I'm a 35-year-old guy looking to dive into web development as a career. I've dabbled in building my own websites, but I feel like I lack direction. I thrive on problem-solving and creating, and I want the flexibility to work on my own schedule. Should I go to school for this, or is self-study a better path? Also, what's the job market like for web developers?
5 Answers
Before diving in, think about how you’ll attract clients. Identifying your target audience is crucial.
If you’re aiming to work independently, you’ll need to wear many hats. There’s definitely plenty of work out there, but the competition can be tough. I recommend practicing as much as you can, possibly starting with a junior web developer position to sharpen your skills, then eventually branching out on your own. Best of luck!
Thanks for the advice! I’m open to the idea of starting with a junior position to learn more.
Check out this resource: [Web Dev for Beginners](https://github.com/microsoft/Web-Dev-For-Beginners). It could give you a solid start. Good luck!
I started with The Odin Project (http://theodinproject.com/). Given that Node/JavaScript is really crowded, you might want to consider focusing on Ruby instead.
The landscape is changing! Businesses are looking for more than just web development skills. Pair your web skills with online marketing, SEO, and ad campaign management. For experience, try offering free website updates to small businesses in exchange for a cut of any leads you generate. One friend of mine made $15k a month doing this!
I’m wary of getting into SEO right now, especially with all the AI changes happening. I've run a web agency for a while, and I've seen that the real money is in hosting and maintenance packages.
I want to start freelancing on platforms like Fiverr.