First off, it depends on your area of interest. Do you love data and want to do some interesting algorithm work? Then I'd say go with Python or Java.
If design and interaction are more your thing, then go with Javascript/HTML/CSS.
Personally, I'd focus on Javascript as 271... mentioned, doing front-end code gets lots of glory if you're making things beautiful and engaging. But it also let's you focus on one language and bring that language to the server-side with Node.js.
It lest you work with 'apps' in the app stores by using a packager like Cordova, giving you the 'I have an app in the app store' cred.
It's becoming the one language to rule them all. There are great frameworks to learn like backbone, angular, ember, etc. Learn to use d3 and learn to do some cool stuff with charts. There is just so much you can do with the one language and you can show it off!
I'm currently in the job market, and I've got a background in PHP, Rais, and Javascript, but most of my coolest stuff that I'm most proud of was data-specific internal tools and systems, so when people say 'show me your portfolio', I don't really have much of one.
As someone who got into web development only about a year ago, JavaScript has been wonderful. When I began I was overwhelmed by the amount of frameworks I could learn, but now I want to learn them all!
I think some people underestimate the kind of work front-end developers. I write Rails as well now, but I could be much better at JavaScript than I am now.
If design and interaction are more your thing, then go with Javascript/HTML/CSS. Personally, I'd focus on Javascript as 271... mentioned, doing front-end code gets lots of glory if you're making things beautiful and engaging. But it also let's you focus on one language and bring that language to the server-side with Node.js.
It lest you work with 'apps' in the app stores by using a packager like Cordova, giving you the 'I have an app in the app store' cred.
It's becoming the one language to rule them all. There are great frameworks to learn like backbone, angular, ember, etc. Learn to use d3 and learn to do some cool stuff with charts. There is just so much you can do with the one language and you can show it off!
I'm currently in the job market, and I've got a background in PHP, Rais, and Javascript, but most of my coolest stuff that I'm most proud of was data-specific internal tools and systems, so when people say 'show me your portfolio', I don't really have much of one.
For that reason alone, I'd get into Javascript.