How to Get a Job As a Full-Stack Developer?

With over 390 job postings on Indeed and a €68,000+ annual salary, a full-stack developer is among the most sought-after job positions. 

The advanced understanding of both client-side and server-side web applications makes them the most-valued web professionals. Undoubtedly, a skilled full-stack developer can significantly contribute to a company’s success. 

However, you must take the right approach to land a job in this highly competitive field. Our step-by-step guide will help you get started!

What Do Full-Stack Developers Do?

A full-stack developer is an expert proficient in front-end and back-end development. 

They know about all the tech stack layers in developing a software product. Not only do they understand the functionality of each layer, but they can also manipulate several back-end  elements. 

Full-stack developers must be competent in several coding niches, including UI/UX data management, graphic designing, and databases. 

This helps them manage their regular tasks more efficiently. Here are a few other day-to-day responsibilities of a full-stack developer. 

• Assisting with software design and development 

• Staying updated with the latest technologies to improve their software 

• Sharing emerging technologies with the company’s decision-makers 

• Writing clean codes for the client and server side of the software 

• Developing databases and servers for the back end of the software 

• Evaluating and adjusting the application designs 

• Paying close attention to maintenance and security during software development

Get Hired As a Full-Stack Developer

Small and larger companies alike are increasingly considering full-stack developers. However, you must know the right direction for any company to consider you. It’s OKAY if you’re uncertain where to begin; most success stories start like that. 

What’s important is your determination and willingness to learn. Once you decide to pursue a full-stack developer career, here are a few steps to consider.

Take a Course 

Kickstart your career in Full-Stack by taking a course. Our Professional Academy Diploma in Full Stack Software Development is designed to fit busy lives, allowing you the flexibility to fit your study to suit your busy schedule. Designed to equip you with everything you need to start your software career, you’ll learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL and more as you code your way to your own, unique final project.

Gain Experience 

Theoretical knowledge alone won’t help you land a full-stack developer job. Your potential employer wants to see your work. 

Start working on projects to implement your full-stack development knowledge and polish your coding abilities. 

Your resume would naturally stand out with additional projects and assignments. Besides, be willing to do projects outside your expertise. This conveys an impression that you’re eager to learn every facet of the field.

Hone Your Skills

Here are a few technical and non-technical skills employers expect to see on your resume. 

Hard Skills 

• HTML. It manages the images or text on the screen. HTML allows formatting the text as paragraphs, headings, and more. It gives a different meaning to the text with the help of tags. 

• CSS. The style sheet enables developers to change and style various web elements, from spacing to font. This lets you decorate content on the web pages. 

• JavaScript. The robust client-side programming language is primarily used to improve user experience. It includes several in-built frameworks and libraries, including JQuery, Angular, and React. 

• Python. Python's user-friendly and flexible interface makes it a popular language among most full-stack developers. Flask and Django are two primary Python frameworks used by back-end  developers. 

• Java is yet another back-end  programming language known for Java Sever and Spring frameworks. 

• C# is preferred when during back-end  programming in a Windows environment. 

• Version Control. They help handle project files and monitor the history of users. Popular control systems are Github, Git, and Subversion. 

• Database management systems. Full-stack developers write codes to conduct relational mapping and retrieve data from the database. Some commonly used database management systems include SQL SERVER, MySQL, and Oracle Database. 

Soft Skills

• Problem-solving skills. Predicting errors and creating a bug-free app is no walk in the park. You must have efficient problem-solving skills to ensure the seamless completion of each project. 

• Creativity. You must comprehend the project goals and design a product to capture the audience's attention. This requires you to tap into your creative side and make the most out of it. 

• Analytical skills. Making logical and data-driven decisions is only possible if you evaluate the information correctly. You can achieve this with sound analytical skills. 

• Organisational skills. Meeting deadlines while juggling different tasks requires you to have excellent organisational skills. Without them, you’ll fail to manage time and easily miss out on crucial tasks.

Smart planning. You must wisely plan the product development and design and implement it accordingly. The better your planning, the more streamlined the process - a win-win for you.

Be the Jack of All Trades

Now that you’re familiar with the skills you need to learn, here’s some advice. Everybody considers full-stack developers as “the jack of all trades,” given that they have general knowledge of several areas.

It’s good to have multiple skills because that’s what a full-stack developer job requires. For instance, learning a single programming language isn’t enough. 

Working with front-end and back-end  technologies requires you to learn several programming languages - which is a positive aspect. 

