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Web Design Career Services
Do you have what it takes for this career? A couple tips...
Before you fixate yourself on education or technologies, be sure you are confident of both your people skills and your ability to build a web site from start to finish. It is helpful to confirm these basic skills before entering into the field of web design, especially as a career.
Let's dive in, here. First, are you familiar with the software development process? On large projects, a strict following of the software development process greatly enhances your chances of completing your project on time and within budget. The process transition looks like this: Analysis, Design, Implementation, Testing.
Using client surveys and functional requirements outlining can help define the project for you. In fact, you can place functional requirements in a category by itself because of the importance it has on the successful completion of the project. Familiarize yourself with sitemapping and wireframing. Most web developers use these techniques in some way, shape or form, even if they don't actually realize it. Be sure to establish and maintain good communication between you and the client, and ensure the client holds up their end of the bargain. If the client ignores your email, or if they take a week or more to respond, you need to sit down with them and make it clear there is a good chance that the project will NOT be done in time.
Throughout the project, be sure to assess project status. Are you on time? Are you within your budget? Is the client pleased with what has been completed thus far? Do you feel confident that you will finish the project successfully? If not, be sure the client is aware of any project changes (especially ones that they have caused, which happens all the time).
Be sure not to skimp on quality assurance. Smoke test the application often, and pay close attention not only to if the system works or not, but to usability and load testing. It would be a good idea to regression test, especially as the project deadline becomes near. This is a skill that many web developers either neglect, or do half-assed.
So, what about technologies? Do we all need to stay ahead of the curve and offer bigger and better services to clients? Yes, but it is better to be experts in fewer technologies than beginners in more. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
First, I would encourage you to decide if you want to specialize in one particular operating system, or if you wish to familiarize yourself with a variety of skills from different operating systems. If you select Linux, the best technologies to learn are PHP and MySQL. If you chose Microsoft, the best technologies to learn include ASP, Access and MSSQL.
In a strict technical sense, and because of the vast array of point and click WYSIWYG editors available, you don't necessarily need to learn anything to become a web developer these days, although I don't consider those people especially authentic in this business. HTML is an absolute must, along with a server-side programming language, like PHP, ASP or Cold Fusion. With knowledge of HTML and a server-side language, you can perform 90% of what regular web sites require, and that includes feedback forms and web site templates.
To further your capability, MySQL is a great open-source DBMS to familiarize yourself with, but don't end there. If you truly want to have the ability to build fast, logical and secure databases, learn database theory. One of the most important theories is the concept of normalization / denormalization. Imagine yourself who just scored a large web development job, and your client wants a completely searchable database of employees, departments and salaries online. You need to have the ability to secure the salary portion of the database and need suitable knowledge of data organization; in other words, you'll have to build this thing, sometimes from scratch.
Certainly the concepts do not end here, but now you have a decent start. Be sure you are comfortable working with people, are familiar with the software development process and know technology well enough to offer the services that clients are after.
Author: Steve
Date written: August, 2003
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