BrainStation’s Web Developer career guide is intended to help you take the first steps toward a lucrative career in web development. Read on to learn how to write a great resume for Web Developer jobs.
As technology continues to evolve and play an increasingly important role across all industries, web design and development skills are in high demand. Whether you’re just starting your career or have years of experience under your belt, showcasing the right skills on your CV is crucial for landing your next job.
In this article we’ll explore the key web design and development skills you should highlight on your CV to attract potential employers. From hard technical abilities to soft interpersonal skills, we’ve got you covered.
Technical Skills
Let’s start with the foundational web development skills that allow you to actually build websites and web applications. These are the must-have abilities on any web designer or developer’s CV.
HTML & CSS
HTML and CSS form the backbone of web development by controlling the structure and presentation of web pages. Proficiency in semantic valid HTML and CSS layout is an absolute basic requirement for front-end development roles. Make sure to list your experience with the latest HTML5 and CSS3 standards.
JavaScript
JavaScript brings interactivity and dynamic behavior to websites. As a client-side scripting language, it allows you to manipulate page content, validate forms, create animations, handle events and so much more. JavaScript skills are critical for both front-end and full-stack developers.
Server-side Languages
While HTML, CSS and JavaScript handle the front-end, server-side languages like PHP, Python, Ruby, Java and .NET are used to build the back-end logic and connect websites to databases. Common frameworks include Django (Python) and Ruby on Rails. List your experience with relevant languages and frameworks.
Relational Databases
Nearly all dynamic websites rely on databases to store, organize and retrieve data efficiently. Being able to design database schemas and write SQL queries is key. Make sure to mention your hands-on experience with databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, etc.
Version Control Systems
Version control systems like Git allow developers to collaborate on code and track changes over time. Facility with Git and platforms like GitHub or BitBucket is a must these days. Highlight your experience with major VCS tools.
Web Development Frameworks
Frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, Bootstrap, and jQuery speed up front-end development and add advanced functionality. Be sure to list your expertise with any relevant frameworks for the types of roles you’re pursuing.
Responsive Web Design
With mobile internet usage now exceeding desktop, having responsive design skills that allow websites to adapt to any screen size is mandatory. Demonstrate your responsive development chops gained through projects or coursework.
Accessibility
Writing semantic HTML, adding ARIA roles, and ensuring keyboard navigability makes websites usable for those with disabilities. Show that you understand web accessibility best practices and guidelines.
SEO Basics
Optimizing web pages for search engine discoverability through meta tags, alt text, responsive design and other techniques should be in any web developer’s toolkit. List any SEO experience you have.
Web Performance
With site speed being a ranking factor for Google and a key driver of user experience, knowledge of performance optimization techniques like minification, compression, caching, lazy loading, and code splitting is valuable.
Testing & Debugging
Pinpointing issues through browser developer tools, validating code against standards, and writing automated tests improves product quality. Highlight any testing skills gained through test-driven development, unit testing, end-to-end testing, etc.
Hosting Platforms
Understanding how to deploy websites on hosting platforms like AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or traditional web servers expands your capabilities. List experience with relevant web hosting technologies and services.
Interpersonal Skills
While technical expertise is essential, you also need a mix of soft skills to thrive in web development roles, which often require collaboration, communication, and creative problem solving. Here are some key abilities to highlight:
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Communication: Convey technical concepts and solutions clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences through documentation, email, presentations, or verbal discussion.
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Teamwork & Collaboration: Work productively with designers, product managers, and fellow developers to build high-quality digital products and meet objectives.
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Time Management: Juggle multiple tasks and projects while delivering work on time and meeting deadlines.
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Creativity: Apply creative thinking to solve coding challenges and develop engaging user experiences.
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Analytical Skills: Diagnose issues methodically, weigh solutions, and make data-driven decisions to optimize websites.
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Lifelong Learning: Continuously expand your skills and keep up with the latest web technologies through formal education, reading, and hands-on experimentation.
Education & Certifications
Relevant education and professional development demonstrates your commitment to honing your craft. Make sure to list:
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Any degrees or certifications in web design, computer science or a related field
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Courses focused on web development skills and technologies
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Online learning through sites like Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, etc.
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Workshops, hackathons or conferences focused on web dev skills
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Code samples on GitHub or links to live projects in your portfolio
The Right Mix of Skills
Of course, not all skills listed here will be applicable to every web developer role. The mix of abilities you choose to highlight should align with the position and company you are applying to.