However, you must master one or more areas. T-shaped developers have basic knowledge about several programs and technologies. Nonetheless, their area of specialisation sets them apart from other developers. 

They can choose to gain in-depth knowledge of one or more development-related areas. 

So, besides learning general skills, choose your area of specialisation and master one or more concepts to demonstrate your expertise in the resume.

Create an Impressive Portfolio 

Although your resume is enough to give your potential employer an idea about your knowledge and skills, you need a portfolio as evidence. 

A portfolio is a visual representation of your abilities as a full-stack developer; sleeping on creating one isn’t wise. Ensure to include your best work in the portfolio. You must display several coding abilities to showcase your expertise. 

A sound portfolio highlights your strengths as a full-stack developer and what you’ve accomplished thus far. A collection of your work makes it easier for the hiring manager to analyse your talents, capabilities, and strengths. 

Grow Your Network 

Having a professional network is crucial to hunting field-related opportunities. So, besides working on your portfolio, resume, and skills, ensure to connect with others in the industry. 

We recommend attending webinars and conferences to meet industry professionals and learn from them. Interacting with like-minded people opens up new possibilities. Who knows, you may come across a recruiter looking for fresh candidates. 

Besides, we recommend creating a LinkedIn profile. Upload a professional photograph, fill out your profile, and add a portfolio. 

Follow this by sending connection requests and communicating with others. You’ll soon grow your professional network and learn new things from industry professionals.

Apply to Jobs 

Once you have the right skills and portfolio to demonstrate them, it’s time to apply for jobs. You can search for full-stack developer jobs on sites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Irishjobs. 

In addition, recruiters also post jobs on LinkedIn; remember to keep an eye on them. In fact, we recommend following the industry-specific pages and profiles. 

Alternatively, those looking to go the freelancing route can consider a platform like Upwork. You only need to set up your profile by writing an intriguing profile description, uploading a portfolio, and adding a professional-looking photograph.

Prepare for your Interview

Interview anxiety is real. Even professionals are prone to committing errors. However, this primarily happens because of a lack of preparation. You can always prepare beforehand and boost the chance of acing your interview. 

Know Common Full-Stack Interview Questions 

Hiring managers ideally look for candidates with multiple technical and non-technical skills. As such, they’ll ask you general questions related to the field to test your industry knowledge. 

Likewise, asking how soft skills contribute to the career is highly likely. Make sure you prepare for popular full-stack interview questions to reduce tension and eliminate the uncertainty. 

Be Prepared to Talk About Your Specialities 

You need to prove your worth as a candidate. Why should the company consider you over other applicants? Whenever the hiring manager asks about skills, consider talking about your strengths and specialties to give them an insight into what makes you unique. 

Expect a Quick Whiteboard Project

Although it isn’t common, a few companies might ask you to whiteboard during the interview. Because a whiteboard interview requires you to code without the preset tools on your laptop, it helps hiring managers test your skills. 

You’re bound to commit mistakes without preparation. So, we recommend buying a whiteboard and compiling a list of possible whiteboard questions to practise. 

Besides, if you have a fellow full-stack developer, we recommend watching them do it. A quick demo will help you prepare better. 

Bring Your Laptop to Show Your Portfolio 

Think of your portfolio as something more important than your resume. Include clean examples of your front-end and back-end  development work experience. 

You might have worked on multiple projects; we recommend including only the best ones to showcase your strengths.

FAQs

Is There a Demand for Full-Stack Developers? 

The rapidly transforming digital world is increasing the demand for full-stack developers across the tech industry. More and more companies are willing to hire competent full-stack developers and offer a market competitive salary to outpace their competitors. 

Can a Non-IT Person Become a Full-Stack Developer?

Yes, a non-IT person can become a full-stack developer. If you’re willing to brush up on your technical skills and are an eager learner, a career in full-stack development is well within your reach. 

Which Language Is Best for Full-Stack Developers? 

There isn’t a single best language for full-stack developers because they need to get to grips with several programming languages. Employers expect developers to know CSS, Python, HTML, JavaScript, Rust, Java, SQL, and more.

Conclusion

Full-stack development is a rewarding career if you take the right direction and stay determined. However, be prepared to encounter a few challenges on your journey. 

Some days will test your patience - others might test your skills. What’s important, however, is not to give up. 

So far, we have addressed how to get a job as a full-stack developer and prepare from scratch. You can also enrol in a Full-Stack Software Development Course by the UCD Professional Academy to hone your existing skills and learn new ones to land your dream job. 

Skills taught by industry experts and expert advice shared in professional courses make career progression easier.