With the demand for web development surging in recent years, this Market Update will explain the role of a Web Developer, analyse national job opportunities and help you plan how to upskill for one of Australia’s most promising tech careers.
What does a web developer do?
As you might have already guessed, the work carried out by Web Developers is diverse. The skills you need as a Web Developer and your day-to-day tasks will depend on the company you work for and the scope of a particular project.
You’ll normally start by consulting with clients to discuss what’s needed from an application or website (which means you’ll need good ‘soft skills’ for communication). Once the specifications have been agreed on, you’ll build the overall architecture of a website or app and write code that performs its various functions.
There are a range of tech tools used by Web Developers. Taking a look behind the Instagram app reveals a shortlist of some of the essential ‘devtools’ and programming languages today’s Web Developer relies on.
The web development for Instagram is powered by:
- Python
- JavaScript
- React.js
- Redis
- SQL
- Nginx
- Django
However, there are still plenty more tools to choose from. The specifications of a particular project will determine the combination of ‘devtools’ you use. Even though your previous projects were successful, a tech stack used in the past won’t necessarily get the job done with your latest brief.
The best Web Developers will dedicate time to researching the latest innovations, making sure the tech they use remains cutting-edge and optimal for any upcoming projects.
As a Web Developer, your work day will normally be far from routine. You’ll often be fixing problems and responding to challenges as they arise, so expect the unexpected! This could include anything from repairing broken links, to adjusting images or text that aren’t displaying properly.
There’s also a good chance you’ll create interactive content using Java or Visual Basic programming languages. Web developers often work with content creators and use a CMS (content management system), which is a flexible application that organises content and serves it to users, either at set stages or following predetermined triggers.
You’ll often need to collaborate with other teammates to discuss ongoing projects, brainstorm ideas and devise new strategies to maximise your clients’ online presence (there’s not much point in building the perfect website or app if no one finds it!).