Web design career

[Coxy01]

Hello,

I am very interested in web design, I have done a basic GNVQ and will soon be doing a GNVQ level three course, (unless I am advised differently?)

I have been looking on the web for a junior role in web design, I have found a couple of vacancies of this nature but they still require experience of flash, java and other stuff that I havent even heard of!!

I would be most grateful if I could get some guidance on the best way to approach getting in to web design, should I wait until I have done a further course before attempting to persue this? I pressume their are many different qualifications I could do, is there one that would be more appropriate?
any advise
would be gratefully received,

Cheers

 

[ChrisHunt]

I'm not a professional web designer, but here's my advice...

The GNVQ sounds like a good idea - paper qualifications are always useful. However, just as important is to build up a portfolio that you can show to potential employers. Try building sites about, say, one of your hobbies or about your home town. Better still, offer to build a free web site for local non-profit organisation - it will show potential employers that you can accommodate the needs of clients. Use this stable of web sites to develop and demonstrate your talents in various web technologies.

-- Chris Hunt

http://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk

http://www.napitalia.org.uk

http://www.leicesteryha.org.uk

 

[wlfpackr]

Coxy,

It's all about the portfolio. I'd suggest just start creating web sites of all kinds (Flash, HTML, ASP, JSP, JavaScript, etc.) to show you have a range of skills as well. Like chris said, offer to build some free sites for churches and other non-profits.

I started going around and asking many local small businesses if I could develop web sites for them. I told them I was trying to break into the web design field and would develop a site for free. All they had to do was pay for hosting and a domain name, which are costs beyond your control. Let them know it's beneficial for both parties; you get your much needed experience and porfolio and they get a (better) web presence. After developing the site I would still let them have the chance to back out and if they did, well I simply held on to the site and when I went to interviews I would usually say here are some sites that I created in an effort to get a bid to do a web site for company X.

Stay with the certs though, b/c it definatley gets you through HR departments quicker and can seal the deal if you are going up against someone with similar credentials.


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There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those that understand binary and those that do not.

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

One thing to note... Most agencies (and most employers, for that matter) are ignorant of the difference between a web designer and a web developer. So if you see a design role asking for Java, or a developer role asking for design skills, chances are that either they misunderstand totally, or are just trying to get someone with every skill under the sun (usually for a pretty cheap rate).

It's normally worth ringing these agencies up and asking a few questions about the role - usually agents will tell you more on the phone than they post in job ads.

Good luck with the job hunting!

Dan