As a result, learning it can help you transition to a web design career in New York with one of the many marketing and web design firms in the city. Furthermore, earning a certification can help you stand apart from your job competitors and improve your chances of finding a fun and rewarding career in this exciting field.
What is JavaScript?
JavaScript is designed as a programming language to create in-depth and complex elements on webpages. For example, it can produce interactive maps, unique graphics, and other features that HTML and CSS cannot. By contrast, HTML is the visual language used to create the basic structure of a website, while CSS personalizes it with more unique and attractive styles. Mastering these three languages is essential for anyone interested in becoming a web designer.
This language was developed in 1995 by a programmer named Brandan Eich for use with Netscape. Amazingly, Eich developed JavaScript in just 10 days to support Java, another important web programming language. Since its debut, JavaScript has taken over many of the features of Java, though it hasn’t completely supplanted that language. Its regular use in website development makes it one of the most important coding languages in the world.
Why Become Certified in JavaScript?
Like any programming language, it’s possible to learn JavaScript on your own and start programming in-depth and attractive websites. However, it’s also easy to fall into bad coding habits when learning this way, which could affect your ability to find jobs. Thankfully, you can get JavaScript certificates by taking various courses and classes. These unique learning opportunities will ensure that you fully understand JavaScript and its many features.
When you earn certification in JavaScript, you show potential employers that you understand the far-reaching scope and processes necessary for using JavaScript properly. Certification basically proves that you’ve deeply studied this language and know how to use it. To earn certification, you’ll take an exam that tests all of your JavaScript skills. It comes from a verified and trusted organization, such as Microsoft, and can be used on your resume.
Note that certification isn’t strictly a training process itself. You typically can only take a certification test when you’ve logged many hours working with JavaScript. The prerequisites for this exam will vary based on the program. Typically, you’ll need to take JavaScript courses or practice it by yourself to understand it well enough to get certified. Thankfully, there are more than enough training options available for you if you’re interested in certification.
What You’ll Learn While Becoming JavaScript Certified
When learning about JavaScript through certification, you’ll master various important elements that make this process easier and more effective. These include things like programming languages, tools, and personal skills that make JavaScript coding easier for you. Let’s take a look at the most important of these factors to ensure you understand them fully.
Basic JavaScript Language
JavaScript is like any coding language in that it possesses in-depth syntax that helps you create effective and engaging code. Most of your training before certification will focus on mastering these skills to provide a stronger background in JavaScript. For example, you’ll learn about variables, objects, classes, loops, if/else statements, and much more. By mastering these concepts, you can move on to more specialized but important coding ideas.
Frameworks and Libraries
JavaScript frameworks include client-side designs and in-depth libraries that make creating websites easier. For example, frameworks can direct your coding to create streamlined and coherent websites that meet a client’s branding demands. Just as importantly, frameworks and libraries can streamline your coding process and make it easier for you to produce attractive and useful websites with minimal challenge and maximum results.
Asynchronous Programming
JavaScript allows coders to utilize asynchronous programming, which lets the main thread of a program run while waiting for other elements to complete. For example, it keeps a website’s many links active and operational before users click on them. This concept includes things like prototypes, hosting, coercion, promises, callbacks, closures, and scope. Mastering these in your JavaScript certification can ensure that you produce the attractive sites your customers want.
Related JS Skills
While getting certified in JavaScript, you’ll also study things like React JS (a library that helps you modify sites quickly) and Node JS (a real-time tool for back-end frameworks). You’ll also practice Redux, a management option for React JS that helps you master more complex concepts. These and things like jQuery and TypeScript can help you expand your JavaScript knowledge and make it easier for you to produce attractive and effective web designs.
Cross-Browser Coding
In today’s expansive online world, there are many browsers that people may use when checking their email, shopping, or visiting social media. As a result, JavaScript programmers need to understand cross-browser coding, which means creating a script that runs smoothly on every internet browser. While these browsers typically work in similar ways, they have various quirks that make it important for coders to create clean and universally readable JavaScript lines.
JavaScript Industries in New York
Coding is a far more diverse and engaging profession than many people might think. In fact, even a language as specialized as JavaScript can provide you with work in many exciting and fascinating career fields. Here are just a few markets that might need someone with JavaScript knowledge. Note that these industries are all heavily present in NYC:
- Web Design: As the biggest city in the nation, New York has many companies in just about every field. For example, there are many web design firms in the city that may need JavaScript coders. This market is diverse and typically has the biggest demand for JavaScript programming experts, so consider it your first and best option for a job in NYC.
- Financial Services: New York City is often considered the world’s most important financial center. There are many businesses within this field in New York, all of which may need JavaScript programmers. For instance, programmers might create online banking and trading platforms that help streamline a firm’s services and keep it competitive with others.
- Marketing and Advertising: New York City also has many marketing and advertising companies that likely need JavaScript experts like you to provide high-quality and in-depth coding. For example, many marketing firms utilize web design concepts that help their clients stand out. Others integrate intuitive virtual designs that make marketing much easier.
- Healthcare: While healthcare and JavaScript might not seem incredibly connected at first, many NYC healthcare teams need programmers to build telehealth websites. For instance, a hospital in New York City might want coders to create an online portal where patients can share symptoms and get real-time diagnoses from a doctor without leaving their home.
- Ecommerce: Ecommerce is a huge part of the market these days, and there are many such firms in New York that might need JavaScript programmers. For example, you might create shopping websites for these companies that provide safe and protected financial transfers between buyers and dealers. It’s a great field to get into because it’s constantly expanding.
These are just some of the most popular JavaScript industries in New York, so make sure that you do your research and find any that might interest you. Note that there are many careers within these markets that you can pursue. Understanding these different options will help you streamline your search and make it easier to make good money programming with JavaScript.
JavaScript Careers in New York
JavaScript programming is a diverse field and provides you with many potential jobs that may interest you. These include coding gigs within the industries mentioned above. The list below includes three examples of the fascinating range of careers you can find with JavaScript skills:
- Front-End Developer: As a Front-End Developer, you’ll focus on creating in-depth visual elements using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In New York, expect to make an average of $80,000, which is on par with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported national average of $81,000. Expect a 16% job growth in this rapidly expanding and exciting field.
- Data Processing Manager: As a Data Processing Manager, you can make about $88,000 managing data needs and ensuring that things run smoothly. That’s a little lower than the national average of $112,000 per year. Note that this job is basically the same as becoming a data analyst, which is a popular and very high-earning job.
- Quality Assurance Automation: Quality Assurance Experts may require JavaScript specialists to ensure that web pages and software run smoothly. You can make about $78,000 in this job in New York, though nationally, they earn about $124,000. Thankfully, this job is expanding at a 25% rate over the next 10 years, so you should find a gig.
Note that these are just some of the potential jobs you can try out if you learn JavaScript. Any job related to web design should be a great option for you. So make sure you do a little research on your options to identify the high-quality career field that makes the most sense for you.
Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification
Certificates and certifications are not the same thing, which is important to understand. A certificate is suitable for beginners because it teaches you the ins and outs of JavaScript. You typically earn one when you complete a training program and can use it when applying for jobs. It’s not a professional-grade document but is worth getting if you’re new to JavaScript.
By contrast, certifications apply to experts with more experience in JavaScript. As mentioned previously, you need a certain amount of time with JavaScript to get a certification. You also don’t get any training for your exam but simply get the chance to earn professional-level documentation. Often, earning a certificate is a great idea on the path to certification.