What is a good learning path to get a first job as a web developer?

Short answer: learn fundamentals first, build real projects, and show your work. Frameworks change; HTML, CSS, JavaScript, HTTP, Git and databases keep their value.

A sensible order

1. HTML and CSS. Semantic markup, the box model, flexbox, grid, responsive design, accessibility basics.
2. JavaScript. Variables, functions, arrays and objects, the DOM, events, asynchronous code (promises, async and await), fetch, modules.
3. Git and GitHub. Commits, branches, pull requests.
4. One front-end framework. React is widely used, but choose one and learn it properly (components, state, routing).
5. A back end. Node.js, PHP, Python or another; learn routing, authentication, validation and REST APIs.
6. Databases. SQL basics: tables, joins, indexes. Try one relational database well.
7. Tooling and deployment. The command line, package managers, environment variables, deploying a small app.
8. Quality. Basic testing, debugging with browser devtools, reading error messages.
9. Security basics. Hashing passwords, SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, HTTPS.

Build projects, not just tutorials

Three solid projects beat twenty tutorials: for example a task manager with accounts, a small shop with a cart, and something that solves a problem you personally have. Deploy them and write a README for each.

Show your work

• A GitHub profile with tidy repositories.
• A simple portfolio site.
• Open-source contributions, even small ones.
• Be able to explain your decisions.

Preparing to apply

Practise explaining your projects, basic algorithms and data structures at a modest level, and communication. Apply broadly, ask for feedback on rejections and keep building.

Pitfalls

• Tutorial hell: watching without building.
• Jumping between frameworks every month.
• Skipping fundamentals to chase trends.

Consistency over months matters more than speed in any single week.