Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trial
Ashley Bennett
2,307 PointsWhen are you ready to apply for web development jobs?
I just completed the career foundations course and I have a question about how to become a web developer.
When do you know that you are ready to apply for a position as a web developer? Once you have completed the Treehouse web development track, is that a good time to apply for jobs or do you need to learn any additional skills first?
Which types of projects would you recommend to showcase to employers on Github? Should they be directly related to what the company does or is it better to develop projects based on your personal interests?
4 Answers
Christopher Warren
17,640 PointsFinish the web developer learning adventure. Create an online portfolio site. Create some sites for friends and then apply for a junior web developer job. That should get you into the field. :)
Andy Watkins
3,828 PointsAgreed. As great and wonderful as Treehouse is, employers want to see your work. There has to be someone out there you know that has a business. Offer to do a site for them. And save your mockups! You can always display those in a portfolio as well.
Good luck!
Lisa Lombardo
1,728 PointsDefinitely get as much experience building sites for friends or small non profits and have a strong portfolio of work before you apply. You'll be competing against candidates who will definitely have more than just a web developer education. Use what you are learning here and start building.
As for developing projects that you are interested in vs what an employer is expecting, I think you need a bit of both. Check out the job postings for junior web developers on indeed.com or similar sites, see what people are looking for, and try to get some of those skills. At the same time keep doing projects you like so you won't lose interest, and you'll likely learn a thing or two as well.
Christopher Ohlsen
3,549 PointsGreat question and some awesome answers; I'll echo one of them. I am in the same boat as you in terms of seeking my first full time position in this field. One thing that I have been doing, in addition to building some portfolio sites, is checking out all of the job search aggregates like indeed.com and reviewing qualifications/requirements. Many of them will hire candidates without a 4 year CS degree in lieu of the proper skill-set complete with a portfolio that you can present.