So you have a great interest in web and app development that you have learned and practice coding and programming on your own. You may have even built a few web applications on your own now. You can pretty much do front-end and back-end web development. That means you can go out and get a full stack developer job in Malaysia now right?
If you are a self-taught full-stack developer, you might be wondering if you are ready to take up a job and become a developer fulltime. Perhaps these factors may be relatable to you.
Well not yet. The answer to that is both true and false. WHAAAT?
Before I confuse you even further, we will start with the basics on what is a full stack developer, and how to land a full stack developer job without a degree qualification.
What is a full stack developer?
A full stack developer refers to a programmer that is able to work with both front and backend of an application; with front-end referring to the user interface (what layman people see on applications), and the back-end refers to the behind-the-scenes of an application like the server configuration, database management etc.
However, often times, full stack developers can also be known as a jack of all trades but master of none. This means that they are not a 2-in-1 programming superhero that can do two jobs with the salary of one. Rather, they have the knowledge and basic understanding of the development of an application.
If they are not able to fully master both front end and back end development, what are their superpowers?
The best thing about full stack developers is that they are able to oversee the entire app development from the conceptualising stage, all the way until the finished end product. With a wide understanding of the entire application, they can help their companies ensure that their app can be launched and maintained smoothly.
Alright, now that you know for sure you are a full-fledged full stack developer, it is time to figure out what are the relevant information to add to your resume to get you hired for the job you want.
1. Technical Skillset
This is basically a no brainer. Like every other professional job, your technical skillset acts as the passport to even be considered for the role.
When you are applying to become a full stack developer, it is important that you mention the technical skills you have for both front end and back end development.
Relevant Front End Technical Skills:
- HTML, CSS, Javascript
These are the most fundamental programming languages for frontend development. HTML is used for the layout and structure of an application, CSS is mainly used for the designs and interface of the platform and Javascript is used for loading and displaying your data to your users.
- Bootstrap
Bootstrap is a CSS framework that allows you to build responsive websites. By having knowledge in bootstrap, you can pretty much build any website or application interface with the grid layout web building structure.
Relevant Back End Technical Skills:
- Node.js
Most entry level full stack developers would choose to use Node.js as it is built on Javascript and thus have a smaller learning curve. It also provides seamless communication between both front end and back end development processes as it uses the same programming language.
For a more in-depth elaboration on the relevant technical skills needed for a full stack developer, you can check out this article.
2. Work Experience
There is nothing like gaining the trust of your potential employee than letting them know you are not just all a theory geek but can get the job they need to get done, done perfectly.
When writing down your work experience in your resume, don’t just provide a few lines describing your previous roles. If they wanted that, they could just Google job descriptions. In your resume, you do not want to just be like any other developers who are applying for the job. You want to stand out amongst all the other hundreds of resumes that the company receives.
Hence, don’t just copy a list of skillset from the internet. Be specific in listing down your roles, and what were you responsible for. There is no need to exaggerate or lie, but focus on the relevant information that will value your new potential company. If there are roles and responsibilities that are no longer in line with your career growth, you can either just write short descriptions, or else omit it entirely and choose to focus on the ones that will mean more to the recruiter.
For example, if you are looking at applying to an e-commerce company, it might even be helpful to mention that small freelance job you did for a friend where you helped them developed the MVP (Minimal Viable Product) for their e-commerce business.
3. Work Achievements
Funny enough, often times in resumes we tend to forget to provide concrete work achievements examples.
Instead of just describing that you contributed to your company to a great extent, provide concrete examples with quantitative results.
If you have built an application prototype that is currently used by the entire team, mention how much percentage of efficiency rate it has helped your company increase. Provide visual samples of your proudest work in the appendix of your resume to help the recruiter visualise your capabilities.
Sometimes, certain problem shooting success stories can be included, whether with your technical skills or soft skills; as it can be just what your potential new employee is in need of.
By showing how you created a quantifiable impact to your previous responsibilities provides a stronger argument as to how you are able to bring similar results to your new role.
By showing how you created a quantifiable impact on your previous responsibilities provides a stronger argument as to how you are able to bring similar results to your new role.
BONUS RESUME TIP:
This one is a bonus because it is not just useful for full stack developer to put on their resumes, but in general, for most roles, this would be an interesting addition to your resume.
I personally find it very important to include a one to two liners of your work philosophy. Be authentic when writing this, and don’t just use a famous quote and paste it there.
Dig deep on what are your strongest attributes in terms of your work ethic. If you truly believe that curiosity is what makes a developer able to handle various stress and handle unexpected problems in a positive manner, then express that. If you believe discipline is the core value that keeps your work in check, then convey that message.
It’s a very small element to your resume, and is probably not the main priority to help a recruiter make a decision, but it adds a little personal touch to your resume, while allowing whoever who is reviewing your application to grasp your working style in a nutshell, and is able to determine if you fit in the relevant company’s culture or not.
In conclusion, being a full stack developer does not secure you a job. Sure, there is an increasing demand for full stack developers in the current job market, but what makes you stand out is putting in the relevant information in your resume.
Be it technical skills or soft skills, always remember this. Your resume is not your Instagram profile. It is not for you to flaunt off whatever strengths or skills you have; but rather, it is for you to convince your potential employee that you are the right person that can solve their problems, and contribute to the company’s goals.
If you are looking to explore full stack development as part of your career growth and build market-ready applications like Grab or Lazada, do check out our Full Stack 360 certification course to help you achieve this goal.
informative blog. it tells me what skills i need to have as well as what needs to be there in he resume