Web Development: 3 Recruiting Trends For The New Year

Web development and design trends are constantly evolving, but one thing will always remain constant when it comes to advancements in this field: user experience. We’ve seen many innovative brands get creative when embracing different design elements over the past year. At the same time, many less “tech forward” companies have taken notice and are beginning to start the website redesign process and offer more web-based tools for their clients and customers. With more companies getting on board with these digital trends, Front-End, Back-End, and Mobile App Developers will have many opportunities to diversify their experience over the next year.

“Many media and eCommerce companies have been pioneers in web design,” says Matt O’Brien, a Senior Director within ES Technology, a division of The Execu|Search Group. “They have truly changed the way we shop, watch TV and movies, and engage with brands. And for a long time, we’d see a lot of our developers and designers move from job to job within these two industries.”

Matt says that now that the media/broadcasting and retail/eCommerce sectors have set the standard, other industries know they need to quickly follow suit. “Many different types of companies realize they need to focus on user experience to be competitive and match user expectations,” he says. In particular, clients in the following industries are turning to developers to help them accomplish this:

Healthcare Insurance
Financial Services

Additionally, eCommerce/retail and media/broadcasting companies will continue to have further web development needs as their service offerings evolve with market trends.

How to take advantage of these opportunities

If you are interested in making the leap to a new industry, it’s important to understand which web development skills are in high demand. “Employers need to know you can hit the ground running on these development projects,” advises Matt. “This means that your resume should highlight your transferable experience and proficiency with key programs and software.” This may include skills like:

Objective-C
Swift
.Net
Python
API development
Java

At the same time, you shouldn’t overlook the importance of your soft skills. These intangible, yet essential skills like communication, problem-solving, or leadership can set you apart from other candidates. “Many of these companies will be relying on you to help them navigate a web redesign strategy,” says Matt. “This means your ability to explain the process and present solutions will be of the utmost importance.”

Why to consider a different industry

If you are an experienced developer, now is the perfect time to explore one of these newly created opportunities. “With a new year around the corner, employers are ready to tackle these projects,” says Matt. “With demand so high, you can expect to see faster, more competitive offers across some of these sectors.”

Additionally, these roles give you an opportunity to expand your experience in different areas. “If you have hit a wall in your career or are no longer excited by your work, trying out a new industry can be the change you need,” advises Matt. “Not only can this be a great learning experience, but it can broaden your network and expose you to a different type of work culture.”

Testing the waters

If you are still on the fence, taking on a contract or contract-to-hire role at one of these organizations can be an excellent way to test the waters before you fully commit. “All three of these sectors are hiring both on a contract and full-time basis,” says Matt. “Contract roles are a great, low-pressure way to evaluate whether the change is the right fit for you. Plus, they can open the doors to getting hired on a full-time basis if you ultimately decide that is the path you want!”

Interested in these new career opportunities in web development? Check out our open jobs.