Ask HN: How do I get a job as a web dev?

by speedylight on 2/28/2025, 11:55:14 AM with 3 comments
So basically I’m a self taught webdev and a CS student and I want to get an entry level job in the industry. I made a website for myself to showcase some of the work I’ve done but the problem is that most of the web apps/sites I’ve built weren’t meant to be shown off, they were tools I made to help me do things but I still learned quite a lot from those experiences.

Backend development is my element, but I’ve gotten really comfortable with front end work lately, particularly when I am using Tailwind and Sveltejs… I find that I don’t even need to use component libraries for most things because I’m good enough to design from scratch—even though that may not the most efficient solution. I still struggle here and there but nothing a quick session of Googling can’t fix.

Backend wise I’ve worked with Flask, Django, SvelteKit, and Laravel.

I will admit that my knowledge is very spread out, there isn’t any one web technology that I understand on an intuitive level but I definitely have a solid grasp of the basics.

To be honest any kind of job I can land in the tech industry will be life changing, I’ve been stuck working in retail for way longer than I should’ve been and if I can get a job in tech that pays something $20/hr as a starting point, I’ll be content with that knowing I’m advancing my career I just don’t really know where to begin.

If you were in my shoes and lived in the western United States, what would you do?

  • by gregjor on 2/28/2025, 12:59:21 PM

    Job market in the US very tough right now, especially for entry-level and junior people. You may know about the waves of large layoffs. To make matters worse companies increasingly use LLMs and no-code & low-code tools, eliminating jobs.

    Recruiters won’t look at your web site, portfolio, GitHub repos, or leetcode scores unless they already have a strong interest in you. Much better to look for work through professional and personal contacts.

    I have some free articles about job hunting and freelancing on my site typicalprogrammer.com. No ads, popups, or other nonsense.

  • by _pktm_ on 2/28/2025, 12:13:42 PM

    Thanks for posting this. A few thoughts come to mind.

    1. What have you tried so far to find such a job?

    2. Do you have a degree? I don’t personally believe they should be required but many employers hold a different view.

    3. Are you open to a startup or do you prefer something more corporate?