A Front End Web Developer manages what users see in their browser. They design, analyze code, and debug the client side of an application. This makes them responsible for the look, feel, and design of a website or web application. A front End Web Developer is also expected to have some knowledge of the back end as well as frameworks they could be working with.
The front end is the visible part of the application that users interact with. The back end includes the server, database, and applications that power the front end. The front end is often referred to as the “client side” while the back end is referred to as the “server side.” A Front End Web Developer will work with languages like CSS and JavaScript as well as some frameworks. A Back End Web Developer works almost exclusively with databases, logic, and server side languages like PHP.
According to TJ Kinion of LearningFuze, “Hiring managers are moving away from the computer science degree requirement,” which gives bootcamp graduates more job opportunities than ever before. Front End Developers can look forward to a wide variety of jobs since no two companies have the exact same expectations of a programmer who specializes in front end technologies. A remote Front End Web Developer job is also a distinct possibility.
Here is a list of the most frequent Front End Development jobs for bootcampers:
Front End Job | Average Salary |
Junior Front End Developer | $67,770 |
Full Stack Developer | $101,800 |
Web Developer | $97,950 |
Knowledge of front end languages, frameworks, and critical thinking are essential parts of the developer’s toolbox. Because Front End Developers often work on a team, recruiters are also looking for strong evidence of soft skills. Thankfully, most coding bootcamps teach their students how to demonstrate their transferable skills as well as their technical skills.
Here is a short list of skills and technologies taught at Front End Web Development bootcamps:
A Front End Developer’s resume should show past experience in a way that frames the transferable skills. Recruiters look for things like previous management experience, jobs requiring clear communication, problem-solving, and other soft skills. A resume should show the proper technical skills listed in the job description, like languages learned and technologies mastered. Listing quantifiable achievements and projects presents your experiences from bootcamp in a way that recruiters can understand quickly and easily. A Front End Web Developer’s resume should also show specialization in front end technologies.
Front End Developers can expect to be asked general questions that allow for past experiences to shine like, “Tell me more about yourself,” or “What excites you about coding?” Most interviewers will ask about projects you’ve completed and the process or tools you used to build them. They’ll also ask questions to learn more about your personality to test for cultural fit. Recruiters often ask Front End Web Developers technical questions about HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. Developers should prepare for whiteboarding and a coding challenge as well.
Front End Web Developers must build and maintain an online portfolio. Showcase the projects you’ve built during bootcamp in your portfolio as well as on your resume. Here are some projects that Developers built during bootcamp and added to their portfolios:
Now that computer science degrees are not an industry-wide requirement, there is really no standard way to get from complete beginner to Front End Developer. Here are a few paths you can take:
Coding Bootcamp is the quickest, most streamlined way to become a Front End Web Developer. Turing and Grand Circus are among the few bootcamps that offer strictly front end programming tracks. Most bootcamps like Flatiron School teach the full stack and graduates can decide whether they want to specialize in front end or back end, and then get comfortable with their respective technologies. Coding bootcamps typically teach both technical skills and job hunting skills which help more than 80% of graduates secure jobs after bootcamp. Bootcamps can run anywhere from 8-16 weeks and on average cost $14,780 USD. Many bootcamps now offer deferred tuition, Income Share Agreements, or financing options.
Self study requires more time and self-discipline than any other option. There are a plethora of resources out there like W3schools and Udacity’s Nanodegree programs. Keep in mind that self teaching can get you the technical skills needed to develop an application or website, but you’ll also need to know how to find a job and prove your skills. Learning online can cost anywhere from nothing to thousands of dollars depending on the programs you choose to use. Depending on your commitment, it can take anywhere from 8 weeks to multiple years to learn the skills you’ll need for the job.
A college degree is the longest path to becoming a Front End Developer and possibly the most expensive. This route will provide you with theoretical knowledge, mathematics, and exposure to more low level programming than a coding bootcamp. A degree program will also likely have opportunities for internships. Critics say a computer science degree will not provide as much practical experience or tailored career counseling as bootcamp. The average cost of a computer science degree ranges from $35,000 USD and the average duration is 2-4 years.
Some employers will fund coding bootcamps or even teach you to code themselves. Companies like Revature and Morningstar are two examples of companies you could work for that offer programs for beginners.
All the coding bootcamp news you may have missed in February!
Every coding bootcamp will teach CSS – but what is it? Get a head start with this guide to CSS!
More high schoolers than ever are learning to code – find the right bootcamp to get a head start!
San Francisco1 Course
Rithm School offers a full-time, 16-week, full stack web development immersion bootcamp in San Francisco, California and will be conducting cohorts remotely through the end of 2020. Their curriculum is centered around JavaScript and Python, and also covers PostgreSQL,...
Read our Full Review of Rithm SchoolOnline2 Courses
Launch School is an online program for studious beginners whose goal is to become professional developers. The program focuses on fundamentals of programming and software engineering including HTML, CSS, Ruby on Rails, and object oriented JavaScript, and guides...
Read our Full Review of Launch SchoolAtlanta6 Courses
Big Nerd Ranch is a mobile app development and design firm and training company that has led one-week intensive bootcamps since 2001. Hosted at their Atlanta, Georgia campus, courses focus on mobile development in iOS and Android as well as front-end web development,...
Read our Full Review of Big Nerd RanchOnline2 Courses
Covalence provides career-changing 12-week, full-time and 6-month, part-time full stack web development educational programs online. In Covalence's Full Stack bootcamp, students learn the essentials of front-end, back-end, and database development by focusing on modern...
Read our Full Review of CovalenceBarcelona Code School offers a 9-week full-time Full-Stack JavaScript Bootcamp in Barcelona, Spain and online. Barcelona Code School's curriculum is focused on using JavaScript with Node.js, Express, MongoDB, React.js and React Native. This Java-Script-focused...
Read our Full Review of Barcelona Code SchoolToronto7 Courses
Bitmaker General Assembly offers full-time immersive courses in web development and UX & product design, along with 10-week part-time offerings in front-end web development, user experience design, digital marketing, product management, and data analytics. Startup...
Read our Full Review of Bitmaker General AssemblyDetroit, Grand Rapids5 Courses
Grand Circus is a learning institute offering 12-week full-time and 26-week part-time software developer bootcamps with campuses in Grand Rapids and Detroit, Michigan. Students can choose between coding bootcamps covering Java, C#/.NET, or Front End. In addition to the...
Read our Full Review of Grand CircusNew York City, Chicago, Online4 Courses
The Grace Hopper Program is a 17-week, immersive software engineering program for women with no upfront tuition cost in New York City (13-weeks of the course will be on campus). Named for pioneer computer scientist Grace Murray Hopper, the program is driven by three...
Read our Full Review of Grace Hopper ProgramBoston1 Course
Launch Academy is a full-time, 18-week program with a part-time, 8-week online phase and then a full-time, 10-week course in Boston, Massachusetts. After this immersive learning experience, aspiring software developers will be transformed into contributing members of...
Read our Full Review of Launch AcademyAttainU is a part-time, live online college alternative that teaches students the skills needed for careers in software engineering. The 1 year-long course teaches MERN stack, core computer science concepts and interview preparation.
Students learn through...
Read our Full Review of AttainU