Web developer salary expectations in Dublin

Setokaiba

Hi all,
I'm currently working in a small company in Dublin which I joined half a year ago after graduation and got offered a small increase, but in my opinion it's less than I worth. Can anybody advice please? I've found similiar topic( http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=66049236 ), but not sure how much have changed since then.

I have a degree in software development and done internship during the college for half a year. My skillset:
- C# ASP.net - for roughly 2 years now
- Javascript(jQuery)+AJAX
- Web Services
- MsSql
- HTML, CSS, XML
- previous experience with PHP, C++, java
- also additional exp that is needed for starting a web site(DNS config, IIS)

I've coded 2 commercial products myself and participated in design and implementation. I would have no problem designing and developing the product on my own in ASP.net, both frontend GUI, server side, DB design.
I defo need improvement of my engineering skills and best practices, but I have "can do" attitude and I learn fast.

Thank you

floorpie

I'm sorry, i don't have an answer, but i'm curious about this topic too.

I've seen ~21k listed online on various job specs for web developers, which is hard to believe, does anybody know though?

Setokaiba

bump

Giblet

Well I would expect you could start out at around 25k and after 6-12 months be up for around 28k-30k depending on how good you were. 21k is very low, probably basic graduate level stuff for a small company, who are also chancing their arm.

x43r0

I'd tend to agree with the post above. 21k is a bit insulting and stinks of a company taking advantage of graduates perceived desperation to land a job

Setokaiba

thanks for answers!
Would you know what level of skills you need for 25k and then for 30-35k ?

Ray Palmer

Setokaiba wrote: »

thanks for answers!
Would you know what level of skills you need for 25k and then for 30-35k ?

In fairness it isn't always about the skill as such but the experience with those skills. You could call it age descrimination but generally it is is lack of experence. After 6 months I wouldn't expect much. ou won't get any massive jump for a long time and it will be more based on attitude to work than skill. People skills is a vital part of it

Giblet

You would need to be working for at least 2 years full time with a range of deliverables under your belt and a good knowledge of the languages and coding practices & methodologies to go along with that and proof that you can write good software. For 35k the market is much more open for people with up to 3-4 years experience.

Setokaiba

Thanks,
good to know.
And what about the fact that developers are in demand?

Also what do you think can help me prove that I'm skilled? Is Microsoft certification a big plus?
I know years of experience mean a lot, but I just don't want to sit and wait for 2-3 years when I know I have no problem improving my skills(if I have to) now.

Thanks

Setokaiba

Thanks,
good to know.
And what about the fact that developers are in demand?

Also what do you think can help me prove that I'm skilled? Is Microsoft certification a big plus?
I know years of experience mean a lot, but I just don't want to sit and wait for 2-3 years when I know I have no problem improving my skills(if I have to) now.

Thanks

Giblet

Good developers are in demand. I've turned down a few people already this year.
And there's no "If I have to". Improve them now! You have a computer and the internet I assume! There's no reason to not have a look at some current trends and learn all about them in your own time. In my interviews, I will ask about stuff you have worked on, but I will also ask you what do you know about them, which tells me more about it that what you have worked on.

I had a guy saying he worked with MVC in his job doing x&y, but couldn't tell me what model binding was. If I took just the fact that he had experience in a professional setting and ignored the fact that he didn't know some basic principles of what he was doing, then I'd be stuck with a guy who just knew the basics. The experience you have on the CV should detail what you have done, but I'll be looking for anything in your skills sections too, which may or may not be things you actually did in your job. If you want proof you are skilled, build something that uses the skills you have and slap it up on github. In your CV under personal projects, write about what you did, how you did it, what tools you used, and throw a github link up if you so dare. No better proof than that! You'll be quizzed about the how and why in the interview.

MS Cert can be a plus, especially with Microsoft Partners (Free software and such).

