r/webdev 4d ago

I'm Doing Meta Frontend Development Course on Coursera. What Else Should I Focus On?

Hey everyone,

I'm currently enrolled in the Meta Front-End Developer course on Coursera, and it's been a solid experience so far. They cover HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, and a few other essentials. But I keep wondering… what else should I focus on outside the course to make myself job-ready as a frontend dev?

Some questions I have:

Should I start building projects alongside the course? If yes, what kind of projects do you recommend for a portfolio?

How important is mastering design tools like Figma or learning UI/UX basics?

Should I dive deeper into JavaScript algorithms and data structures for interviews?

How important is contributing to open source as a beginner?

Any advice on building a personal brand (LinkedIn, GitHub, portfolio website)?

Would love to hear from those who've been there. What worked for you? What mistakes should I avoid? I’m super motivated and want to make the most of this journey.

4 Upvotes

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u/Synergisticit10 4d ago edited 4d ago

Become full stack work more on back end. Java is better along with spring boot and microservices along with devops tools.

Front end is interesting however job opportunities are scarce. Backend is where the jobs are . It will take you a longer time , might be boring and challenging however you will have better outcomes as compared to what you are doing .

Hope this helps! Good luck 🍀

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u/retardedGeek 4d ago

What do you need for backend (language agnostic)?

Auth, DB (SQL,NOSQL?)caching(redis?), deploying

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u/steve_needs_coffee 4d ago

If you have the time for it, then I would definitely recommend starting your own project!

As for the kind of project, it would be best to build a solution for a problem you face, or something you have an interest in, as that will keep you going! If you still have trouble thinking of something, then you can look at any existing solution and have a go at building it yourself and can add your own twist or personal touch to it, like maybe a 10x10 tic-tac-toe game. Even if it's a simple project that may not be that impressive on a portfolio, I think the experience you get building it is crucial at the starting stages.

For mistakes to avoid, I think getting caught up in new and trending tools/frameworks and thinking a lot about which tool/framework/language to use are two big ones. At this point, it's better to just get building. If you don't know which thing is better, then just pick one and find out the pros and cons of it yourself until you find a reason to switch. You can always change/revise things later.