How do I get a job in Backend?

Backend development is an essential component of web development, which is focused on the server side of applications. And lately, a lot of questions has been going on about how to learn the skills required to work as a backend developer.

This is exactly my goal for this article, to provide you with a set of terms, keywords, information, and a step-by-step guide to help you get started on your journey of landing your first job as a backend developer.

Who is a Backend Developer

As we all know web development consists of two main components which are the backend and the frontend. When a visitor arrives at a website, the first thing they see and experience is the work of frontend developers because the ordinary internet user pays little attention to what happens behind the scenes of a website, but it doesn't make a backend developer's role any less important.

The quality of a website's user experience is determined by its backend programming which means backend developers are solely responsible for everything that occurs behind a website or program and part of their responsibility is to focus on things such as creating an effective website architecture, scripting, and writing code that allows the website's database to communicate with the site visitor's browser.

Backend developers can pursue careers in a wide range of industries and sectors. Some backend engineers work for a single company, while others work for agencies that specialize in web development for their clients.

But in order for you to start a career in this industry, you must first master the many parts of server-side language and become familiar with the other tools used on a regular basis.

It is also recommended that you look for entry-level employment to obtain practical, and hands-on experience because back-end developers are the most in-demand jobs which means a skilled back-end developer is always in demand and for you to put yourself in that category to land your first job as a backend developer, you ought to have:

1. Understand the fundamentals of data structure and algorithms: Data structures and algorithms serve as the foundation for any application or software's smooth operation. A back-end developer must have a solid understanding of these fundamental concepts.
2. Master programming language: A programming language is the language through which a developer can command the computer. And a back-end developer needs to have a deeper knowledge of the programming languages. There are many programming languages like C, C++, Java, etc. All you’ve got to do is choose one and start learning it. Make sure you understand every single step and technique. By focusing on one language at a time, you get to develop your skills more and you also get to practice. However, it serves as an advantage if a back-end developer knows more than one programming language.
3. Master frameworks: Frameworks are templates that allow developers to add, amend, and change a certain code to meet their own requirements. However understanding a programming language allows a developer to write any code, while learning and using a framework saves time because it can be used for various reasons. It makes things easier and helps eliminate the need to constantly rewrite a code.
4. Be familiar with the database concept: A database is a type of storage zone for structured data that may be retrieved electronically. So learning about the database is very important for back-end developers because it is the vault where they store the data through their programming language.
5. Familiarize yourself with code management tools: Git and other tools make it easier to keep track of changes to your code. They make it simple to observe what has been changed, collaborate with other developers, and seamlessly update your projects. As a backend developer, you ought to learn how to use Git to organize code, collaborate with others, and deploy applications.
6. Build project: Working on projects is the most effective method to improve your skills and grow your portfolio. A developer cannot understand the techniques and formats behind any programming language unless they practice them. Putting whatever you’ve learned into practice and also improving your portfolio is putting you on the right path.
7. Contributing to open source: Putting yourself out there and joining a couple of open-source projects allows you to gain real-world experience, improve your skills, and also demonstrate your abilities to future employers. Websites like GitHub and GitLab are good ways to identify these projects and begin contributing.
8. Internships: Registering and applying for internships and other tech events is another way of putting yourself out there, which can help you find your next backend developer job and also connect you with other developers. Internships can provide useful experience and at times lead to you getting full-time employment.

I have written a detailed step-by-step guide on how to land your first backend engineering role.

Conclusion

Getting a job in backend development requires you to gain the necessary skills, build or contribute to projects, and put yourself out there actively networking.

Backend development is an exciting and fast-growing job field and there are a lot of reasons to love it because good web developers will always be needed as long as people require websites.