How to be a Freelance CSS Developer

Freelance CSS DeveloperAs a CSS Developer, you will inexplicably find yourself glued to the desk many times.Usually you’ll stare into space, the tiny one just above the cursor in between the layers of code. Other times you’ll be racking your brains over the code. CSS provides the ease of separating document content (written in HTML or a similar mark-up language) from document presentation, including elements such as the layout, colours, and fonts. It is an important skill to learn as most websites that use CSS style sheets to describe their presentation. While some of you may already work full time and may wish to do something by the side, and others might wish to freelance fulltime. Usually most developers work for recognised IT organisations and sometimes take up other projects by the side, while others freelance fulltime. In both cases, you can stand to earn decent money. Thus, a career as a CSS designer is a bright one for you.

Job Duties for Freelance CSS Developer

Freelance CSS developer must perform a variety of roles at work, and not all of them will feature you simply creating code. You’ll have a host of duties, which you’ll be expected to fulfil remotely. Some of the important job duties you would face as a developer would include:

  • Have the ability to code
  • Develop and writes computer programs to store, locate and retrieve specific documents, data and information
  • Manipulate text and graphics to produce consistent presentation across all browser platforms
  • Work with all platforms, including PC, MAC and UNIX
  • Control industrial processes
  • Understand graphic design and digital layout basics
  • Understand the possibilities and restrictions within
  • Encode audio and video into real format
  • Have a working knowledge of macromedia flash
  • Understand how data is displayed from a database (i.e. Editing, deleting, adding information, etc.)
  • Have a solid background with CSS, HTML, XML

Skills:

As a CSS developer, you should aim to update your knowledge continuously and be able to be flexible enough to work with emerging technologies, while at the same time be a lucid and clear planner. Some skills you should aim on developing include:

  • Be patient and persistent
  • Be thorough and detail oriented
  • Be able to think logically and critically
  • Have good judgment
  • Be able to communicate orally and in written form
  • Be able to create websites using CSS, HTML, XML, Java, and other languages
  • Use organizational skills effectively
  • Be able to solve problems intuitively
  • Be reliable and trustworthy
  • Be professional
  • Be able to multitask and meet project deadlines

You can learn most of the skills you need as a CSS developer online. W3Schools, Code Academy, CSS basics, W3Org and Lynda offer various courses on CSS. In some cases, CSS training is offered alongside HTML. The links mentioned here feature both paid-for and free resources.

Being Successful as a Freelance CSS Developer

CSS is an important part of most websites and as such, your development acumen will be judged by the functionality of a website, the innovations in the work and the functionalities you add to its code, and how it finally performs. However, employers usually measure a freelance CSS developer’s success in much the same way that they measure other freelancers: ratings and reviews. There are many other aspects to being successful than simply a review and a rating. Some of the ways you can get on the path to success as a CSS developer include:

  • Building a technical portfolio, contributing to open source projects like GitHub
  • Being an algorithmic, analytical thinker
  • Understanding a technical problem and trying to overcome it, and not simply modifying the code until it works.
  • Networking with people, leveraging your network to find work
  • Being able to develop a good working relationship with employers

Average Remunerations:

How much money can you earn as a CSS developer who freelances fulltime. Websites dominate online business and brand recognition, and the demand for eye-catching and neatly designed websites has increased. Usually freelance portals offer two generic kinds of payment models to freelancers. Fixed-price, where the price is usually pre-determined and a budget is sanctioned which you can bid for, and the hourly payment model where the employer decides on an hourly pay. Usually a fixed price model may range from $50-500 upwards, while you have to pitch for hourly projects, which usually range from $5-30 an hour, with average payments at $20 per hour. When you consider that HTML developers earn around $19, it goes to show why you should consider adding to your repertoire.

Finding Work:

Finding work as a freelance CSS developer is not difficult and there are many portals where you can advertise your services. It is a reasonably well paid job and there are thousands of opportunities for prospective work-at-home developers like you. CSS development is a solid career option, and it is a skill set essential to the digital market. Portals and websites like Elance, Odesk, Guru, Peopleperhour and Freelancer offer many jobs.

Resources:

As CSS developers, there are many resources available to you that can help you hone your skills. Many websites, channels, and even forums offer training videos, interactive training sessions, and exercise and demo pages where you can test code. W3Schools, Code Academy, CSS basics, W3Org and Lyndaoffer various courses on CSS. In some cases, CSS training is offered alongside HTML. The links mentioned here feature both paid-for and free resources.

For more information on Freelance Resource please visit www.careerlancer.net