Website design is a truly massive industry. As a growing number of businesses and individuals require an effective means to promote what they are offering, it is no surprise that qualified front-end developers can enjoy a lucrative career. However, there are several innate skills which you will need to possess in order to maximise your chances of landing employment within this decidedly competitive sector. Let us take a look at a handful of core competencies that will come in handy.
Knowing the Proper Coding
Code is the core of even the most basic of web pages. While a familiarity with WordPress and similar user-friendly platforms is always wise, it is essential to possess a thorough understanding of the most common codes that are employed. These include:
- JavaScript (jQuery and Frameworks)
- HTML and CSS
- Python, C++ and Perl (for more specified roles)
Without a knowledge of these codes (HTML in particular), it will be very difficult to break into the world of website design.
Mobile and Responsive Website Design
The field of m-commerce is growing exponentially each and every year. In fact, it is estimated that there are no fewer than 2.16 billion global smartphone users (1). The main issue here is that many traditional websites will display incorrectly when viewed through a smartphone or a tablet. It is therefore critical that any budding web designer has a basic knowledge of how to adapt to a growing remote community.
In the same respect, there can be times when a website owner wishes a page to function within a smartphone in a unique manner. This is a very general definition of responsive site design. Once again, such skills are valuable talents to offer the client.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
The most popular browsers are currently Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer. The issue here is that poorly constructed websites may not display correctly when employing a different system. In severe cases, critical elements such as hyperlinks or flash videos may fail to function entirely. Web designers should know how to identify and rectify these issues.
The World of the Cloud
Cloud computing and storage are other areas that have seen massive growth over the past five years. Due to benefits such as redundancy, easy access and superior levels of security, modern developers need to be able to work within the cloud. As this is a rather new field, there are many who may not yet possess the skills that are required. Whether you are completely unfamiliar with this framework or you hope to keep ahead of the latest developments, there are a number of highly effective cloud training courses available online that provide students all the skills and knowledge they need to know to enter into the web design world.
These are some of the key areas of knowledge that should be embraced if you hope to get ahead in this amazing field. As front-end website design is constantly evolving, flexibility and ongoing training are both keys to your eventual success. It does indeed pay to be prepared!
