Tom is fast approaching his 1 year anniversary at mso.
Though he’s been with the company for only a short time, his expertise and passion for coding is evidenced on recent projects such as The Leys, ABQ and Henrietta Barnett School.
But as code is an intangible asset, the work of a website developer is often overlooked.
So we thought we’d sit down with Tom to discuss the fundamentals of the role and to better understand the skills that are required to be a website developer.
So first things first, can you describe for us what you do on a day-to-day basis?
Basically Google things…
All jokes aside, primarily I write the code that powers our client’s websites.
I also ensure websites are running smoothly and perform any bug fixes and necessary server tasks.
When I’m not working on a client’s site, I look into new technologies and build plugins for the company.
So how did you become a website developer?
I kind of just fell into it.
I remember being interested in development at a very young age.
Although at that point I was more interested in Game Development than Website Development.
I ended up self teaching myself how to build very basic websites.
Over the years I’ve taken various online courses and taught myself more advanced technologies and honed my skills.
Do you find that you have a favourite thing about your role?
Getting my teeth stuck into a nice complicated task.
I really enjoy finding a creative way to solve a difficult problem.
Creating complex back-end logic is always something I’ve found exciting as although it’s not something an end user would see, it’s a crucial part of a website.
And how about the least favourite element? What challenges you?
Building navigation menus!
There’s just something about them and I can’t quite put my finger on it!
But that’s why I love being part of the mso team as I know if I have a problem I can drop one of the other dev’s a message and share ideas.
We’re always happy to help each other out.
What would you say is the ideal skill set for this role?
This is always a difficult one, as each project can vary so much.
The basic’s are an understanding of the 3 primary website development languages, (HTML, CSS & Javascript).
Of course a good understanding of PHP is needed for all WordPress websites, but it’s not just about the programming languages.
You need to have a keen eye for detail, as well as be able to think about the various ways things can be done.
Your first thought may not be the best way to do something.
Being self critical is also helpful as code has to be written to a high standard as it’s not just you who has to be able to read and maintain it when working in a team.
Working remotely also has its own challenges.
You have to be self motivated, and be able to work to deadlines (without getting distracted by the dog… no matter how many times he passes me his toys)
So what would your advice be to anyone considering a career as a Developer?
Just make a start!
Build a few projects and generate a nice little portfolio.
The internet is full of useful resources (although be careful where you get them from as some websites are full of poor outdated code).
I’d certainly recommend the likes of W3Schools and Stack Overflow as a good quality resource.
And don’t be afraid to ask for help.
We all started somewhere even the most seasoned developers have off days, where little if/else statements just don’t make sense…
But most importantly, you have to actually have a love for it.
If you genuinely enjoy writing code and seeing something be brought to life, It’s not really work.
Goes back to that old saying, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life”.
We hope that gives you a little insight into the day-to-day of a mso website developer.
Whilst the website design is what your users will see, it’s the code that brings it to life with all the intricacies behind the scenes.
And the results speak for themselves, as is reflected in the kind words of our clients.
Working with MSO is always a pleasure. This is the second time I’ve worked with the team on a website project and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough. We are so happy with the final product and feedback internally and externally has been 100% positive.
Fane Henderson, Head of Marketing at The Leys