Career paths discussion

From the video

The goal here is to help explain that there is a very wide range of jobs out there. The marketing around “tech” and coding boot camps and even Computer Science degrees is confusing. They all seem to be talking about this general “Software Engineer.”

Front-End Developer: Develops the user-facing part of websites, focusing on layout, design, and interactivity using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

UX/UI Designer: Designs user interfaces for software and websites, focusing on improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction.

Mobile App Developer: Specializes in developing applications for mobile devices, working with mobile-specific programming languages and design principles.

SEO Specialist: Focuses on optimizing websites to improve their rankings in search engine results, enhancing online visibility.

Content Strategist: Plans, writes, and manages content, ensuring it aligns with user needs and business goals.

Technical Writer (for Design/Dev Tools and Products): Writes instructional materials and documentation for software and development tools.

Product Designer: Responsible for the overall design and functionality of a product, often involving user research, design, and testing.

UX Researcher: Conducts research to understand user behaviors and needs, informing design decisions.

CMS Developer/Themer: Specializes in developing themes and customizing content management systems like WordPress or Drupal.

Digital Marketing Designer: Integrates design skills with digital marketing strategies, creating visually appealing and effective online campaigns.

E-commerce Specialist: Focuses on developing and managing online stores, optimizing for sales and user experience.

User Interface (UI) Engineer: Combines programming and design skills to create user interfaces for software and websites.

Front-End Architect: Plans and structures the front-end of websites and applications, focusing on scalability, performance, and maintainability.

Web Animator: Creates animations and interactive elements for websites to enhance user engagement and experience.

Interaction Designer: Designs engaging interfaces with thoughtful behaviors, optimizing user interaction with digital products.

UX/UI Consultant: Provides expert advice on user experience and interface design, often working with businesses to improve their digital products.

Creative Technologist: Merges creativity with technology to explore and apply new tech in innovative ways.

Multimedia Designer: Integrates various forms of media, like text, sound, graphics, and video, into digital products.

Information Architect: Organizes information and designs structures for websites and applications, ensuring content is accessible and user-friendly.

Accessibility Specialist: Ensures digital products are accessible to people with disabilities, adhering to accessibility standards.

Data Visualization Expert: Turns complex data into understandable and visually appealing formats.

Design Systems Architect: Develops and maintains design systems, ensuring consistency across products.

Motion Graphics Designer: Creates animated and video content for digital platforms.

Digital Product Manager: Oversees the development and strategy of digital products.

Email Marketing Developer: Designs and codes email campaigns that are functional and visually appealing across various email clients.

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Specialist: Focuses on optimizing websites to increase the percentage of visitors who take a desired action.

Performance Optimization Specialist: Enhances website performance, focusing on speed and efficiency.

Design Ops Specialist: Manages and optimizes design workflows and processes within organizations.

Web Accessibility Consultant: Advises and guides organizations in making their websites accessible to all users.

UX Copywriter: Writes user-centric copy for web applications, ensuring clarity and brand consistency.

AR/VR Developer: Specializes in developing augmented and virtual reality experiences.

Microinteractions Designer: Focuses on designing small, engaging interactions in web and mobile applications.

DevOps for Web Projects: Manages the operations side of web projects, focusing on deployment and server management.

Ethical Hacker for Web Security: Tests and secures web applications against cyber threats.

Voice User Interface Designer: Designs user interfaces for voice-controlled applications and devices.

Color Theory Expert: Specializes in the use of color in digital design, crucial for creating visually appealing and effective user interfaces.

Notes: things to add from Reddit comments: Support engineer, technical support engineer, sales engineer, solution engineer, product/project manager, etc. — reliability/devops/sysadmins/database admins — Test Automation

Other jobs people seem to be ignoring

There are several roles where web development and design knowledge is beneficial, even if they don’t typically command high salaries like full-time full-stack developer positions. These roles often involve managing, updating, or tweaking websites and digital content without requiring deep technical expertise:

Website Administrator: Manages and updates website content, deals with basic HTML and CSS adjustments, and ensures the website runs smoothly.

CMS Manager: Oversees content management systems (like WordPress), updates content, and handles basic site maintenance.

Junior Web Designer: Assists in designing web pages and graphics, often working under the supervision of a senior designer. May involve basic HTML and CSS work.

Digital Content Coordinator: Manages digital content, including writing, editing, and posting content on websites, requiring a basic understanding of web platforms.

Social Media Coordinator: Manages a company’s social media presence, which may include creating and posting web-friendly content and minor website updates.

Email Campaign Assistant: Helps design and implement email marketing campaigns, often using platforms that require some HTML and CSS knowledge.

SEO Assistant: Supports SEO strategies, which can include optimizing website content and structure, a task that benefits from basic web development skills.

Graphic Designer with Web Skills: Creates visual content for the web. While primarily focused on graphics, having web development skills can enhance their capability to work closely with web formats.

Customer Support for Tech Products: Provides customer support for web-based products or services, where understanding the product’s web environment can improve problem-solving efficiency.

