If Indeed is to be believed, Full-Stack Developers are among the most sought-after professionals in the United States. Developers with full-stack expertise earn $110,770 on average, and demand for this type of technical talent has risen drastically in the last five years. The reason? Companies nationwide value full-stack developers’ ability to solve interconnected problems during the development lifecycle and provide consistent quality across projects. Here are four full-stack developer skills that can be your gateway to new jobs.
1.) Front-End Languages (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript)
These three front-end languages are the workhorses that provide the structure, design, and interactivity of user interfaces – and they’re a big part of full-stack development. Companies want these types of skills because the appearance and performance of their websites, applications or products is their first impression for customers, investors, and future employees.
According to the 2018 Stack Overflow Survey, developers consider JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to be their top three most commonly used languages. There aren’t many commonly used alternatives to these languages, so every full-stack developer should make them part of their toolkit. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that JavaScript experience earns median salaries of around $98,000.
2.) Back-End Languages (Like Java or Python)
Beyond surface level appearance, websites and applications have to actually work. The strength of back-end architecture and its integration with the UI is essential for user experience to be functional and rewarding. Full-stack developers who can marry form and function are essential to organizations because of their ability to improve database operations, user authentication, and application logic. The combination of these skills makes an attractive candidate for permanent positions and IT consultant jobs.
The full-stack skills that are the most effective for back-end development are languages like Java, Scala, Python, Ruby, and others. Having a strong command of one or more of these languages boosts your chances of landing a full-stack developer job. Which language is the most desirable? Based on their compensation potential, Scala can typically earn $115,000 in the United States and Perl can earn $106,000. Based on popularity, Java and Python are among the top contenders. Whichever you decide to learn, these skills can improve your permanent and IT consulting career opportunities across the board.
3.) Hands-On Database Knowledge
Your capability with data storage is another key part of full-stack development. If there are problems with a website pulling data from databases, a developer who can fix the code without negatively impacting the databases is an invaluable employee. Whether your experience is in database design, stored procedure writing, or database production, you’ll be sought after by top companies with these full-stack developer skills.
Which database languages and tools are most desirable in the current market? SQL is still the most commonly used language for relational databases and is applicable to companies nationwide. The shift to big data has made proficiency in NoSQL a strong bargaining chip as well. One important consideration is the back-end development track you’ve chosen. Some back-end languages are more compatible with certain databases than others, so think of the whole forest when pursuing skills rather than individual trees.
4.) Good Communication Skills
Full-stack developers are the bridge that connects a number of different disciplines. It’s essential to communicate effectively with different audiences across an organization. Full-stack developers who can explain unique challenges and solutions with the same level of clarity to both techies and the c-suite are in high demand.
Are you looking to put your full-stack developer skills into practice? Check out our open jobs to see how you can make the most of your growing skill sets.
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