Important Soft Skills Every Web Developer Should Have

To become a successful web developer in Australia this 2024, it’s not enough to possess technical skills like proficiency in coding languages and familiarity with tools like GitHub and Dev, among other things. This is because the field also values soft skills.

In this blog, we will discuss what soft skills are and what qualities you need to have to excel in the web development industry. We will also talk about how Lumify Learn can help you start a career in this field.

What are Soft Skills?

These are character traits that illustrates a person’s ability to effectively interact with others. They typically complement hard skills, which refer to someone’s occupational skills and knowledge.

Many employers look to balance soft skills with hard ones when making hiring decisions. For instance, they value workers who are not just skilled in their field, but also have a record of completing their tasks on time. They also prefer those with strong communication skills and a keen attention to detail.

Individuals who demonstrate a good combination of hard and soft skills often become more in-demand to employers.

The demand for soft skills in Australia has continued to climb. In fact, according to a study by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research, the demand for workers with strong interpersonal skills has surged after the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Soft Skills Must Web Developers Have this 2024?

If you want to make yourself more appealing to companies and make an impact in the web development field, you need to have the following soft skills:

1. Communication

Web developers must have good communication skills as they typically work with project managers, fellow developers, clients, and designers.

However, effective communication is more than just conveying your needs, goals, and questions in an email or a Teams meeting. It’s also about negotiation, which involves interacting with clients, comprehending their needs, and proposing solutions for those needs in a manner that benefits both parties.

For example, let’s say your web development team is crafting a new e-commerce website for a client who has imposed strict deadlines. During the development process, you realise the importance of including a certain feature. However, this would delay the launch.

To address this, negotiate with your client by explaining the potential benefits of the additional feature and the risks of delaying the website’s release. Doing so helps your client understand the situation and reach a mutually agreed-upon solution that meets the project’s goals and their needs.

Aside from negotiation skills, it’s just as important to have clear and concise written communication abilities. This can come in handy when you’re documenting code, creating technical documentation, and communicating with colleagues and clients. When you have strong writing skills, you can be sure that your message is conveyed effectively and accurately.

Finally, remember to give and receive constructive feedback as well, as this helps you continuously improve and foster a culture of openness and growth.

Lumify Learn proudly partners with ENS for the delivery of negotiation advice, training, and support. In the past four decades and across more than 70 countries, ENS is known as a trusted negotiation partner for some of the world’s largest organisations. These include Woolworths, Adidas, Johnson & Johnson, and PWC. Like Lumify Learn, ENS is a part of the Lumify Group.

Also part of Lumify Group is Plain English Foundation (PEF), Australia’s leading provider of plain language training and editing. Over the past two decades, the Foundation has worked with government sectors, companies, and individuals to bolster their professional writing and get their message across. Boasting expert trainers and ISO-aligned training materials, the Foundation teaches clear communication techniques that expedite decision-making, streamline processes, and get results.

2. Compassion

Feeling compassion for other people means you understand their pain and want to take steps to relieve their suffering. As a web developer, it’s crucial to show compassion through the following aspects:

Team collaboration: Building empathy and trust within your team fosters a supportive and understanding environment, helping you easily work through conflicts and challenges.

User-friendly design: By deeply understanding users’ needs and perspectives, you can develop more accessible, intuitive, and user-friendly websites and applications.

Client relationships: Having a strong ability to listen, understand, and respond to client goals can lead to long-term relationships and more successful web development projects.

Workplace culture: Empathising with other people contributes to a positive and inclusive workplace culture and enhances overall work satisfaction.

For instance, you can make your website more accessible to those with visual, auditory, or motor impairments by including features like screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and alternative text for images.

Alternatively, you can use clear, simple designs that are easier for people to understand and navigate. And instead of adding generic error messages on your website, consider crafting a message like “Oops! We couldn't find that page. Let's try this instead:”. Such an approach acknowledge the user’s inconvenience while providing a solution at the same time, demonstrating empathy and improving the overall user experience.

3. Time Management

You’ve probably heard of the saying “time is gold” countless times already, but this idea remains as relevant as ever today, especially in the field of web development.

Normally, web development projects have strict deadlines. Being efficient with your time ensures that tasks are completed on time, which then helps maintain client satisfaction and meet project timelines. Proper time management also helps you juggle multiple tasks simultaneously, ensure quality output, and boost your productivity by minimising procrastination and maximising the use of available time.

Additionally, because the tech industry is constantly evolving, managing your time well enables you to set aside time for continuous learning and professional development.

4. Problem-solving

Apart from writing code, web developers also need to identify, analyse, and resolve problems efficiently. Having good problem-solving skills helps you easily identify the root cause of these issues and find solutions quickly.

To succeed in this area, web developers must think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. This creativity can help you optimise your code, create better user experiences, and discover unique features that set your project apart from others.

Let’s say you’re experiencing a slow-loading website. To fix this problem, you need to use your problem-solving skills to identify the problem, which could be inefficient code, large image sizes, or excessive HTTP requests. Once the issue is detected, you can then implement the necessary solutions to improve the website’s performance.

Ultimately, your problem-solving skills can help you tackle challenges head-on and deliver high-quality and innovative web solutions.

5. Curiosity

The web development industry is constantly evolving with new frameworks, tools, and languages. By regularly practicing curiosity, you accept the idea that you will always be learning something new in the industry, regardless of where you are in your career. This ensures that you remain competitive and proficient in your job.

And if you constantly have the desire to learn, you can adapt to new challenges and changes in the web development field. You’ll also feel more encouraged to ask questions and seek out new information. An inquisitive mindset can even inspire new ideas and creative solutions that can result in innovative products and projects.

Ready to Take Your Web Development Career to the Next Level?

Speaking of always practicing curiosity, one of the best ways to do this is to take a web development course. Lumify Learn offers the following programs:

• ICT40120 - Certificate IV in Information Technology Elective Focus Front-End Website Development: Designed for both newbies and skilled web developers, this course provides you with the knowledge and practical skills to develop cutting-edge web designs for businesses.

• ICT40120 Certificate IV in Information Technology (Web Development): This program will teach you to create and manage basic websites. You will also learn search engine optimisation web hosting service evaluation and selection, and dynamic scripting.

• ICT50220 Diploma of Information Technology (Back End Web Development):This diploma course will help you develop the necessary skills to design complex web page layouts, create various applications, and build dynamic websites that can be integrated into databases.

All of these courses are conducted online by our expert trainers and mentors, so you can fit learning into your busy schedule. And once you complete your program, you can participate in our Lumify Edge program. Through this initiative, we offer extensive career support services and connect you with employers looking to hire IT professionals.

It’s time for you to propel your web development career forward. Enquire with us on a course today.