Setokaiba

Giblet wrote: »

Good developers are in demand. I've turned down a few people already this year.
And there's no "If I have to". Improve them now! You have a computer and the internet I assume! There's no reason to not have a look at some current trends and learn all about them in your own time. In my interviews, I will ask about stuff you have worked on, but I will also ask you what do you know about them, which tells me more about it that what you have worked on.

I had a guy saying he worked with MVC in his job doing x&y, but couldn't tell me what model binding was. If I took just the fact that he had experience in a professional setting and ignored the fact that he didn't know some basic principles of what he was doing, then I'd be stuck with a guy who just knew the basics. The experience you have on the CV should detail what you have done, but I'll be looking for anything in your skills sections too, which may or may not be things you actually did in your job. If you want proof you are skilled, build something that uses the skills you have and slap it up on github. In your CV under personal projects, write about what you did, how you did it, what tools you used, and throw a github link up if you so dare. No better proof than that! You'll be quizzed about the how and why in the interview.

MS Cert can be a plus, especially with Microsoft Partners (Free software and such).

Thanks for info!:)
I'm not saying I'm not improving myself atm, I do it constantly:) I'm interested in IT and always looking for new stuff, just wondering is there any specific courses/training I can take that will help me get better salary ASAP.

Hehe, that guy was bad:D Can't say I remember every bit of details, but I can at least say what approach I would take in that or that case.

Anyway, thanks for help Giblet. Looks like those kind of interviews are what I'm looking for. Which don't just look at CV, but also let me prove myself.

InReality

I would not worry too much about doing courses.
If your job is interesting , and you are doing at least sort of new stuff
most of the time , then thats where the real increase in your skills will come from.
Keep an eye on people who are calm when the panic is on and do what they do .

If you start to feel your stagnating ( i.e work is getting v boring /easy ) tell your boss or Team lead.

Most it jobs there is always new stuff to learn/practice.

experiMental

Giblet wrote: »

If you want proof you are skilled, build something that uses the skills you have and slap it up on github. In your CV under personal projects, write about what you did, how you did it, what tools you used, and throw a github link up if you so dare. No better proof than that! You'll be quizzed about the how and why in the interview.

MS Cert can be a plus, especially with Microsoft Partners (Free software and such).

How about just simple plain reference from an employer to prove that you're skilled!? There are a lot of performance metrics in the workplace anyway, so if your past employer can use those metrics to show how well you did, will that be good enough?

I'm sorry, but I don't find this attitude of "personal projects" very appealing. A project is not worth anything unless it has some really valuable intellectual property. If someone has done a personal project which doesn't show any improvement over existing methods of coding or any new systems, so what!? It was a massive waste of time IMO. If you don't have a really good project idea, don't do it for the sake of doing it. Switch off your computer and don't waste your electricity. It's better for the environment and your electricity bill.

Why is there an expectation for young people to do personal projects on top of their already large workload in employment? They deserve life too.

srsly78

experiMental wrote: »

Why is there an expectation for young people to do personal projects on top of their already large workload in employment? They deserve life too.

It's normal to want to improve your skills. Sure there is a demand for developers, but there are plenty of mediocre ones around. If you want to get a job with better pay and conditions then you have to outcompete.

Some of the other guys actually find development interesting, so have always been working on their personal projects. They would in fact rather be working on their own stuff than what their boss tells them to do, but this is true in any job.

It is very hard to get ahead in IT if you have no interest in the subject.

BostonB

experiMental wrote: »

...I'm sorry, but I don't find this attitude of "personal projects" very appealing. A project is not worth anything unless it has some really valuable intellectual property. If someone has done a personal project which doesn't show any improvement over existing methods of coding or any new systems, so what!? ...

Kinda missing the point, which is to demonstrate skills that you've no work experience in.

I don't really get your point about you should only do something that shows something that hasn't been done before. Most of the stuff everyone does, has been done before usually better. Yet you have to do it to learn it, or simply because you enjoy it is reason enough.