Career In Web Design

Hi people,

I'm looking to get a little help/advice on a career in Web Design. Around one year ago I decided to start teaching myself about HTML and CSS through online tutorials (mainly W3C schools) which I really enjoyed.

I decided to apply to college and was accepted onto an access course in Digital Media (Thought I had a chance of getting onto the Higher National courses but dropping out from school at 14 with no qualifications meant I had to start from very beginning, understandable!).

Anyway, I'm hoping to go onto the Higher National Course next year and would like some advice on a career in Web Design, any sort of advice! Things that I may encounter over the next few years? or what road you have taken in becomming a Web Designer?

I have been contacting a few companies in Edinburgh to see if they have any part-time work (out with college hours) so as I can gain some experience first hand, not looking to be paid alot of money! lol more than happy to be the tea boy that wants to learn and gain some valuble experience.

Any advice would be great, it would also be great to hear some story's!

Thank you

 

Don't know about across the pond but in the US we have GED (General Education - or high school equivalent and/or online high schools).
Here most colleges have English and math to make up for lack of test scores and on the internet they have study guides (pass the test and get credit).
Also we have CLEP (College Level Evaluation Program - or pass the test and get college credit). You may want to check if they have them there.
Graphic design can be a good career. A lot depends on your ability.
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falcon

 

Hi Daniel,

What specific skills do you have right now?

Could you put together a five page web site for a local business?

If you can't - what skills are missing?

Geoff Tyrer

 

It would be interesting to hear what kind of things you can produce right now. Do you just do HTML/CSS, or can you do the graphics too? Have you learnt JavaScript? Maybe even some PHP?

If you're looking to get into it, you'll need a portfolio. Look for small sites that have no budget and offer to do their website for free in exchange for a link to your website/deviantart/something page and placing it in your portfolio. When you've got a few sites under your belt, start charging them, but try to accomodate for their budget (remember, you're doing this more for experience than the cash). Use the cash to get your own website up if you don't have one already, make sure it looks good (this is representing you after all) and have your contact details and portfolio up there. Take advantage of sites like deviantart, it's really good for getting small jobs that'll be great for your portfolio. Put a lot of effort into any job you get, you might not be getting paid much/anything for them, but the better they are, the higher quality your protfolio is and you stand a better chance of landing a job with an employer. You never know, you might be so successful as a freelance designer that you won't need to find a job with a company.

I'm not really much of a web designer, as my artistic talent is that of an unremarkably untalented chinchilla, but I do a fair bit of HTML/CSS/JS/PHP these days and I've built a small portfolio of projects. A lot of what I do involves customizing and building upon the free templates here or from other bits of the web. But then, I'm not looking to get into that line of work anyway.

 

How much SEO skills do you have, and how much SEM skills. A lot of sites need SEO and you can show some skills on this site by suggestion some changes that will improve their SEO for their site. What software do you use to build a site and check it (such as photoshop or dreamweaver) and analyzers. The software will show some of your abilities. Do you use HTML Tidy to check for accessability (no validation errors). How well do you know Google analytics and adsense. How well can you review a web page or site. Can you suggest effective changes. What analytics and analyzers are you familiar with.
Can you write articles to put up on ezines that will demonstrate some of your web building skills. The articles on ezines will get you some credit for ability, also will build a reputation.
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hope this helps
falcon

 

Hi navyfalcon, The course that I'm doing just now includes Maths and English which is helping me alot. I don't have alot of SEO and SEM skills at the moment but have been looking into that more and more, the analytics is something I have done a little with, Including the SEO when I was self-employed but really need to look more into it along with the Adsense. At college we currently use dreamweaver CS3 which I had never used before but finding it really easy or should I say easier lol. With regards to graphics we have been using Paint.net, Gimp and are now starting to use Photoshop. I usually check for validation/errors withing the HTML and I'm going to try and build a 5 page website in notepad to see what I have learnt so far.


Hi Geoff, I could put together a 5 page site using Dreamweaver but as I said to navyfalcon I'm going to try and do this using just notepad t see if i can do it without Dreaweaver .....I wouldnt say I'm the most artistic person in the world but trying to improve on this to, I have ideas but need to keep learning so I know how to get them going.


Hi Recidivist, I have been learning more about graphics and I'm looking more into Javascript, we do a class on Animation using Flash but it will be next year before we start doing the coding for JavaScript and also PHP. I dont have a portfolio yet but defo going to start one and also thought about approaching self-employed/Small businesses about creating websites for them to add to a portfolio.

