As someone passionate about web development, I find it essential to understand what it's like to work in this field. While between jobs, I had the opportunity to speak with several people in the web development industry, including developens about their workdays, what they found most challenging and enjoyable, the number of hours they worked, and whether there was a season that was toughest n their job. Additionally, we talked about the state of the industry, the effects of mass layoffs on the industry, and the future of web development.
What Is Their Work Like?
One of the most enlightening parts of my conversations with these web developers was learning about their typical workdays. The freelance trainer, for example, spends his days training developers, building functional prototypes for startups, and coding most of the time. For him, the biggest challenge is wearing many hats, including business development, but he enjoys the freedom and control that comes with freelancing.
One Developer Advocate spends his time doing daily standups to get feedback and ask questions, breaking down work, and working on implementing tasks and conducting code reviews. The other I caught in the middle of working on launching some new integrations. He has a lot of autonomy to work on his tasks, which include reviewing copies, docs, and blog posts, documenting confusing subjects, making outlines, and recording/reviewing videos.
The web developer I spoke with mentioned that he has a lot of tasks, from strategizing projects to writing tests, and that there is always variety in his work. He goes through all of his notifications a couple of times a day and works on PRs and merges.
All of these developers work about 30-45 hours per week, with varying levels of difficulty throughout the year. The freelancer struggles around the holidays as companies tend to focus on saving money and spending time with their families. Developer Advocates can see the Spring or Summer since kids are out of school, life gets in the way, and there are a lot of conferences to go to. It varies for the Web Developer as their main focus is on products. Whenever a new product is getting released, it's usually a push for the deadline.
Opinion on the State of the Industry
When it comes to the state of the industry, the developers had different opinions. The Web Dev said the biggest change he has seen is the rise of ChatGPT, which he uses for rubber ducking and pair programming. Meanwhile, a developer advocate said there are still many traditional methods in use, such as Next.js, PHP, and WordPress being very popular.
I also got to see how they were each affected by the recent mass layoffs in the industry. The freelancer and one of the Developer Advocates felt that the recent mass layoffs are worrying, and the focus on money over fun could hurt society. Things felt more driven by fear. On the other hand, the other Developer Advocate sees it as an opportunity for smaller companies to rise up, and the result of quick growth throughout COVID was a direct cause of the mass layoffs. All of them agree that networking is essential during times like these.
Regarding the future of web development, the topic of AI came up, and they all agreed that it will have a significant impact on the industry. However, AI won't replace jobs but instead create/supplement different ones, such as delivering results faster or creating Twitter threads. One did raise concerns about AI making it more difficult to get into the development industry.
When asked the question about why they think people leave the Web Dev field, I got two main answers, the people and the work. The people can be super judgmental if you're not in the "boys club." People can seem really underhanded and only look out only for themselves, regardless of how it affects others. The work can be very demanding and time-consuming. There is a lot more out in the world than just work. People want to live their lives and being stuck in an office all day can be very taxing.
Approaches to Job Searching and Hiring
When it comes to finding jobs throughout the years, they had different approaches. Early on in their careers, they spammed various job boards and emails, prioritizing quantity over quality as the main way. But as they gained experience under their belt, they were able to be more selective. With more experience and connections, they were able to reach out for referrals, and people came to them with job opportunities through mediums like Twitter.
When considering new hires, they value basic fundamental skills, such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. They also look for a willingness to learn, motivation, and the ability to find ways to stand out, such as having a strong Github profile or demo sites. Additionally, they prioritize candidates who stay on top of industry developments and trends. They also seek candidates who demonstrate a desire to learn, show humility, take ownership of their mistakes and treat them as learning opportunities, have an eagerness to build but are not overbearing about it, are good team players, collaborate well, are open to feedback, and have strong communication skills. They also value candidates who are flexible and take ownership of their own responsibilities.
Conclusion
All in all, speaking with these web developers provided me with a wealth of information about the industry. I learned that web development is a diverse field with many different roles, from freelancing to working for companies. The recent changes to the industry have brought both excitement and worry, but there is always the promise of new technology and job opportunities.
Credits
I would like to express my gratitude to Joe Previte, Colby Fayock, Kevin Cunningham, and Will Johnson for taking the time out of their day to participate in these interviews with me. It was an eye-opening experience, and I am certain it will be a valuable asset for me moving forward.