We spoke with Alexander Repeta – Technical Director and Full Stack Developer at GoIT. He talked about the job from the inside and shared some tips to help you learn Full Stack faster.
Who is a Full Stack Developer?
A Full Stack Developer is a developer who can independently create the technical part of a project (Back End) and its interface (Front End).
To illustrate my words, imagine the project is a supermarket. Everything the shopper sees and interacts with – beautiful storefronts, advertising signs, cashiers, etc. – is Front End. A Front End Developer ensures visitors enjoy their experience by making everything convenient and easy. The Back End is what happens behind the scenes – delivering hundreds of items to the warehouse, accounting, analytics, and payment acceptance. Thus, Back End Developers set up internal processes to ensure everything runs like clockwork. A Full Stack Developer – is a “2-in-1” specialist who knows what’s going on the sales floor and can set up the processes “behind the scenes.” Alexander Repeta (CTO GoIT).
Until about 7-10 years ago, a functional corporate website required the assistance of at least two developers. One was responsible for setting up the interface, while the other was for functionality. But with the proliferation of CMS and frameworks, it has become easier to develop typical projects.
The vast majority of IT in Philippines is outsourcing, which involves implementing third-party orders of medium complexity with a limited budget. It’s more profitable to hire, for example, two Full Stack Developers who can solve all problems than four narrow specialists. That is, one Full Stack Developer with a salary of P68,000 is more profitable than two specialists for P50,000. Another plus for the company is the time saved in closing positions for a project. Alexander Repeta (CTO GoIT).
What will a Full Stack Developer face in his work?
You can find the main tasks of a Full Stack Developer in the ads on career sites and job platforms. This includes:
- Work with CMS;
- Debugging an existing site, application, or creating a project from scratch;
- Communication with designers and the marketing team for implementing new elements in the project;
- API setup, etc.
Job postings often ask for experience with specific frameworks and programming languages.
Most of the time, there is some standard information in the job postings, as if they were copied. But in reality, a prospective Full Stack Developer must be prepared for the following:
- You will have to “put out fires” in all parts of the project if necessary;
- A junior should know the basics and never stop learning, be disciplined in their work, and respond appropriately to criticism;
- Never be afraid to ask more experienced colleagues for help and to push development forward.
The main task of Full Stack Developers is to make the interface user-friendly and the server part fast and attack-proof. Alexander Repeta (CTO GoIT).
If you want to learn more about the position and career of a Full Stack Developer, register for the online conference IT-Fest, which will start on June 12.
Sign up for an online Full Stack webinar.
Junior Full Stack Developer: Hard Skills and Soft Skills
Junior Full Stack Developer must have substantial Hard and Soft Skills:
|
Top 7 Hard Skills for the Full Stack Developer |
Top-5 Soft Skills for the Full Stack Developer |
|
|
To a novice, these skills may seem like an unattainable dream, especially if you knew nothing about IT until now. But in reality, it’s just hard to take the first step.
How much will you need to study to become a Junior Full Stack Developer?
It all depends on the type of learning. Self-learning is not easy but affordable. There is plenty of material on the internet – so take it. The problem is that a newbie doesn’t know where to start: what to learn and in what order: and what information is relevant and what isn’t.
There is no point even sitting or lying on the couch while reading a clever book or watching a video – it’s pointless and useless for a beginner. Only practice counts here. So you will need practice exercises and, most importantly, a mentor to check their implementation and point out any mistakes.
Besides, self-study takes much more time because you need to filter a lot of “water” that isn’t needed here and now. The advantage of Full Stack online courses is that there is a precise learning plan, structured materials, and practical assignments guided by a tutor or through a program. Even if students have learned something independently before the course, the course will organize, expand, and eliminate outdated information.
Another plus of the courses is the community of like-minded people with whom you can exchange ideas, and ask for help, and vice versa. Therefore, it increases motivation and makes the learning process more enjoyable.
For a beginner, self-study takes approximately 2-3 times longer than acquiring the same level of knowledge in a good course. Alexander Repeta (CTO GoIT).
We used student feedback to compare the learning process for a Full Stack developer from scratch on your own and our courses. The following will help you to choose the best way of learning:
What do we mean by conditionally free training? YouTube channels, for example, are a platform for educators, authors to promote their products. So they put publicly available materials on their channel and then offer to buy the full course. GoIT has set up free 7-day marathons on specific technologies. They help anyone who wants to try their hand as a student and aspiring developer. During the marathon, you will watch videos, write the code, and communicate with the mentor and other participants. You can then decide whether it’s necessary to keep learning or if it’s “not for you.” Alexander Repeta (CTO GoIT).
HTML/CSS Marathon at GoIT is an opportunity to dive into a new profession. In 7 days you:
- Create your first resume site – in the future, you will be able to send it to apply for jobs;
- Understand the basics of HTML and CSS – this is the first step for any IT professional;
- Find new acquaintances and even friends who want to learn about themselves as much as you do;
- Get a great bonus at the end – a promo code for learning English in EnglishDom;
- Understand if IT is your thing or not.
Sign up for the marathon and take the first, hardest step toward your goal right now!