For example, front-end developer roles will require deep HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and UI skills, while back-end roles will look for server-side language expertise. Startup roles may desire generalist skills to wear different hats, while large corporates may expect deep specialization.
The key is to identify the must-have and nice-to-have skills listed in the job description and carefully choose which of your abilities to emphasize in order to stand out. This targeted approach will ensure your CV makes it past initial screening stages and intrigues the hiring manager.
Just remember – don’t overinflate your skills or make exaggerated claims that you can’t back up in an interview. Authentically showcase abilities you can confidently discuss and demonstrate.
With the lightning fast pace of change in web technologies, successful developers never stop learning. Continuously expand your skills through side projects, freelance gigs, open source contributions, and more. This passion for growth will serve your career well.
By mastering both the technical web development abilities and soft interpersonal skills above, you will be well-positioned to impress potential employers and win your next role. Use this list as a guide for which skills to highlight in your CV today.
What Skills Should You Add to a Web Developer Resume?
Your Web Developer resume should list technical skills and programming languages that match the job description. The most common skills required in a Web Developer position are advanced knowledge of HTML and CSS. However, the required skills will vary based on the position.
Some examples of skills that you may want to include in your Web Developer resume are:
Create a Master Resume
A master resume is a comprehensive list of all your work experiences, education, skills, projects, and achievements. After you have this list, treat this resume as your professional database and refer to it as you apply for different web development positions. Select the achievements from your master resume that are most relevant to the specific position.
Different web development positions include:
As you gain years of experience and become an experienced Web Developer, you will be able to curate the work that best reflects what a Hiring Manager has included in the job description on each tailored resume you build.
Once you have finished planning, you’re ready to move on to drafting your Web Developer resume. As you write your resume, keep these best practices in mind.
- Less is more. Don’t overload your resume with every experience. Keep it simple and concise. Focus on your most relevant and important achievements. Web Developer resumes should ideally be one page in length.
- Customize each resume. Generic resumes will make less of an impact. Show precisely how your skills and experiences match the position you are applying for. This will help you stand out and increase your chances of landing an interview.
- Structure your content. Use sections with clear headings to organize your resume content. Bullet points also make content easier to read.
- Choose a clean resume design. The design of your resume should be simple and clean. Stick with one or two fonts and have ample white space so employers can easily skim through your content.
- Make an impact with strong action verbs. When writing about your achievements, choose meaningful actions verbs that explain the contributions you made to a project or team. Some examples include led, initiated, accelerated, expanded and increased.
- Quantify your accomplishments. Where possible, use numbers to show the scale and impact of your work and success. Numbers add credibility, and they showcase your proven success as a Web Developer. If you cannot quantify an achievement, describe the success and impact however possible.
- Write strong accomplishment statements. Accomplishment statements for resumes follow this formula: action verb + task + result. They are a good way of demonstrating your achievements. For example, “Led the redevelopment of mobile app resulting in a 27 percent increase to client’s sales.”
- Edit and review. Errors and typos leave a bad impression, and in some cases, your application may be instantly rejected. Before submitting your resume, double-check spelling and grammar.
Write an Incredible Resume: 5 Golden Rules!
How many skills does a web designer have on a resume?
By reviewing 11 million resumes made in our builder, we discovered that: Web designers include an average of 8 skills on their resumes. Among the top skills frequently listed by web designers are CSS, front-end skills, web design templates, responsive design, and web design. Web designers tend to create resumes spanning about 1.9 pages in length.
How do I Make my Web developer skills stand out on my resume?
Follow these five tips to make your web developer abilities stand out on your resume. Tip # 1: Write a clear web developer professional profile This short section aims to catch the recruiter’s eye and make them want to keep on reading. Introduce yourself with a concise paragraph at the beginning of your web developer resume.
How to make a good web designer resume?
Add to it from real web design job descriptions online. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are crucial website design skills, too. Show them prominently, and prove them well. The right skills turn a good web designer resume into a perfect one. Feel you might be a little more skilled than just a web designer? Writing a full stack developer resume?
What should a web developer resume include?
24 Web Developer Resume Examples Your web developer resume must highlight your technical skill set. Include proficiency in languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like Angular or React. Showcase your experience with responsive design and cross-platform compatibility.
