how to get a job as a front end developer
DESCRIPTION
For career changers or general job searchers who have experience, and developers in general. Skills and subsets needed to be hirable; How and where to learn FED Skills; Job Search Preparation; Where to find job openings; How to write a resume; How to be a good interviewTRANSCRIPT
by Mike WilcoxNovember 2010
How to get a Job as a Front End DeveloperHow to get a Job as a Front End DeveloperFor career changers or general job searchers who have
experience Developers in general can benefit
OverviewSkills and subsets needed to be hirable
How and where to learn FED Skills
Job search preparation
Where to find job openings
How to write a resume
How to be a good interview
Front End Developer SkillsFront End Developer Skills
Or FED for short!
Minimum SkillsPhotoshopHTML Markup
CSS
JavaScript
Marketable SkillsHTML5
CSS3 / Advanced CSS knowledge
Flash / Flex / AS3
Usability
Design
SEO
etc, etc.
Note that Photoshop was the only software mentioned by nameNot too many ads for someone who knows GIMP and nobody cares that you know DVD Ripper Extreme
Why are these extra skills important? See the Club AJAX blog:Why Your Company Needs A Front End Developer
Experience
You need 'evidence' more than you need experience
Language and problem solving skills
Communication skills
Motivation and interests.
Demonstrate Drive and AttitudeGet yourself known
Be "pesky"
Be that guy they take a chance on
How do I get a job with no experience
Test Your KnowledgeTest Your KnowledgePotential questions interviewers may ask to get insight into your understanding of
these basic languages
Photoshop / DesignDifference between a JPG and a GIF?
Difference between a vector and a bitmap?
What is an image sprite?
HTML MarkupWhen is a closing tag is needed? <div></div> <div />
Does a script tag support both text and a source? Which? <script src=”file.js”>foo = bar;</script>
Why is the use of Frames discouraged?
CSSBox model - does border affect width?
Difference between block, inline, and inline-block?
How many different ways can you hide an element?
JavaScriptWhat are reserved words?
Your code works in all browsers but IE6 - why?
In IE, what causes: Stack “Overflow line zero”?
JavaScript Coding QuestionsHow fast can you code a FuzzBuzz?
Write a script that reverses a string
Flash Terminology
Flash / Flash BuilderMost work done in the IDE; little code
Flex / Flex builderMXML markup used as an HTML-like markup language to render ActionScript objects (still creates a SWF)
AS3Java-like code-heavy development
The rumor of its demise is greatly exaggerated
Note that most recruiters won't even understand these termsIn Dallas anyway, there are more jobs for Flex than there are for AJAX Because of iOS, this could be changing as we speak
AS3 vs JavaScript (AJAX)Which should you learn, or which should you learn first
JavaScript has easier learning curve
AS3 is pretty hard unless you already know JavaBut AS3 tends to be design-driven
Flash has many perplexing nuisances:Attaching code to library items
Figuring out where the hell the root "node" is
Loading parameters
HTML vs FlexHTML is much easier
Flex pays much betterBut Flex is a lot like jQuery - you may not know what level of knowledge the job really requires
I'd still recommend learning HTML and CSS first, so you can understand the environment in which you are working.
Flash vs PhotoshopTrick question - a designer should know both
Flash is actually darn good as a design tool
How to learn Front End Development
How to learn Front End Development
On the JobDon't expect teaching, training, placement or help
The initiative must be yours
Take on simple tasks and learn how to do themVery effective if it takes the load off of a colleague who would then also help you along the way
Peer ReviewBuddy Code (Agile)
Have code reviewNeeds to be relatively simple code
Look at other codePreferably complicated code, not snippets
Personal ProjectEnormously effective for self-motivation
Does not have to be brilliant or original
Can simply be useful - even just to you
Open SourceUse it, doc it, patch it, contribute, commit
High Quality Open Source - Dojo good, jQuery not as good
Working with open source is the opportunity to see other people's code
Something FEDs don't get to often do
Community CollegeCurrently a college degree is not the best place to learn FED
Exception: community college that happens to offer relevant courses
A Bachelors in CS is certainly nice, and will open up a few more doors in large companies.
