• 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
    
    • Webmaster's Reference Library
      
    • Creating Killer Websites Online
      
    • Web Techniques
      
    • Smart Books
      
    • Bargain Books
      
    • Amazon Books
      
    • CNET Builder
      
  • 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
    
    • Windows 95 or 98
      
    • Netscape 3.0 or better
      
    • Internet Explorer 3.0 or better
      
    • Real Audio
      
    • Quick Time
      
  • HTML Editors
    
    • WebEdit PRO
      
    • Coffee Cup
      
    • NetStudio
      
    • Fireworks, Flash, Dreamweaver
      
    • FrontPage
      
    • Net Objects Fusion
      
  • Computer Graphics
    
    • Photo Impact
      
    • Photo Explorer
      
    • Ray Dream Designer 4
      
    • Painter 5
      
    • Webtricity
      
    • Photoshop
      
    • WebCharger
      
    • Morph
      
    • Fauve Matisse
      
    • Photo Illustrator
      
  • Multimedia
    
    • EMblaze Video Pro - Converts AVIs to Video Streaming
      
    • Sound Recorder - Comes with Windows 95/98 at C:\windows\start\accessories\multimedia\soundrecorder
      
  • Gif Animation Software & 3D Gif Animation
    
    • Gif Construction Set
      
    • Gif Animator
      
    • Simply 3D 2
      
    • Internet 3D Font Magic
      
  • VRML Editors
    
    • Internet 3D Space Builder
      
    • Virtual Homespace Builder
      
    • 3D Website Builder
      
  • Java Applet Editors
    
    • Jamba
      
    • Astound Webmotion
      
    • Applet Ace
      
  • CGI Scripts
    
    • Matt's Script Archive
      
    • The Script's Home
      
    • FreeScripts
      
    • Dream Catcher's CGI Scripts
      
    • The CGI Resource Index
      
    • Extropia Scripts
      
    • ZD NET Software Library
      
  • Javascripts
    
    • Javascript Source
    • Cut-N-Paste Javascript
      
    • Doc Javascript
      
    • Javascript Tip Of The Week
      
  • Java Applets
    
    • The Java Boutique
      
    • Info Hiway
      
    • Anfy Java Developers
      
  • Counters
    
    • Webcounter Home Page
      
    • Counter Guide
      
    • Siteflow
      
    • JCount Counters
      
  • Internet Software & Shareware Sources
    
    • Tucows
      
    • Stroud's Internet Software
      
    • Jumbo
      
  • "Telnet" Software
    
    • CRT
      
    • PICO
      
  • FTP Software
    
    • Cute FTP
      
    • FTP Explorer
      
    • WS FTP
      
  • Internet Access
    
    • Galaxy - 1-800-825-2310
      
    • Bell Atlantic - 1-800-567-6789
      
    • The List - All access providers in the U.S.
      
  • Operating Systems
    
    • Windows 95,98,NT
      
    • Unix: Linux version
      
    • Mac
      
  • Billing Systems, Shopping Cart Software and Secure Server Services
    
    • Hazel Shopping Cart System
      
    • Directory of Shopping Cart Info and Services
      
    • iCat
      - Free store to anyone with up to ten items to sell
    • Yahoo Store
      - Less expensive for 1000 or more items
    • Digital River
      
    • I Bill
      
    • Cybercash
      
  • Miscellaneous Software
    
    • WinZip - Compression/decompression
      
    • WinZap - Encoding/decoding
      
    • Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred
      
    • Textbridge Classic OCR - Optical Character Recognition
      
    • McAfee Virus Scan
      
    • Pegasus Email
      
    • Eudora Pro Email
      
    • Web Clip Empire
      
    • Digital Stock royalty-free images
      
    • Impress 3500 - Presentation Pictures
      
    • 100 True Type Fonts
      
    • JumpList - Creates and manages links pages. Includes a search engine
      
    • Meta Magic - Creates META tags automatically
      
    • Website TrafficBuilder Professional Edition - Scans sites for all URLs and submits them to 550+ search engines
      
• Hardware:
  
  • PC with minimum 200 mhz, 128 ram and 8 gig HD
    
  • DittoMax Tape Backup
    
  • Launch Station Mouse Pad
    
  • Intuous Graphics Tablet - pens and airbrush
    
  • The larger your monitor, the better
    
  • Scanner
    
  • Printer
    
  • Video Camera
    
  • Snappy Video Snapshot
    
  • Video Capture Board
    
  • Sound Card and Speakers
    
  • Digital Camera
    
  • VCR
    
  • Microphone
    
  • TV
    
  • CD Player, Radio, Music CDs
    
• 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
    

Sources: Robert Half International, Computerworld, Buck Consultants, International Data Corp., U.S. News & World Report, New Media, WEBTechniques