A Career in Web Design
- Occupation: Web Designer http://www.cyberstation.com/webdesign/
- Company: Cyberstation www.cyberstation.com
- Skills:
- Fine Art, Graphic Design, Photography, Filmmaking, Animation
- Computer-generated Graphic Design, Digital Video and Sound
- Latest Software for Editing, Graphics, Animation and Programming
- SGML - Standard Generic Markup Language - Lets you create your own language
- HTML - Hypertext Markup Language - Most widely deployed SGML application
- Javascript, Java Applets and CGI Scripts - Modify and implement existing programs
- Skills for Sr. Web Designer:
- DHTML - Dynamic HTML - Layers for more precise registration layouts
- XML - eXtensible Markup Language - Create your own custom tags
- VRML - Virtual Reality Markup Language - Create 3D environments
- Javascript - Programmer - Entire script resides on the HTML page
- Java & Java Applets, Cookies & Beans - Programmer - Script resides on the server
- CGI Scripts - Programmer - Common Gateway Interface scripts in PERL, C, C++ or other
- Skills for Internet Developer/Database Architect:
- Database Systems - Lotus Domino, Cold Fusion, Oracle SQL, and Sybase
- Server Software - Apache, NT, Microsoft Active Server and Netscape LiveWire
- Developer Programs - Microsoft InterDev, MS J++, Visual Studio, Visual Basic 5.0, ActiveX, ADO, MCSD certification
- TCP/IP - Internetworking Skills
- C/C++ and Java Programming - For Custom Programming
- UNIX - Administration and Management
- Client/Server - Software, Object Oriented and Management
- Education:
- College, University or Technical School Degrees in: Fine Arts, Multimedia and/or Liberal Arts - Computer Science or Engineering for Developer/Architect
- Technical & Correspondence Schools like Learning Tree International
- Internet Access - Mahwah Public Library and Ramapo College
- Learn HTML On the Web
- Books: B Dalton, Barnes & Noble and Web Periodicals
- Trade shows: Internet World, PC Expo
- Summer or P/T job at a Web design company, Internet access company or computer store
- Software:
- Operating System, Browsers and Plugins
- HTML Editors
- Computer Graphics
- Multimedia
- Gif Animation Software & 3D Gif Animation
- VRML Editors
- Java Applet Editors
- CGI Scripts
- Javascripts
- Java Applets
- Counters
- Internet Software & Shareware Sources
- "Telnet" Software
- FTP Software
- Internet Access
- Operating Systems
- Windows 95,98,NT
- Unix: Linux version
- Mac
- Billing Systems, Shopping Cart Software and Secure Server Services
- Miscellaneous Software
- Hardware:
- Server Hardware - If Hosting
- Minimum 400 Mhz, 128 ram, 8 gigs SCSI HD
- DAT Tape Backup
- UPS Battery Backup
- How the Internet effects this career
- Rapidly evolving technology is exciting
- New opportunities and challenges require continual self-education
- Opportunities change and end as new ones evolve
- Internet growth promises the potential for high royalties
- Typical day - duties & responsibilities
- Read and return email - usually 200 per day
- Do a domain name search
- Register new domains for customers
- Call clients and ask them to send pictures and copy
- Schedule a photo and/or video shoot with a client
- Call Ad Agencies, Computer VARs and Marketing companies to discuss clients
- Do quick changes and updates to existing websites
- Submit sites to search engines
- Batch crop images and batch produce thumbnails
- Design a few 3D animated logos
- Layout a home page with an image map and a few animated gifs
- Put in a scrolling text applet
- List on paper all the directories and page names I'll need
- Get interrupted by the cat at about noon
- Go out for lunch, a walk or a matinee
- Convert a video tape to an AVI
- Convert the AVI to Emblaze for video streaming
- Upload everything to the server
- Fix everything that doesn't work on the server
- Check a few competitor's sites to keep up with the latest stuff
- Change an animated button 4 times until the customer is happy
- Scan a few photos and text from a brochure
- Quit before midnight - usually
- Advantages of choosing Web Design
- Can express personal creativity
- Tremendous independence
- Solitude is good & bad
- Flexible hours - but 12 to 16 hours a day is typical
- No longer need to go out to sell to clients
- Once established work comes in from referrals and 3rd parties
- No office politics or meetings
- No commuting expenses or time and energy wasted
- Tax advantages of owning your own business
- Why it's satisfying
- Income grows as work comes in more steadily
- Can charge more and charge in advance as reputation grows
- Can also do sites for yourself and friends
- Can participate in a percentage of sales for certain products
- Can easily relocate anywhere in the world and continue business
- Become more efficient and thus more productive with new software
- The Internet industry is exciting and expanding
- Every job is different with new content and new challenges
- Other opportunities in the Internet industry
- Web Specialist in an Ad Agency: $48,000 - $90,200
- What Advertising Jobs Pay
- Account Executive: $37,800
- Chief Copywriter: $48,400
- Art Director: $50,100
- Sr. Account Executive: $65,400
- Chief Financial Officer: $73,000
- Creative Director: $94,800
- Chief Operating Officer: $128,000
- Web Site Developer in a Major Corporation: $30,300 - $74,000
- What New Media Jobs Pay
- Programmer: $45,300
- Network Administrator: $48,700
- Senior Programmer: $54,500
- Online Research Analyst: $56,400
- Internet/Intranet Technology Manager: $59,950
- Content Manager: $63,200
- Director of Networks: $72,400
- Internet Access Provider Help Desk
- Internet Hosting
- Server setup, colocating and networking
- Search engine submission services
- Bulk email is gaining in sophistication - if not acceptance
- Develop new Internet-related software
- Develop or find products that you can sell on the Net
- How to make yourself marketable and get hired
- Enroll at a College, University or Technical School with Internet curriculums
- Learn as much as you can on your own from the Net, books and friends
- Create your own personal sites at Scenemaker, Ultrakid and others.
- Volunteer to help work on your school or club's Website
- Go to Barnes & Noble or B. Daltons and read their newest Web books
- Surf the net looking for Web design resources and bookmark them
- Apply for evening, weekend and summer jobs with Web companies
- Resume should list all hardware, op systems, languages, and software you know
- List every related course you've taken and lecture you've attended
- For every job, school website and course - list every program you used
- Check the classifieds, but also call/write Web design companies, ad agencies and HR departments
- Apply online with career sites for jobs with web design firms
- Seniors with experience: Attend Tech Expo Thurs, Nov 10th, 10am - 6pm, Doubletree Hotel, 200 Atrium Dr., Somerset, NJ (732) 469-2600, or mail resume to: EXPO D.M. 175 5th Ave., Ste 2390, NY, NY 10010
- Start your own Web design business
- First year: $30,000 - $45,000 Potential: $100,000+
- Considerable investment in hardware, software and bandwidth is necessary
- Several years of industry experience working for others and a portfolio of sites
- You must develop a reputation and contacts that will refer you work
Sample Sites
Cyberstation
International Commerce Exchange Systems
Annin & Co.
Creative Copy
The Internet World Trade Association
Rehab Construction
CastleStone Kitchens and Baths
Skyline Windows
Telspan International
Laser Printer Repair & Service
Peter Muniz, Financial Advisor
X Directory
Sources: Robert Half International, Computerworld,
Buck Consultants, International Data Corp., U.S. News & World Report, New Media,
WEBTechniques