Is front-end development my dream career? I don’t know but I’m about to find out. At 16, I decided that I will become a software engineer and I’ve focused all my energy into this dream. My journey hasn’t been smooth sailing but it’s made it clear that I want this and I can do it.
I have a pretty solid foundation as a developer because I love problem-solving and coding. This is great and has been a stepping stone for me especially in back-end development. But it’s a huge drawback in front-end development. Don’t get me wrong, front-end development also requires problem-solving but it isn’t the end all be all.
My Struggles in Front-End Development
There are so many facets of being a front-end developer. That have made my journey quite frustrating. I can write clean code but it’s not visually appealing. Design is a major factor in front-end development because your work speaks for you. So writing clean code and coming up with a bad design is terrible for a career in front-end development.
As I improve my design skills, I would also love to learn about performance optimization. This will ensure that I can deliver a visually appealing web application that is fast and SEO compliant.
I would also love to learn how to write tests for my React components. Tests have been great for testing functionality and identifying edge cases.
Steps I Will Be Taking to Improve my Front-End Development Skills
This is where my opportunity to join the HNG12 internship as a front-end developer is appealing to me. This opportunity is great because I know I’ll push myself past the limits and it’s perfect timing. Having this internship in January is great because it will set the pace for the rest of the year.
As a finalist in the back-end track, I can attest to the growth I’ve had since HNG11. I would like to make the same progress if not more in front-end development. My experience as an intern also made me more consistent in learning and coding. This is why I like that this cohort is being held in January.
Another perk of HNG is their job board for React and Next.js developers. Once I complete the internship I’ll have access to opportunities you can utilize as soon as possible. HNG also has a great reputation which makes it easier for finalists to join the workforce.
In addition to the HNG12 internship, I will be taking a simplified UI/UX course to improve my design skills.(this is the course I’m currently considering). I will also be learning about web performance from Google.
I’m so excited for this journey and I can’t wait to see what I learn and the impact the HNG internship will have on my career as a front-end developer.