Marketing Assistant with Web Duties: Involves various marketing tasks, including managing web content and understanding the impact of web design on marketing strategies.

Small Business Owner/Entrepreneur: Those who run their own small business or startup may benefit from web development skills to manage their website and online presence effectively.

Non-profit Organization Staff: Many non-profits require staff to handle multiple roles, including managing their web presence with limited resources.

Educational Content Developer: Creates and manages digital educational content, where web development skills can enhance the creation of interactive and engaging online learning materials.

Freelance Web Consultant: Provides basic web development and design services to clients on a freelance basis, suitable for those not seeking full-time developer roles.

These roles value web development and design knowledge as a complement to their primary functions, offering opportunities for individuals who are building their skills or seeking less technically intensive careers in the web domain.

Career Roadmaps for Different Roles in Tech

“Tech” is one of the few industries where you can take many different entry points and pivot throughout your career. You might start in one role, move to a new team, shift between freelancing and full-time positions, or jump from agency work to corporate. The ability to change your focus and explore new opportunities over time is one of the most exciting aspects of this field.

However, if you want to stand out—especially when you’re landing your first roles—it’s important to approach things with a clear strategy. Too many people jump into tech without a plan, aiming for what they think is a cushy job, only to do the bare minimum. If you take the time to carve out a niche, learn the skills that really matter, and move up deliberately, you’ll build a career with purpose and momentum.

Below are a few example career paths to help you understand how roles like front-end development, back-end development, and UX/UI design can evolve over time. Whether you choose to pivot between different roles or focus on advancing within a specific area, these paths can offer a sense of direction and highlight key opportunities for growth.

Front-End Developer Path

Traditional Corporate Path

• Years 1-2: Junior Front-End Developer
  • Work at a mid-sized company to gain hands-on experience with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like Vue or React.
• Years 3-5: Front-End Developer
  • Move to a larger company or advance within the current company.
  • Work on more complex projects, including performance optimization and accessibility.
• Years 6-10: Senior Front-End Developer
  • Lead front-end projects and mentor junior developers.
  • Specialize in a specific area (e.g., front-end architecture, state management).
• Years 11+: Front-End Engineering Manager
  • Oversee a team of front-end developers.
  • Influence the front-end strategy and technology stack of the company.

Agency Experience

• Years 1-2: Junior Front-End Developer at Agency
  • Work at a design/development agency to get exposure to diverse projects and clients.
• Years 3-4: Mid-level Front-End Developer at Agency
  • Take on larger projects and start leading development for client websites/apps.
• Years 5-6: Senior Front-End Developer at Agency
  • Lead major projects, mentor junior developers, and contribute to the agency’s tech strategy.
• Years 7+: Transition to Freelance or Start Own Agency
  • Use experience and network to start freelancing or own an agency.

Back-End Developer Path

Traditional Corporate Path

• Years 1-2: Junior Back-End Developer
  • Work at a mid-sized company to gain hands-on experience with server-side technologies (e.g., Node.js, PHP, Python).
• Years 3-5: Back-End Developer
  • Move to a larger company or advance within the current company.
  • Focus on building scalable and secure back-end systems.
• Years 6-10: Senior Back-End Developer
  • Lead back-end projects and mentor junior developers.
  • Specialize in areas like database design, API development, or cloud infrastructure.
• Years 11+: Back-End Engineering Manager
  • Oversee a team of back-end developers.
  • Influence the back-end strategy and architecture of the company.

Agency Experience

• Years 1-2: Junior Back-End Developer at Agency
  • Work at a development agency to get exposure to diverse projects and technologies.
• Years 3-4: Mid-level Back-End Developer at Agency
  • Take on larger projects and lead back-end development for client applications.
• Years 5-6: Senior Back-End Developer at Agency
  • Lead major projects, mentor junior developers, and contribute to the agency’s tech strategy.
• Years 7+: Transition to Freelance or Start Own Agency
  • Use experience and network to start freelancing or own an agency.

UI Designer Path

Traditional Corporate Path

• Years 1-2: Junior UI Designer
  • Work at a mid-sized company to gain hands-on experience with design tools (e.g., Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD).
• Years 3-5: UI Designer
  • Move to a larger company or advance within the current company.
  • Focus on designing user interfaces for web and mobile applications.
• Years 6-10: Senior UI Designer
  • Lead UI design projects and mentor junior designers.
  • Specialize in areas like design systems, interaction design, or visual design.
• Years 11+: UI Design Manager/Director
  • Oversee a team of UI designers.
  • Influence the UI design strategy and direction of the company.

Agency Experience

• Years 1-2: Junior UI Designer at Agency
  • Work at a design agency to get exposure to diverse projects and clients.
• Years 3-4: Mid-level UI Designer at Agency
  • Take on larger projects and start leading design for client websites/apps.
• Years 5-6: Senior UI Designer at Agency
  • Lead major projects, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the agency’s design strategy.
• Years 7+: Transition to Freelance or Start Own Agency
  • Use experience and network to start freelancing or own an agency.

