The 5 Pros And Cons Of Working In Web Development

Web developers currently face a growing demand for talent, making it one of the most attractive sectors for a flourishing IT career.

Focused on the design, development, and maintenance of innovative, quality websites – web development offers blooming opportunities for those with a more “creative” flair for digital technology. As the world grows ever more reliant on the internet, web developers are set to experience endless, exponential opportunities for their skills and expertise.

Below, we break down the five pros and cons of entering a web development career, and how Lumify Learn can help aspiring professionals get started.

CON: THERE ARE ENDLESS NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO KEEP UP WITH

As with every other tech sector, the web development field comprises an infinite, endlessly expanding set of tools, technologies, and industry practices. It can thus feel overwhelming to keep up with the latest trends, particularly with the rapid pace at which they emerge. You’ll often be swarmed with endless solutions, services, and approaches (making it difficult for industry entrants to determine their “starting point”); and the field may get competitive as everyone strives to stay “ahead of the curve”.

PRO: THE INDUSTRY IS BOOMING WITH OPPORTUNITY

With never-ending new developments, web developers (and starting professionals alike) can enjoy a thriving industry of boundless opportunities. Web technologies continue to advance at a swift pace, yielding innovations such as the “progressive web apps” (PWAs) of recent years, the use of artificial intelligence, and voice search optimisation. These new trends and practices bode fresh roles and specialties for those in the industry to explore or progress to.

Additionally, these rising opportunities lend to the industry’s growth as a whole; with employment in the field expected to grow by 25% in the next five years (according to SEEK). Web developers can therefore enjoy plenty of job security, as well options to shift gears to varying sectors, if desired.

CON: IT’S A HIGHLY DEMANDING CAREER

Though the hours can depend from one web development job to another, those in the field may work long hours to successfully deliver projects within a tight deadline. Clients may even request changes on a whim, or additional features without providing extensions. You might find yourself working weekends and late nights with little to no compensation.

PRO: HIGH SALARY POTENTIAL AND GROWING FLEXIBILITY

As an issue stereotypical of the tech industry, plenty have made their voices heard regarding critical work-life balance concerns. These have made it to the forefront of current tech discourse, as employees find themselves leaving their current jobs for healthier, more fulfilling career paths as part of the impending “Great Resignation”.

As a result, businesses are pushed to consider ways of ensuring greater work-life balance and flexibility, with work-from-home and hybrid work options likely to stay. Since much of a web developer’s work is done online or on the computer, there are endless remote opportunities available – giving you the freedom of working when and where you please.

On top of that, web developers currently earn an attractive average annual salary of $102,557 AUD, with the opportunity to earn even more as experience grows.

CON: IT HAS ITS TEDIOUS MOMENTS

Web developers typically spend the entire work day in front of a screen, which may make certain tasks feel tedious or repetitive. You won’t always be working on a life-changing app or the next billion-dollar social media platform; sometimes your workload may be as simple as fixing bugs and maintaining old code.

PRO: …BUT IT OFFERS PLENTY OF CREATIVE FULFILLMENT, TOO

The good news is, as your experience grows – so do your creative challenges. Web developers don’t typically start out creating “next big thing”, but rather work their way to those projects by mastering the fundamentals.

At the same time, even the most tedious tasks can offer you the fulfillment of knowing you’re creating real-world, impactful solutions. The big picture or “end goal” of each project can make all the tiresome processes worth it. You’ll also get a chance to flex your critical thinking or problem-solving skills, as you craft new methods or techniques to streamline the project lifecycle (and in turn, alleviate the more tedious tasks).

CON: IT CAN BE AN ISOLATING JOB

Web development tasks can often be done independently and effectively completed in a silo. This fortunately comes with plenty of freedom and autonomy – though the experience may feel isolating from time to time. Additionally, with working from home becoming the “new norm”, these feelings may be all the more amplified.

PRO: PLENTY OF COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES

On the upside, the field also comes with plenty of opportunities for collaboration. Just as web development can be done as a solo venture, many projects can also be completed (and possibly more effectively) within a team setting. In fact, large enough projects can have multiple roles for specific web development specialties – such as the position of a web page engineer, a web application programmer, a web designer, and a database administrator.

To top that off, plenty of online communities are available for web developers to connect and collaborate with others in the field. GitHub, Stack Overflow, and Hackernoon are among the most popular platforms for collaborative online projects – helping you expand your network and pursue your own personal web development ventures.

CON: SKILLS ARE HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND EVER-EVOLVING

With new technologies cropping up left and right, industry skills are bound to constantly evolve. What’s in demand today may not be in a year’s time. As with keeping up with the newest industry trends, the constant need to upgrade your skillset can be an overwhelming practice for some. It can also feel daunting to pursue highly technical, niche skills areas that require an incredibly focused, specialised expertise.

PRO: AN ABUNDANCE OF RESOURCES FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Fortunately, educational resources in the tech field now abound, as these training providers strive to keep up with the newest skills demands.

These can come in the form of industry publications, workshops, and best of all – online training courses. Undertaking an online program can lead to nationally (or globally) recognised certifications, helping ensure your skills stay competitive and up-to-date for the job market.

Lumify Learn, for example, offers both a boot camp program in full-stack web development, a certificate in general web development, and a diploma in back-end web development, exploring the latest in-demand coding languages and industry practices required for a successful career in the field.

READY TO GET STARTED IN WEB DEVELOPMENT?

By training with Lumify Learn, you’ll be well on your way to a thriving web development career. Our Certified Full Stack Developer program, ICT40120 – Certificate IV in Information Technology (Web Development), and ICT50220 – Diploma of Information Technology (Back End Web Development) can help you build the fundamental, technical, and specialised skills required to pursue lucrative, entry-level roles in this growing industry. Each course comes equipped with nationally or globally-recognised qualifications to help you stand out among employers.

Best of all, all programs are delivered online, helping you train according to your specific needs and schedule.

Kickstart your web developer career today, and enquire with us on a course.

Lumify Learn offers a wide range of courses:

ICT50220 Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security)
ICT50220 Diploma of Information Technology (Back End Web Development)
ICT50220 Diploma of Information Technology (Advanced Networking)
ICT40120 Certificate IV in Information Technology (Networking)
ICT40120 Certificate IV in Information Technology (Web Development)
ICT40120 Certificate IV in Information Technology (Systems Administration Support)
ICT30120 Certificate III in Information Technology

Certified Project Management Professional
Certified Full Stack Developer
Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional
Certified Cyber Security Professional
Certified Data Science Professional

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