Don't Panic - Starting Out in Web Development

DON’T PANIC

I am a front end developer at Ticketmaster You can find me at @thisisjofrank◇ 5 Years experience in Front End development◇ Cake addict and swing dancer

I AM JO FRANCHETTI

WHAT IS FRONT END DEVELOPMENT?

Creating great user experiences

Front end Developers

Back end Developers

User researchers

UX and UI designersQAs

Designers

SysadminsCopywriters

Content managers Product managers

Marketing

Customer Services

OK , SO THERE MUST BE DOWSIDES?◇ Debugging can be a nightmare◇ Internet explorer will become your worst enemy◇ You’ll be hyper aware of bad UX/UI

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUTWEB DEVOPMENT THEN?◇ The variety of work available◇ The ability to direct your own specialisation◇ Incredible colleagues◇ Tonnes of online support and meetups◇ Work around the world◇ Offices with slides!◇ Incredibly in demand

SO HOW DO YOUGET THERE?

YOUR CV WILL GET YOU YOUR INTERVIEWClear points to describe what you’ve done.

Make it easy to read, you’ve got about two minutes to impress

PROVING YOURSELF ON PAPER

DON’TList Microsoft office products or email.

Claim ‘good communication skills’, prove it instead

BE INTERESTINGWhat makes you excited? What can you talk about with passion?

BE INTERESTING AND INTERESTED

◇ What makes you excited? ◇ What can you talk about with passion?◇ Have you made something?◇ Do you attend any clubs or lectures?◇ Do you run clubs or teach?◇ What have you read?◇ Talk to as many people as possible

PROVE YOURINTELLIGENCE

◇ What makes you better than other candidates?

◇ Can you communicate clearly?◇ Take your time to think through questions◇ Ask questions◇ Answer the question asked◇ Work out technical questions out loud◇ Don’t be afraid to make mistakes

and get stuck inDON’T PANIC

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

◇ Free reign vs tight regime◇ Are you deadline driven?◇ Do you want training?◇ Good reputation important?◇ ‘Culture’◇ Big or small?◇ Campus or not?◇ Working abroad? ?

YOUR INTEGRITYMATTERSAs far as possible, always do what you say you’re going to.

Don’t cut corners.

You’ll be trusted more for it.

BE HELPFUL

As mercenary as it sounds, you’ll get equal amounts back to that which you put in.

Even if your help is just passing someone on to someone else who can be helpful.

Volunteering is a great way to get free training!

SHOW INITIATIVE

Seek out new opportunities

Make things

Ask questions

Attend or run events

EVERYONE SUFFERS FROM IMPOSTOR SYNDROMEMany successful people have claimed that they got where they are by luck, or aren’t half as good as everyone thinks.

Just because you feel it, doesn’t mean it is the truth.

Have faith in yourself, but avoid arrogance.

ANY QUESTIONS?

You can find me at@thisisjofrank