I may know why you are reading this blog! Yes, it is getting harder to get web development jobs currently, and fear might overwhelm you, making you think you will never land a job, let alone a good job. It is very clear that you are not here to learn all these realities that you already know. So, I researched the internet and put together a guideline for you to help you land a job faster.
Maybe you already know what I am going to tell you, but you are not putting that knowledge into action! So, my first request is to take note of every possible tactic you gather from here or any other place. You may think it is not going to work for you. But trust me, if you keep knocking on a door, it will open one day, and your life will change. You need only one job offer, not 10 or 20. You might have heard stories from your friends or relatives about not getting a single job at first, but then multiple job offers started coming in, putting them in a difficult situation to choose which one to go for. There are thousands of job opportunities available on the internet. If you need a reality check, open up your LinkedIn and search for web development jobs in your country or any other country you prefer. After seeing the huge number of job openings, you might get pumped up, but when you click on the job and start trying to apply, you will see that almost all jobs have over 100 applicants. But don’t worry about that. Like you, most people are not going to apply for just one job; they will apply for 10 or 20 jobs, which you may also do. For example, if there are 100 applicants and 20 job offers, and if all 100 apply for the same 20 jobs, then 20 out of the 100 are going to get the job. Now enough with the inspiration…
Firstly
Don’t think as an applicant; think as a hiring manager. Imagine you have an IT business or you are the HR. Now, what would you want? Who would you hire? Ask yourself that question. For 10 minutes at least, become an HR employee or a company owner. You need to grow your business or impress your manager or boss by finding a good candidate from the market. What aspects would you look for in applicants? Note down every point. Remember, you just need one job! Then research among your friends, family, and seniors who are already in the web development sector. Try to talk with them and ask how they got their job. How can you get a job? What should you improve to get a job? If you have projects, a CV, or any LinkedIn profile, show it to them and ask for their feedback. It will give you a reality check. Before you go into a battle, you need to play it in your mind to figure out which way you can win.
Secondly
Most importantly, keep sharpening your skills. Work on projects. Make portfolio or business websites for your friends or neighbors for free. Get that validation from them. Impress them, and even if they can’t help you get a job or refer you, their words will inspire you in the long run. It will keep you going from project to project. Also, try to learn the basics as much as you can and read documentation. Every day, set aside time for yourself to practice. Don’t give yourself a timeline of trying to get a job within one month or six months; instead, say you will get the job no matter how many years it takes. If you think about a Plan B, an alternate plan for if you don’t get the job, chances are you will not get it eventually. Try to live below your means so that it makes you upset and encourages you to break out of the situation and pursue your dream wholeheartedly.
Thirdly
You need to build networks. You need networks both offline and online. Networking doesn’t have to be all professional. You might have a college teacher who taught you computer science or programming; stay in touch with them. Or you may have a neighbor who is a business owner, or a friend who is doing a marketing job at a company; ask them if they are hiring. Ask your teacher, ask on the road, ask on the bus, ask in the elevator, ask on Facebook, ask on LinkedIn. If you don’t ask, you might miss out on a lot. And don’t ask with expectations. Ask even if you know they don’t have anything for you. Most jobs are landed through networking. Trust me on this because nobody would want the extra hassle of going through all the steps required for hiring.
Fourthly
Don’t apply through LinkedIn Easy Apply. Instead, check the company name, go to their website, upload a CV, find the HR who posted the job, or reach out to some other HR employee. Describe what you can bring to the table. Also, whatever work or project you are working on, keep it posted on LinkedIn and GitHub. It is very important. You might be a good bathroom singer, but nobody is going to know, and hence nobody is going to pay you unless you express it to people. Nobody can know what you are skilled at, just as you can’t tell what they are skilled at. Even if you are not that skilled, keep posting so that those who see it might think you are really good at something, and by the time any opportunities open up through them, you will be much more prepared.
Lastly
try to solve problems on LeetCode or similar sites. Participate in hackathons. You don’t have to win at first but have the mentality to improve.
If you are very skilled, you will get a job. When I started learning web development, it was fun at first, but after a few months, it kept getting harder, and a few people left the course in the middle or just before finishing. Some did the course but didn’t put in the work to find a job. Why am I telling you my story? Among all my batchmates, everyone got a job—some after two months, some after six months, and some after two years. But everyone got a job except those who quit in the middle or just before they could get the good news. Another thing you need to understand is that web development is not just HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.; it also includes good networking, good presentation, a fighting mentality, and patience. These are also part of web development. But if you keep trying, rest assured you will get a job one day or in one year.