Oleksandr Selezniov
Front-end developer

How did you get started in online marketing?

— My first job was in a freelance format. I was creating layouts in Photoshop and transferring the results of my work to the backend. The next career step was an agency that specialized in developing designs, brand books, turnkey websites, etc. In a sense, that company became the starting point for creating a real portfolio. 

Cooperation with the agency gave me a significant boost from the point of “reading in books” to “knowing exactly how to solve this issue”. And now I have taken all my experience with me to work with Solve Marketing projects.

What is your role as a Front-end developer at Solve Marketing? 

— My role as a Front-end developer is to create the user interface for websites or web applications. In other words, I am responsible for making sure that the web pages look good and work well for users. My responsibilities include writing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code to create the appearance and functionality of a web page. I can develop animations, interactive elements, optimize for different devices and browsers, and collaborate with designers. I am also responsible for another rather large part — working with the WordPress content management system, which includes the following:

1. Theme development: this means creating or customizing the look of a website using WordPress themes. 
2. Speed and security optimization: it is important to ensure that the site pages load almost instantly and that the resource complies with all security rules for both its visitors and site owners. After all, no one is safe from Ddos attacks. 
3. The website needs to be integrated with other services: add content management systems, payment systems, social media, etc. My role as a developer is to make sure that the integrations work smoothly and efficiently.
4. Once a website has already been launched, it needs constant maintenance and support. I track down bugs, fix them, and make updates.

To summarize, my role as a front-end developer is to create, optimize, and maintain a website to meet the needs of clients and users.

How can you compare the profession of Front-end developer to better understand its essence?

— Here’s an explanation of the role of a Front-end developer through the setting up of a water supply in a home and the profession of a plumber. It’s an unexpected example, but believe me, it’s effective.

Suppose you have a water supply pipe in your home, with a whole distribution system behind it. This part can be called the backend. Thanks to the system, you get water, but is it convenient to use it directly from the pipe? Hardly. A specialist who screws a tap to a water pipe and installs a comfortable shower is very similar to a front-end. After all, you are offered some services, and the front-end, i.e. me, provides the opportunity to use them. Ideally, in a way that is convenient for you 🙂 

How long did you study to get your profession?

— In my opinion, it is impossible to acquire a profession; you are either called to it or not. At the same time, you should develop your aptitudes for the profession, otherwise you won’t be able to achieve anything. 

I also separate the concepts of “being able to do something” and “getting a job”. So this is how I got to the frontend. At first, I was at a small point where I had only a basic idea of what I was doing. Then I studied a lot, as if I was moving up the ladder to a higher level, gaining experience. Thus, my knowledge from that point turned into a wider and wider circle. This circle now covers enough skills and experience to enable me to do my job efficiently and effectively. 

I was able to acquire my first skills in about a month, and it took me six months to get a job. A lot of time has passed since then, but I still continue to learn and overcome new challenges.

Where do you get the experience and knowledge to implement projects?

— For me, every previous project is, of course, a boost to growth. I carefully analyze these 3 questions to improve my skills.

• How did I implement the project?
• What should I not do (what mistakes should I avoid making in the future)?
• How can I improve the result of my work so that I don’t have to correct mistakes 100-500 times?

I also get inspired by other professionals’ projects, look at websites and apps with interesting interfaces or functionality. When I see something new for myself, I think: “Oh, I wonder how they did it 🤔”. Then I try to find a way to turn this idea into reality.

What principles do you follow in your work?

— This is always the same principle, and I advise everyone to use it: 

“Someone after you will take over this project. Make it so that your successor doesn’t want you to burn in hell: make it as clear as possible to them what you did here and why. It doesn’t always work out the way I would like it to. But by keeping this thought in mind, I make my future colleagues’ job a little easier.” 

What do you like most and least about your job?

— I like new projects that become a challenge for me. New things are almost always interesting. Secondly, it keeps me on my toes, motivates me to follow the development of technology and learn how to use it in my work.

What I really don’t like is to realize complex animations. Not because they’re complicated, but because of the amount of work I see at the end. One web page with ten screens can be made in about ten hours. And at the same time, there is a half-screen animation that I make in the same conventional 10 hours. 

How do you manage to stay calm when it comes to fixing bugs?

— To tell you the truth, I can’t : ) But I realize that it’s impossible to leave it as it is, because the site will be incomplete. So I pull myself together and fix the flaws so that everything is beautiful and, most importantly, functional.

What myth about the profession of Front-end developer can you confidently dispel?

— One of the most common myths about the profession of a Front-end developer is that it is only about working with layout — simple writing of HTML and CSS code. However, a modern Front-end developer performs much more tasks than just layout.

Here are a few aspects to consider:

1. JavaScript expertise. Front-end developers not only create static pages, they are also responsible for dynamic content and interactive elements. And this requires a deep understanding of JavaScript and its frameworks.
2. Optimization and resource management. Front-end developers perform page optimization to improve loading speed and work with different types of content, such as images, videos, fonts, etc.
3. Cross-browser and cross-platform compatibility. Developers need to ensure that their code works on different browsers and platforms, which can be a challenge due to different implementations and support for standards.
4. Working with data structure and APIs. Modern web applications use complex data structures and APIs to exchange information between the client and the server. Front-end developers need to understand how to work with these structures and interact with APIs.

That is, my profession requires a wide range of skills and knowledge not only in layout, but also in programming, optimization, testing, and collaboration with other team members to achieve success in development.

What do you like to do outside of work?

It may sound trite, but my passion is music. I have a guitar, bass and keyboards at home. Of course, we don’t have enough time for all of this, but who would we be without our hobbies and preferences?

What important message would you like to convey to entrepreneurs as a Front-end developer?

— It’s important for entrepreneurs to understand that the work of a front-end developer has a big impact on the user experience and success of their business. As a front-end developer, I am responsible for creating a user-friendly, aesthetic, and efficient interface for websites or applications. Effective work of a front-end developer can increase the competitiveness of a business, ensure the growth of conversion and user satisfaction, and save time and resources for the enterprise.

Oleksandr, thank you for sharing your experience and advice with us!