College pricing should be factored into this decisionBut CS will also mess you up by teaching you too much Java :)
BooksBooks alone won't do it, but can provide the foundation. Highly recommended method for this field.
Start with books on HTML and CSSNeed at least an above average mastery of CSS
For HTML, find one that also teaches some server basics, so you can run Apache on your computer, and push files up to an inexpensive (or free) web server
A lot of JS books are bad, so you have to be careful here.
The best book is David Flanagan's JavaScript the Definitive Guide.
Anything by Douglas Crockford is good.
ABL! – Always Be Learnin'Bookmark everything!
Carefully archive your test files
Read Tech Books
Read Blogs - keep up on technology
The Job SearchBeing PreparedThe Job SearchBeing Prepared
Long Term PrepOnline blog
This is why you don't want to be swearing on it like an asshole
FacebookYeah. They check there now. Happy birthday by the way.
LinkedInVery important
Open Source workAllow a lot of time to ease your way into the community
Short Term PrepResume
High quality (parchment) printer paper
Nice folder to hold multiple resumes and cover letters
ReferencesFrom colleagues of former employers
Use LinkedIn
Online portfolioNeeds to be good, clean, up to date, and working
Reiterate: online. Not on a CD. FED right?
Cover letter templateTemplate for each style of job you are capable of doing
Edit each one to fit opportunity
The ResumeThe Resume
Look at your resume from the POV of someone looking to fill a position and
has 50 resumes on their desk.
Look at your resume from the POV of someone looking to fill a position and
has 50 resumes on their desk.
Resume Review StagesKeyword search
Mostly to online resumes like Monster
Spot check for maniacsIntern filters out irrelevant resumes
Due to lack of experience, too much experience, or just plain spam
Expertise Filtering (not filtered by an expert)Either a peer or HR looks for qualified resumes
HR may not be qualified
This is why startups are better
Resume Review Stages c’ntSoftware filtering
List every single professional app you know in small print
Subjective filtering
When the resumes actually gets read
Language knowledge
Few companies will retrain
Amount and relevance of experience
Distance to work
Stand OutLeave behind the stuff you learned in college
No "Objective"
Two pages is okay!!
What does the applicant do? WHO ARE YOU? I shouldn't have to guess!
Should look nice electronically or printed
Printed should not be not black text on white paper, go for dark colors that match the resume paper - usually dark brown on beige parchment
Resume TipsHave someone else proofread it
Have someone else proofread it - again.
Resume ExamplesResume ExamplesClub AJAX Resume examples
The InterviewThe Interview
Nervousness
Research the company
Research the position
Schedule least-wanted jobs first, for practice
Be ready when asked “Tell me about yourself”
Be Prepared
What is Expected of You?
The quintessential blog on the subject: The Guerrilla Guide to Interviewing
by Joel Spolskyhttp://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/GuerrillaInterviewing3.html
What is Expected of You?
They are smart
They get things done
They are likable
A good interviewer looks for three things in a computer programmer:
Be SmartKnow your shit.
Make sure you know what the requirements are and be ready to sound authoritative on your field (even if you are not – but don't lie)
If you don't know the answer, explain how you would find out
Get Things DoneRefer to projects with this in mind
"I did X in X time."
Keeping the interview moving along. Time wasters babble and ramble
If the interview starts to lull - say "next question!"
Be LikableDo what your mama taught you
Be polite
Don't interrupt
Remember everybody's name
Be on time
Dress appropriatelyWhen in doubt: business casual
Be excited about the project / position / company
Be PreparedKnow your price range
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
Know before hand how much you’ll accept in “stock”
Ask for benefits details
Vacation days