Article
February 11, 2021

Junior Front-End Developer: What You Need to Know to Start Your Career

Anton Dzhanaev has been working in the IT industry for more than thirteen years. He has dedicated nine years to his career at HYS Enterprise, tried himself on different projects, and became a team lead. Having a solid background, Anton often interviews and trains other developers. During his career at HYS Enterprise, he interviewed more than 200 candidates and gained valuable insights into the recruitment process.

We asked Anton about his criteria for screening applicants and what qualifications Junior Front-End developer should have to get an offer.

Tatiana Golubenko

The Difference Between Intern and Junior Specialist

Intern only starts a developer career. So this position entails that the candidate doesn’t have enough working experience. The bare minimum for this position is a good knowledge base of technologies and their implementation on simple non-commercial/pet projects. Intern specialist usually requires mentoring from a more experienced employee who can show the right direction in professional development.

In turn, Junior grade requires independent performing of entry-level tasks on commercial projects or even resolving complex tasks with the support of an experienced colleague.

Must-have Tech Stack for Front-end Developer

It is important for a beginner to have a good theoretical base and knowledge of modern tech stacks. If you want to apply for a front-end position, then the following list should not scare you :)

Tech Stack:

  • JavaScript / TypeScript / Angular (React / Vue / etc)
  • CSS / SASS (SCSS)
  • HTML
  • GIT
  • Additional: RxJS, NGRX, Bootstrap, etc.

In addition to a large number of libraries and frameworks that differ from project to project, it’ll be good for you to have at least a high-level understanding of back-end development. It’ll make your work much easier.

English Proficiency

Junior specialists must have an Intermediate English level or higher. It’s extremely essential for work. The entire team communicates with the client on a daily basis, including planning and refining tasks. So a specialist should be able to clearly understand tasks, discuss them without skipping details, and prove his point.

Soft Skills

Soft skills are strongly important for a developer. It depends on them how quickly he will get on board and progress as a specialist.

  • Interpersonal skills

The ability to communicate clearly with anyone is a significant skill both at work and in everyday life. It’s essential to understand the difference between ‘listening’ and ‘hearing’ in communication. Learn how to convey your thoughts, respect other opinions, ask proper questions, and take into account the peculiarities of cross-cultural communications (especially when dealing with clients).

  • Adaptability

All people are different but you can find your own approach to each. It is crucial to be flexible in relation with another person, to find and make decisions in situations when something goes wrong, and to be able to compromise when the situation requires it.

  • Teamwork

Teamwork means that we have common goals and results.
You need to be able to find common ground and work well with others. You may not always agree with your teammates, but having different perspectives helps you expand your knowledge and create more successful products.

  • Continuous learning

You need to be open to learning and new ideas. Continuous learning is the key to being an in-demand professional. Read, communicate with experts, attend conferences, meetups and replenish the baggage of relevant knowledge.

  • Proactivity

The initiative will always differentiate you from more passive colleagues. If you know how to improve something, don’t hesitate to offer your solution. It’s better than silent waiting for changes.

Over to You

So let’s sum up the most important qualities for a Junior Front-End candidate:

  • Basic knowledge, understanding of the main approaches and principles of development.
  • Ability to independently find solutions, while explaining the course of your thoughts.
  • Do not be afraid of difficult tasks (do not give up only after seeing something that you have not yet had to do).
  • Desire to learn, interest in the profession and technology.

Continuous self-development is a necessary skill for a developer of any level. Technologies do not stand still, they are constantly developing and improving. The reality is that those who do not study new things and do not keep up with modern technologies are left behind, and then it will be challenging to catch up.