A rambly novel about how I became a front-end developer
I traded freight manifests and pallets for a code editor and browsers.
My front‑end path began in autumn 2018. After years in logistics and warehousing, I switched fields for something more creative. With some HTML and CSS under my belt, I jumped into the front‑end world. By perfect timing, Frontend Masters ran a Bootcamp the very next week. It felt meant to be ‐ and I’ve been moving ever since.
The front-end grind
For the next few years, I learned by building ‐ revamping older sites, implementing existing designs, and creating plenty of my own zany, off-the-wall projects. The repetition proved invaluable. I also soaked up front-end knowledge from YouTube, magazines, blogs, books, and a handful of paid tutorials.
When my browser finally stopped showing 'localhost'
After an intensive, self‑made front‑end boot camp, I built a handful of sites as a freelancer for great clients. My goal, though, was a full‑time role at a Finnish agency. In 2023, I joined a Media and WordPress Development vocational program to deepen my front‑end WordPress skills in a Finnish‑speaking environment. The program led to an internship and then a front‑end role as a Dude. Career reboot successful!
What's my favorite part of being a front-end developer? Hint: I C(an't) S(top) S(tylin')
I’m absurdly into CSS. When I spot something beautiful out in the wild, I immediately wonder if I can recreate it in CSS. Whether I’m building client sites or running geeky experiments in my “labs” folder, I have so much fun I lose track of time. So no ‐ I don’t relate to the “CSS = can’t stop swearing” crowd!