My main goal would be to work for myself but I would like to possibly join a small company just now to learn a bit more and add some more experience.


Thanks so far guys and please keep it coming

I have used this forum a few times now and think the work you all produce is fantastic, hopefully once I feel I can add some web design's and/or Logo's I will be sure to do so

 

Hi Daniel,

Doesn't really sound like you need our advice - you're doing fine on your own.

Are you able to work at home? Do you have the space, the hardware, and the software?

 

Hi Geoff,

I have the space but really need to save the pennies to add better hardware and software. The college provide so much and I'm ok to go into college on my days off should I need to use any of the software that I don't have. Thanks for saying I'm doing ok on my own, Just looking to get some sort of guidance from all you guy's

One of the things I like about this career choice is the ever changing/learning process, cant seem to get enough just now.

 

Hi Daniel,


Your enthusiasm is your best asset so my advice would be to ring all the local web design houses and ask for work, either unpaid or at a fixed price, that you can do either on their premises, at home, or in college.


You asked for stories in your first post – well I was working in a place and the boss got a phone call from reception to say that some guy had walked in off the street and was asking for an interview. Everyone laughed because we weren't recruiting but the boss saw him because he was curious – took him on – and within a year he was our team leader.


Companies don't advertise to fill the role you're seeking so you have to contact them. Most won't be interested but you might just hit lucky. If you wait till you're “qualified” and just respond when jobs are advertised you'll be one of possibly hundreds that are doing the same. You know what you want to do so go for it

 

Thanks again Geoff,

I'm going to start calling around in the next few days, I noticed a company fairly close by to me are advertising for a Junior Web Designer/Developer but it is full time and must have some experience (2 years or so). I'm going to call them to see if they have any other roles that may be better suited as I dont want to leave college as yet, hopefully get something part-time.

As with the story, a few of my old teachers were always saying to our class that the best way to get the job you want is to approach the companies rather than just applying for jobs that are advertised. This way you are almost guaranteed that you may be the only person applying and that should anything come up the company may keep you on record giving you a great chance of getting the job you want!

Thanks again

 

Wanderer,

Let us know how you get on!

 

Check in the public library in the reference section for the Business Directory.
Look in the front for Business Associations and go to the meetings as a guest. Most of the people attending are upper management. This way you can meet the managers and tell them what you want. You may get a chance and it should be better than going to individual companies.
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hope this helps
falcon

 

Will do Geoff

I will also take that on board Navyfalcon, I suppose I better make myself presentable lol this college/student life has me strolling around with a hoddie on most days.

Thanks again for all the support.

Could I also get some feedback from you's regarding web hosting, any recommendations? I'm going to put together my own website to showcase my work (not that I have much just yet) and I'm also going to start another website (kind of forum but more of an advertising site for amateur footballers) and also if you are currently using any software for mock web design (wireframing etc)?

Thanks again

 

Wanderer,

With regard to web hosting - some in the UK get truly awful ratings from their customers so do a search. Some are also technologically backward and restrict what you can do.

I have a US-based ISP and have no problems - it just comes up on your credit card as a dollar transaction - otherwise you'd never know.

 

A few people I run websites for use 123reg's hosting and so far I've had no problems. I personally use my own boxes which I would always say is the best option, but probably not feasible/economic for a single, small site

Do not use GoDaddy for anything.

 

lol Cheers Recidivist, I will take that all on board

I think I'm becoming addicted to this forum good times!

 

Thanks s janna and that is what I intend on doing, I enjoy web design but would also be looking to learn more to do with development. I know it will take time but it's something that really keeps me ticking that and coffee.

Quick up date on the part time job front:

Applied to many local company's but have had no success as of yet, the company that were advertising for a trainee web designer didn't even get back to me! I sent my CV with covering letter and followed that up with an email but still nothing, I understand if they had a lot of responses but a reply explaining this wouldn't go a miss lol.

At the moment I'm designing a website for my Dads business (Removals/Man with a Van) and once completed would love some feedback

Thanks again for all the help

 

As for a resume or CV, over here they use computers to scan the resume or CV for keywords, then if you pass this they may look at the resume and schedule you for an interview. For interviews, you need paperwork, or examples of your work.
A good way to get some examples is to improve some local business website, then show them your improvements. If good improvements, they may give you some work or know someone who needs their business website improved. Do several and show them at a business meeting. Many of business associations allow guests. This may be a way for you.
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hope this helps
falcon