Introduction
In a competitive job market, developers need to be distinctive from the competition in order to get noticed by employers. Therefore, front end developers require unique building blocks through which the portfolio can be made. A web developer portfolio is a website that contains all the relevant details of previous projects and the skill set of the front end web developer.
There are many websites where one can mention their work and experience. But apart from just talking about previous accomplishments, a front end developer portfolio allows an individual to show prospective clients the work done. It also allows employers to understand the work better and contact you directly if the portfolio is an impressive one.
Before You Begin Building Your Portfolio
A portfolio needs time and attention because it will showcase the extent of your work to any future employer. Rather than allowing you to fill in the gaps personally, a front end developer portfolio works to show the visitor everything you have done directly through your work. Proper curation of all the information and projects is essential to make it appeal to the hirer in comparison to other applicants.
One needs to understand that building a portfolio is like introducing oneself but based on the reaction of the target audience. For example, a front end developer might want clients or would like to get hired. Depending on the target audience, one can make tweaks to the content. For instance, if a prospective employer visits your website, they might look at the professional expertise, but a client would also like to look at the case studies. You can easily create a unique portfolio website with the use of the following 5 steps.
Cater to Your Target Audience
Your target audience is people who would like to come in contact with you in a professional capacity. Therefore, it is crucial to create a look that is easy to navigate without making it seem too plain or bland. Your target audience is an employer who would like to see your skills and personality. On the other hand, a prospective client would like to know your professional case studies along with your experience regarding projects similar to theirs.
A simple interface for a front end developer portfolio is a good approach if it is your first attempt. The primary programming skills like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are more than enough to create an easily navigable interface. With the use of your skills, make sure that all the projects are displayed in a coherent yet attractive manner. It should be scannable, with external links posted only where necessary.
The experience of a visitor depends on how easy it is for them to get most of the information they require without jumping from webpage to webpage. Complexity in a portfolio does not necessarily mean a good showcasing of skills. Focus on minimizing clicks so that the user feels satisfied with what they have seen to be enough to make a decision. Additionally, external links can also help add another dimension to your portfolio. If you link your social media, you can showcase your personality and market yourself as a viable candidate for any potential project.
Make It Look Good
The difference between a front end and a back end developer is that the former can make the user experience easy while also making it easy on the eyes. From the color palette to the page layout, everything is at your fingertips while editing the front end developer portfolio. Since a simple interface is more straightforward for the user to navigate, the next focus can be on how polished the display looks.
The transition from one webpage to another and the overall theme of the website decide the tone you are trying to convey. One can create an impressive portfolio without using a complicated layout. A simple yet convenient to use theme can give users more incentive to explore without feeling restricted by unnecessary gimmicks.
Portfolio: Jack Jeznach, front-end developer and WordPress expert with 10+ years of experience
Don’t Forget the User Experience
As a front end developer, it is your job to make the user experience on a website the smoothest possible. Your portfolio is a chance to make the visitor experience your creativity and skills first hand. It is better that the website has the content focused on one page without taking the visitor away from secondary pages. The scrolling experience should be seamless, especially in case there are graphics and animations.
Apart from the content you are displaying, the user experience of your front end developer portfolio website would show you expertise first hand where your prospective employer or client is the end user. Therefore, the homepage is a critical aspect of your entire portfolio website. It is the first impression that can make or break your chances of securing future projects. Consider the loading time of the website, and if it is more than 3 seconds, some optimization may be necessary.
Diversification is Essential
Diversification is necessary for a web developer because a website can utilize many skills or frameworks. Since the front end developer portfolio is your space to show the extent of your skills firsthand, it is crucial to give every part of your professional journey relevant portfolio space. For example, after creating a good UI/UX for the end user, the front end developer portfolio needs another look at the content.
A separate space for skills and previous projects may be necessary to display every aspect of your professional capacity. Additionally, one might also require adequate diversification concerning the target audience. For instance, if a client wants to see case studies, they should be mentioned along with other sections of professional expertise necessary for a web development job.
Reach Out to Mobiles
Apart from catering to visitors through web applications, branching out to mobiles is crucial to make your portfolio more accessible. Diversification is necessary not only in skill set but also in the display of your content across users who might be connecting through different media. There are many websites that work towards mobile compatibility while having them built for desktop computers.
The scrolling and overall user experience are better when a front end developer thinks about what their portfolio would look like by a user who prefers a smaller screen. However, just because the screen is small does not mean the experience of the user should be diminished in any respect. It should be just as convenient to scroll and jump from one section to another without any additional hassles.
Since a portfolio shows your readiness to be hired, it should also show your readiness to adapt to new environments. For example, creating a mobile app design for your front end developer portfolio would show your critical thinking and attract potential clients and/or employers irrespective of the media they choose to access your portfolio link with.
The Takeaway
The portfolio website is meant to be the sole point of communication between a front end developer and their prospective clients and/or employers. Therefore, the website performance, response time, page layout, and content arrangement are all important. The response time should not leave anything wanting, and the content itself should be ready to impress. In addition, the portfolio should have accessibility while creating a seamless UI/UX for the end user.
The design of the website should not overpower your work and yet should be impressive enough to tie the diverse projects and skills together in a cohesive manner. Optimizing your portfolio for both mobiles and desktops is also a testimony to your problem-solving skills and shows your preparedness for any challenge.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should I include in my front end developer portfolio?
The portfolio website should be clearly demarcated into different sections to make browsing easier. The key sections include a homepage, a skills page, a case studies page (for clients), and a projects page. One can also link out to your resume for a detailed description of your skills.
What are the best ways to make the portfolio impressive?
For a front end developer, the portfolio should showcase not only their projects and case studies but also their skills. It should be scannable for the visitor while also being seamless in the user experience. The design and navigation should be compatible with the content, and mobile optimization is also essential to widen the audience.
What does an impressive front end developer portfolio need?
A portfolio typically includes projects, skills, work samples, relevant external linking, and contact information. A front end developer is at liberty to create and design the website to display their expertise in the most impressive way possible without complicating the UI/UX.
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