals, this Agile Project Management course is a good place to start. Once you understand the basics, beginner and advanced scrum courses will give you the tools you need to solve problems using the Agile method and fine tune your leadership style so you can better manage your team.
Web Development 3.0?
Before you start panicking, we are not suggesting that every web developer needs to have every skill in order to get a job. Web development is still a highly attractive and lucrative field. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 27% growth in available Web Developer jobs from 2014 to 2024.
However, if you have an interest in any one of the above areas, it certainly can’t hurt to explore it further and diversify your skillset.
Start your job search at Authentic Jobs.