When discussing job opportunities – and, more specifically, which skills are useful to mention on an interview – there are a few general rules to keep in mind:
- Not everyone is a coding wizard.
- Everyone can still master basic coding concepts, starting with HTML (hypertext markup language).
- The more HTML you know, the better your chances are at landing a career in a tech field.
Number one is a given. Number two surprises a lot of people. And number three makes sense, once you understand where future employment options are headed.
Mobile devices, hyper-focused automation, web-based communication, agile SaaS (software as a service) platforms – everywhere you look, it’s clearly evident that the internet isn’t going away anytime soon. Those job candidates with the skills and experience to support website projects have a clear advantage over those who don’t.
Let’s look at a handful of reasons why HTML is essential for today’s job candidates.
- General knowledge, specialized applications. HTML is used by practically all web development companies, mobile products and internet platforms. Once you’re familiar with HTML, you can take the essential building blocks and apply them across an endless variety of internet applications. A fundamental understanding of HTML is the ultimate gateway into the ever-expanding tech marketplace.
- Opportunity to learn more advanced web design techniques. A fundamental understanding of website design starts with HTML. But depending on your eventual career path, it certainly doesn’t have to end there. Armed with basic HTML knowledge allows an easier transition to other website design platforms, including PHP, JavaScript, SQL and many others. But remember, all of the advanced coding languages that run websites are designed to work with HTML. If there’s one constant with today’s web platform, it’s HTML, plain and simple.
- The chance to troubleshoot. Careers like a verification & validation (V&V) software engineer or user interface designer are somewhat like technical sleuths, of sorts; they’re paid to discover program bugs, analyze the problem and implement fixes for software defects. Ask any successful V&V software programmer or user interface engineer what’s important for career longevity, and they’ll invariably mention a thorough HTML background. If fixing complex code bugs for websites and mobile platforms sounds like something you’d like to do, you have to learn HTML first.
- One degree of separation can secure a job offer. Let’s look at a quick example. A company is hiring a technical writer. Candidate A and candidate B are identical on their resumes, expect the candidate A has exposure to basic HTML concepts. Maybe they’ve designed some websites in the past, or helped with a documentation initiative for a software platform. Which candidate do you think will get the job? It’s not a hard choice. That’s why HTML knowledge is so critical for anyone looking for a tech career. Look at the hiring process from the interviewer’s perspective, and you’ll start to see why HTML is more important than ever.
Here’s a little-known fact about acquiring practical, useful HTML knowledge: you don’t need a master’s degree in computer science to be successful. Many companies are in desperate need of job candidates with sound technical fundamentals, including solid HTML skills. Thankfully, on-demand video training can provide this knowledge in a practical, convenient, fun-to-learn environment. Web Age Solutions, a leading technical training content company, is one such provider. Web Age started as a preferred training partner for Fortune 500 firms, but now creates video tutorials for individuals and smaller enterprises, too.
Whether you’ve just earned your degree or are looking to fine-tune your career prospects, learning HTML is always a good idea. To see how Web Age Solutions can help, visit their contact page or call 877-517-6540.
