But with React.js and such, isn’t jQuery doomed to disappear? I learned React.js and it render jquery uselles in a way…
In terms of learning strategy, if one is limited by time and ressources (which we all are), it is very difficult to learn a multitude of lIT languages and technologies within a limited timespan. On the other hand, learning very well only one or two languages makes you a more competent candidate, to the detriment of your knowledge of other languages.
On the current IT Developer job market, is it better to be “medium level” in many IT languages, or to be very good in only one or 2 (like Javascript and Python)? Do recruiters look for all good rounded candidates, or candidates with experience, portfolio and who can show they master the most important algorithmic concepts?
It’s very important to know where one is heading, and always in mind that the clocks ticks by…
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As someone who has been on both sides of this coin I can tell you to not be discouraged by job postings. A lot of times as hiring managers we put very general, high level, and wish list items as our “requirements”. I believe the reality is that we want you to be hungry to learn, eager to contribute, and excited to be joining our team. The languages, stacks, and other technical skills are important, but they are not the most important thing.
When it comes to languages in a job posting I would go with your gut if you know one of the three languages listed and you understand the rest of the terms in the posting, apply and see what happens. What’s the worst thing that could happen? You get asked a question about something you don’t know. So you reply, “I’m not sure but I would be really excited to learn about that”.
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That’s a similar situation to what I did for the job I am in right now, didn’t know Python but said I really wanted to learn it and contribute and they really liked that attitude. I just find it it very off putting for junior roles when they ask for 7/8 languages when they know that really isn’t feasible for most people with that level of experience, unless as you say they are a wishlist of skills
Thanks Ian for sharing your perspective!
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Because it’s cheaper to hire 1 developer that knows a full stack then it is to hire 3 developers that know one language.
The problem is not with them requiring 7-8 languages, the problem is with job title in itself: junior full stack web developer. I believe there is no such thing as a “junior” “full stack developer”.
For a full stack developer you need to be proficient in front-end web development and, at the same time you need to be proficient in back-end.
Front-end mainly consists of these things:
Javascript, preferably ES6 standard, plus tools to convert it into older versions and support older browsers. Add modern framewords like Angular/React (sometimes their combinations) into the mix, it will most likely be desired (sometimes it can be something else.
HTML and CSS, preferably with knowledge of CSS pre-processors, they seem to help organize things
There may be more requirements but lets skip them for simplicity
To be qualified as a back-end web developer, you’ll need to be proficient with:
Database engines, like SQL and noSQL (sometimes a mix of the two)
Back-end programming language, sometimes you’ll be fine with Node.js proficiency, plus some tools and libraries that help complete your tasks, but most of the time you’ll need either PHP or Java or C# or Python. Quite often you’ll need more than one. Add libraries or frameworks for the language of choice.
Server-client architecture knowledge. If you’re working as a back-end, you’ll need to know how the network works at some point.
To mix it all up:
You really need to know how to work with several independent programming languages and various frameworks, libraries etc to work as a full-stack web developer. Question is: can you really expect a junior web developer to be proficient at all of this at the same time?
My answer would be a strong “No”. You shouldn’t expect a junior to be proficient in everything at the same time. This will mean that this person is either not a junior at all (don’t expect them to work for junior’s salary), or they don’t have all the listed skills at required level at the same time.
My advice: stay away from companies that offer a junior full stack web developer position. They most likely do not have well organized processes and have no idea what they want from their junior web developer. You can’t expect a junior to be efficient at multiple roles at the same time, you can expect them to grow into front-end or back-end web developer in 3-6 months and be efficient at simple tasks, but full stack requires years of experience to be efficient.
Just my personal opinion 
Personally I was looking for a full-stack web developer simply because I thought I was good enough. After working for 8 months I realize how far I was from a full stack web developer (working as a back-end dev now). I was to look for a new job now, I wouldn’t try to be a full stack dev. It is more efficient to concentrate at one role and do it well, and then, when you’re an expert, you can either learn the other side, or learn a new language, but it should be one thing at a time (my personal opinion).
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Thanks for your comment Yuri.
I agree with you that there probably should not be Junior Full Stack roles, it probably requires too much for someone with the level of experience they are expecting of a Junior and of course what they are willing to pay. Yes from my personal experience I agree that in 3-6 months you can’t really be proficient in front and back end programming, I definitely lean more to Front End than Back End.
I personally think that all these job roles should be looked over by the relevant programming/software departments as lots of people have suggested they are just a “wish list” of skills, in that case they should say : “Required Skills, Preferred Skills, Bonus Skills”.
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