Front-end development is a growing field that has been gaining popularity over recent years. As such, there are many opportunities available for potential interns to gain experience in this field. To help you get started, here are some tips on how to get a front-end developer internship.
What Do Front-End Developer Interns Do?
Front-end developers design and code pages and components within applications, usually web apps. They also test and debug issues related to the front end of the applications they work on. Additionally, they make sure that their applications are well-designed across different devices and viewports.
Personally, I think being a front-end developer is one of the most rewarding developer positions in the industry. You get to visibly see your work as you’re building it. If you want a front-end developer internship, you should take the following four steps.
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How To Get A Front-End Developer Internship
The best way to get a front-end developer internship is to learn the basics: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Git. Then, learn React or another JavaScript front-end framework as well as UI/UX principles. Finally, build a few projects, update your resume, and apply to the roles you want.
1. Research Potential Opportunities
The first step towards getting a front-end developer internship is to do some research into potential opportunities. There are many websites and organizations that list internships specifically related to front-end development, so it’s important to explore your options and find the best fit for you.
Additionally, consider reaching out directly to specific organizations or companies that you may be interested in working with. Doing so will give you the opportunity to learn more about their particular internship program and potentially set up an interview or meeting with them if they’re interested in bringing you on board.
2. Build Your Skillset
Once you’ve identified potential opportunities for internships, it’s time to start building your skillset and preparing yourself for success as a front-end developer intern. Start by learning the basics. Then I recommend learning a JavaScript framework followed by some UI/UX principles.
Learn The Basics
Make sure that you have a solid understanding of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. You should also take the time to familiarize yourself with any specific tools used by the organization such as version control systems (Git), text editors (VSCode), and debugging tools (Chrome DevTools).
Doing so will not only make it easier for you to excel in your role if hired, but it also makes it easier for employers when considering your application. This will highlight both your technical proficiency as well as your initiative for continuing your technical education.
Learn React
After learning the basics of web development, I recommend learning a front-end JavaScript framework. However, I only recommend moving on to this step after having a firm grasp of JavaScript. Too often I see people jumping ahead to this step before they’re ready.
The top front-end frameworks for JavaScript are React, Angular, and Vue. I first learned Vue and used it in my first internship. However, when it came time to build DevInternships.com, I created it using React. More specifically, I used Next.js which is a React framework for building statically rendered web applications.
With that said, I recommend React because it’s the most widely used, thus increasing your chance of finding a position that utilizes it. And I should mention that React is more of a library than a framework, but it is often referred to it as a framework.
This is the course that I recommend to anyone looking to learn front-end development and it includes HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Web3 apps, and more. It’s really comprehensive and I appreciate Dr. Angely Yu’s teaching approach.
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Learn UI/UX Principles
By now you should have a pretty good handle on front-end development. However, if you really want to stand out, you should learn fundamental UI/UX principles. This will make it so that you not only build functional front-ends, you also build beautiful front-ends.
UI/UX stands for User Interface / User Experience. Essentially, this means that your applications should be user-friendly and enjoyable to interact with. Some of the guiding principles of UI/UX are the following:
- Meet the user’s needs: This is the fundamental principle of UI/UX.
- Keep the design consistent: Inconsistent designs will confuse the users.
- Keep accessibility in mind: Use semantic markup, use sufficient contrast between text and background, use ‘alt’ text for images, etc.
- Less is often more: Keeping the design simple and minimizing clutter will make your design feel more modern and easily navigable.
- Use appropriate typography: An often overlooked principle of UI/UX design is using the right font style and size for a project.
Build Projects
At this point, you should be able to build some pretty cool stuff. Building real projects is a great way to solidify what you’ve already learned. There are plenty of cool websites to build that will show off your new skills. Here are a few that I recommend:
- E-Commerce front-end
- Clone of an existing app (Netflix, Facebook, Twitter)
- Anything with an API (bonus points if you create the API)
- Small business website
- Portfolio website
Create A Portfolio
A portfolio website is a great place to showcase all of the projects you’ve built. Think of it as an online resume that showcases your experience visually. However, you should also have a downloadable copy of your actual resume included on your portfolio website.
For each of the projects showcased in your portfolio, don’t forget to add a link to the live project for demo purposes, as well as a link to the GitHub repository where your code is.
3. Update Your Resume
With your new skills and your new projects including your portfolio, you should definitely update your resume. This may be obvious, but be sure to include your new skills and projects. However, be sure to still keep your resume to 1 page.
If you find that you can’t fit all of your projects and experiences on a single page, include only the most impressive one(s). You should also include a link to your GitHub and your portfolio, so don’t worry if not all of your projects fit in your resume.
4. Leverage Your Network
After building up your skillset; another great way of getting a foot in the door when looking for an internship is by leveraging your network of contacts within the industry. Whether they be former colleagues or friends already working at similar companies or organizations, these contacts can be extremely helpful when applying for internships.
Not only can they provide valuable insight regarding what type of skillsets different employers are looking for but also potentially put in a good word about you when submitting applications!
Conclusion
In conclusion, landing an internship as a front-end developer requires research into various available positions online as well as strengthening one’s own skillset before applying. You should also leverage your network of contacts within the industry.
This can help substantially when trying to get accepted into reputable programs/companies. With these tips under consideration hopefully one can gain not only experience but also invaluable connections during their journey toward becoming a successful front-end developer!