Web Developer Roles: Need To Know's + Job Templates

Web developers have been in demand for years. However, just being skilled at web development isn't enough. They still need to invest time and energy into getting a job that fits their needs and desires. With so much competition at every corner, candidates need an excellent web developer resume to land a great job. In contrast, companies need a great web developer job description to land the right person for their team.

In this post, we’ll be exploring the role of a web developer and what it takes to create a great web developer job description and web developer resume. We’ll also provide a sample job description and resume for those interested in hiring or becoming one.

What Is a Web Developer?

Before diving into the job description and resume, we must first discuss the role itself. A web developer is responsible for creating websites. Usually, that means they are there to ensure that the website is easy to navigate, functional, and good-looking. However, many web developers are responsible that the website’s performance and capacity are on par.

Web developers can be divided into three distinctive groups: front-end developers, back-end developers, and full-stack web developers. Plus, some web developers also work as webmasters.

Front-end web developers

Front-end developers are responsible for the visual part of the website — all the pages that the website visitors see and interact with. This part of the website is also called the user interface.

Front-end web developers are tasked with designing the layout of each page, adding all graphics and other visual elements, and using JavaScript to make the website run better.

Back-end web developers

Back-end developers are responsible for the server side of the website — everything that the website visitors can’t see. They build and maintain the mechanisms that process data and perform website actions.

Back-end web developers work on databases, scripting, architecture, security, and other server-side functions of the website.

Full-stack web developers

Full-stack developers do the work of both back-end and front-end developers. They need to understand the user interface and how people interact with the page while being well-versed in back-end technologies such as .NET.

Full-stack web developers must also know database design and implementation and be familiar with infrastructure management.

Webmasters

In addition to the three main groups of developers working on a website, sometimes, there’s one more — webmasters. Webmasters are website managers. They are responsible for managing the website, keeping it up to date, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. These days, the role isn’t so common anymore, as the responsibilities of a webmaster are usually spread out between other positions.

No matter the specific role, the specific duties and responsibilities of a web developer usually vary on a project-by-project basis.

Web Developer Responsibilities and Duties

You'll likely find certain duties and responsibilities in most web developer job descriptions — some specifically for front or back-end web developer jobs, while others for full-stack ones. They include:

• Build, design, and maintain websites and web applications.
• Be familiar with UI and UX principles, cross-browser compatibility, and web functions and standards.
• Identify and solve problems and bugs.
• Communicates with internal and external stakeholders, teammates, and, managers.
• Use different web applications, scripts, programming, markup and styling languages (such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript), and APIs to complete various assignments.
• Develop and validate different test routines to ensure interface quality.
• Evaluates written code to ensure it meets industry standards and compatibility.
• Keep up with trends in the web development world.

To complete these duties and responsibilities, a web developer should have the following specific skills and education.

Skills and Education of a Web Developer

Usually, a web developer job description or resume includes the following hard skills:

• Expertise in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Experience in third-party libraries and frameworks such as React.js and Node.js.
• Knowledge of server-side programming languages such as Java or Python.
• Experience in Git.
• Familiarity with database technologies such as MySQL, Oracle, and MongoDB.
• Knowledge of user interface and user experience design.
• Ability to validate code.

A great web developer job description and resume should also include the following soft skills:

• Great organization skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Persistence.
• Attention to detail.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Enjoys learning and developing new skills.

For web developers, education requirements vary. Some companies don’t require a degree, while others require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or certifications in various technologies. It depends on the job posting.

Now that you know what a web developer is, their responsibilities, skills, and education requirements, let’s explore a web developer job description and resume you can use to find your next teammate or land your next job.

Web Developer Job Description Template

If you’re looking to hire your next web developer, we can help. We’ve put together an example of a web developer job description to make the hiring process easier for you.

Company Introduction

[The goal of the section should be to present your company to potential candidates. This section should be short and include all the necessary information about your company, the culture, and any benefits and perks future teammates can enjoy. This section should also say if the role is office-based, remote, or hybrid, and anything else you think will make your company attractive to web developers.]

The Role

We are looking for a senior web developer to join our company and help us turn ideas into reality by building amazing websites for world-class clients! Our company's newest web developer should have extensive web development experience and the ability to take full ownership of projects from start to finish.

We strive to keep up with the newest trends in web development and use the latest technologies to create great website experiences while having fun.

Requirements

• At least six years of experience in building websites.
• At least two years of experience with React.js and Angular.
• Extensive knowledge of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.
• Experience in taking ownership of a product from start to finish.
• Experience with Git
• Ability to juggle multiple projects at the same time.
• Strong attention to detail and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Create functional and beautiful websites.
• Write clean and high-quality code.
• Work collaboratively with web developers and other teammates cross-functionally.
• Liaise with various stakeholders to plan new projects and features.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the web development industry.

[Short outro that includes a call to action and ends the web developer job description template.]

Web Developer Resume Template

On the other hand, if you’re looking for your next web developer role, we can also help. Below you’ll find a handy web developer resume template you can when job hunting.

Profile

[The goal of the profile is to introduce yourself to potential employers in the best possible way.]

A [powerful adjective] web developer experienced in [a list of your top skills]. Worked on [your 1-3 significant accomplishments or web development project]. Passionate about [a list of your professional interests.]

Experience

[The goal of this section is to list important professional experiences, starting from the latest. Whenever possible, quantify the impact of the projects you've worked on. Make sure you include the tangible outcomes of your projects.]

Job title, Company

Employment date (Month, Year – Month, Year)

• [Action word] [skill/task] [result/impact]
• [Action word] [skill/task] [result/impact]
• [Action word] [skill/task] [result/impact]

Job title, Company

Employment date (Month, Year – Month, Year)

• [Action word] [skill/task] [result/impact]
• [Action word] [skill/task] [result/impact]
• [Action word] [skill/task] [result/impact]

Skills

[List all your major hard and soft skills. If you’re applying for a specific job, try to tailor your resume to match the required skills in the posting.]

• [A list of hard skills]
• [A list of soft skills]

Education

[List all your important academic achievements. While your future employer might not require a degree, it could help your resume stand out.]

Degree/certificate earn, School name

Graduation date

• [A list of relevant courses]
• [A list of academic achievements]

Awards and activities

[List all your interesting professional awards and activities. While not required, your resume is likely to stand out.]

• [A list of awards]
• [A list of volunteer activities]

FAQs:

You need to consider many factors before hiring a web developer or applying for a job in the field. The following questions and answers may help you clear things up about the role.

Q1: What is the job description of a web developer?

A web developer is a person responsible for designing and building websites. They ensure that sites they work on can meet user expectations, look good, run without issues, and offer easy access points, according to Workable. There are main types of web developers: front-end, back-end, and full-stack. Plus another group — webmaster — that isn’t so common these days.

Q2: What are the 5 essential skills every web developer should have?

Writing code isn't the only skill a web developer should possess, as there is much more to the process. The five essentials skills of any aspiring web developer are:

• Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — the three pillars of web development that provide structure, visual layout, and a better user experience.
• Learning attitude — always stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest in the web development world.
• Good communication skills — great web developers can communicate with various stakeholders at different levels.
• Time-management skills — managing time wisely and knowing how to prioritize are both essential.
• Testing skills — web developers need to ensure their websites run smoothly in any environment, according to Abhijit Gatade.

Q3: Which certification is best for a web developer?

Some of the best certifications for web developers include:

• Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding Specialization from Coursera and University of Michigan.
• Become a Certified HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Web Developer from Udemy.
• Web Design and Development Certificate from Cornell University, according to Reliablesoft.