UX Designer Path

Traditional Corporate Path

• Years 1-2: Junior UX Designer
  • Work at a mid-sized company to gain hands-on experience with user research, wireframing, and prototyping.
• Years 3-5: UX Designer
  • Move to a larger company or advance within the current company.
  • Focus on conducting user research and designing user-centered experiences.
• Years 6-10: Senior UX Designer
  • Lead UX projects and mentor junior designers.
  • Specialize in areas like UX research, information architecture, or interaction design.
• Years 11+: UX Manager/Director
  • Oversee a team of UX designers.
  • Influence the UX strategy and direction of the company.

Agency Experience

• Years 1-2: Junior UX Designer at Agency
  • Work at a design agency to get exposure to diverse projects and clients.
• Years 3-4: Mid-level UX Designer at Agency
  • Take on larger projects and start leading UX research and design for client websites/apps.
• Years 5-6: Senior UX Designer at Agency
  • Lead major projects, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the agency’s UX strategy.
• < strong>Years 7+: Transition to Freelance or Start Own Agency
  • Use experience and network to start freelancing or own an agency.

Product Designer (Unicorn) Path

Traditional Corporate Path

• Years 1-2: Front-End Developer
  • Focus: Gain hands-on experience with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like Vue or React.
  • Key Skills: Develop strong front-end development skills and understanding of web technologies.
  • Projects: Work on implementing designs and collaborating with UI/UX designers.
• Years 3-5: Front-End Developer with UI Responsibilities
  • Focus: Begin to incorporate UI design responsibilities alongside front-end development.
  • Key Skills: Learn design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), start contributing to visual design.
  • Projects: Work on designing and implementing user interfaces, collaborating closely with UX designers.
• Years 6-8: Front-End Developer with UI/UX Responsibilities
  • Focus: Integrate UX design practices into your workflow, conducting user research and usability testing.
  • Key Skills: Develop skills in user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.
  • Projects: Lead projects that require both front-end development and UI/UX design, ensuring a cohesive user experience.
• Years 9-12: Product Designer
  • Focus: Take full ownership of the product design process, from initial user research to final implementation.
  • Key Skills: Master the entire design and development lifecycle, bridging the gap between design and code.
  • Projects: Lead major product initiatives, mentor junior team members, and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Years 13+: Senior Product Designer/Design Manager
  • Focus: Oversee the design strategy and direction for products, manage a team of designers and developers.
  • Key Skills: Leadership, strategic thinking, advanced design and development skills.
  • Projects: Guide the product vision, influence company-wide design standards, and ensure product quality and consistency.

Agency Experience

• Years 1-2: Front-End Developer at Agency
  • Focus: Gain exposure to diverse projects and clients, build foundational development skills.
  • Key Skills: Strong front-end development, client communication, and teamwork.
  • Projects: Work on implementing designs for various clients, gaining a broad understanding of different industries.
• Years 3-4: Front-End Developer with UI Responsibilities at Agency
  • Focus: Start contributing to UI design while continuing front-end development work.
  • Key Skills: Visual design, prototyping, and responsive design.
  • Projects: Lead UI design for client projects, collaborate with UX designers and other developers.
• Years 5-6: Front-End Developer with UI/UX Responsibilities at Agency
  • Focus: Integrate UX practices into your role, conducting user research and usability testing.
  • Key Skills: User research, wireframing, interaction design.
  • Projects: Manage projects that require a blend of development and design, deliver comprehensive user experiences.
• Years 7+: Product Designer/Freelance/Start Own Agency
  • Focus: Use experience and network to start freelancing or own an agency.
  • Key Skills: Full-stack design and development, business acumen, client management.
  • Projects: Lead major projects, build a portfolio of high-profile clients, and potentially start your own agency.

Startup Experience

• Years 1-2: Front-End Developer at Startup
  • Focus: Gain experience in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
  • Key Skills: Agile development, rapid prototyping, cross-functional teamwork.
  • Projects: Implement designs, work closely with product and design teams to iterate quickly.
• Years 3-4: Front-End Developer with UI Responsibilities at Startup
  • Focus: Start taking on UI design responsibilities alongside development tasks.
  • Key Skills: Visual design, user interface design, design systems.
  • Projects: Design and develop user interfaces, collaborate with UX researchers and product managers.
• Years 5-6: Front-End Developer with UI/UX Responsibilities at Startup
  • Focus: Fully integrate UX practices, leading user research and usability testing efforts.
  • Key Skills: UX research, usability testing, information architecture.
  • Projects: Own the end-to-end design process, ensure a cohesive and user-friendly product.
• Years 7+: Product Designer/Startup Founder
  • Focus: Lead product design efforts or start your own product-focused startup.
  • Key Skills: Product strategy, design leadership, entrepreneurial skills.
  • Projects: Guide product vision, manage design and development teams, potentially launch your own products.