Which WEBDESIGN/DEVELOPMENT cert should I go for????

Discussion in 'CIW Certifications' started by solidstunna101, May 27, 2010.

  1. solidstunna101

    solidstunna101 New Member

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    Hi all,

    Just registered on cert forums today bcos i came across the site randomly & it looked like a good site to register with.

    I just wanted some quick advise on which certification I should go for between the CIW:Master Designer & Adobe Web Specialist Course.

    I've got a bachelors degree in Computer Science & I am currently going for my masters degree in software development, I'm looking to go into web design wen i'm finished, but I have no industrial experience so i'm looking some extra certifications to give myself that extra chance of winning a job in the real world as the competition is very tough in London where i live, I have thought long & hard about which certifications i should go for & have come up with three possible solutions:

    OPTION1>>> Self Study for the CIW Master Designer course, to establish myself as certified website designer b'cos it's pretty the only recognised web designer cert out there. also along the side create a portfolio of websites to go along with it so that i am properly equipped to win job out there in the real world.

    OPTON2>>> Self Study The Adobe ACE Web Specialist Course which requires me to pass three exams to become a certified adobe web specialist(photoshop, flash, & dreamweaver,) as you all know adobe systems is industry standard for creating world-class web sites. & still off course make a portfolio on the side to win jobs wen i'm done

    OPTION3>>> Suck it up, be brave about it & go for both adobe web specialists cert & ciw master designer cert along with a zend certified php engineer cert to make me become the ultimate webdesigner/developer8)

    keep in my mind dat i have no industrial website design/development. with that being said i wanna give myself the best possible chance of winning a good job with good pay in Industry

    Yeah Dats it i would like to hear you guys opinon on this matter
     
    Certifications: MCTS: Vista
  2. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    OPTION4>>> Do neither. :biggrin

    In all honesty, neither is going to help you on top of a masters.
    I'd just start doing some web design and development and get good at it.
    Buy a couple of books.
    Get into CSS and play about.

    Like you say, competition is tough and employers will be looking for people who can actually do stuff rather than people with a pile of certs.
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  3. Col

    Col Byte Poster

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    Agree with Jonny. Get some experience. Tinker about. Build some sites. Learn CSS and maybe PHP inside out. Then get some certs to back it up. The CIW looks good but pricey. I'd maybe go for the ACE but only because I've been using Adobe CS for years and it'd make sense for me to use the certs to prove what I've already learned practically...
     
    Certifications: A+ Network+ MCP MCDST MCITP
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  4. solidstunna101

    solidstunna101 New Member

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    so wot ur sayin is dat i should jus concentrate on jus makin websites which i could potentially add to my future. dats gud advice thx men.

    u kno wen come to think about it i am more more than capable enough to make it in the web world even though i have no experience, as i practice practice more web development, i will get better, at the end of the day employers may be able to turn you down lack of work experience & but they cannot deny one tru webskills if one posesses it. i guess dats wot makes a difference between the average coders & the truly skilled web guru. B'COS TRU SKILL IS UNDENIABLE NO MATTER WAT.

    thx i really appreciate it.
     
    Certifications: MCTS: Vista
  5. kevicho

    kevicho Gigabyte Poster

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    Yep, good advice is to create a portfolio of sites, also become a regular poster on this and but mainly on web design forums, as that way you learn from other peoples mistakes and open up to more possibilities.

    Finally, if i were speaking as a potential customer, ditch the txt/urban spk on forums, if you become a good poster and helpful to others that can go a long way in promoting yourself, and proper english creates a much better impression with business people (who have the cash to spend lol) :)

    Also as you progress if you have any design background or marketing background then these are 2 areas you could branch out into to offer a more complete service, worth a look.

    Good luck :)
     
    Certifications: A+, Net+, MCSA Server 2003, 2008, Windows XP & 7 , ITIL V3 Foundation
    WIP: CCNA Renewal
  6. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    Never know.
    Dizzee Rascal might be looking for a new website...

    :biggrin
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  7. solidstunna101

    solidstunna101 New Member

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    i dont see why people have a problem wit the txt/urban, i mean it's something dat everyone does when they're typing especially they're trying to type faster, then they get a little bit carried & start to shorten theyre words. sorry if you all are offended.

    as for the thread topic, I've taught hard about it & decided to just go for the ciw & adobe certs via self-study route, at the end of the i'm still a fulltime student so i dont really have time to work full-time until i'm done wih my course, theres definitely no harm done to getting extra certs even though it does guarantee you a job. I'd like to think of it as "adding more to my arsenal of skills". hopefully it works out for me.

    Thanks People
     
    Certifications: MCTS: Vista
  8. Col

    Col Byte Poster

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    I don't think anyone's offended by it - they're just trying to tell you that it will probably turn most employers off when you're looking for work.
     
    Certifications: A+ Network+ MCP MCDST MCITP
    WIP: CCENT Security+
  9. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    What's the point of coming here and asking for professional advice and then ignoring it all?
    Everyone has told you not to bother.
    You'll end up out of pocket with little to show for it that will be of any value to an employer.
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  10. solidstunna101

    solidstunna101 New Member

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    well its not like i'm going to throw away thousands of pounds at some training provider or college because all the certs i go for will be self-studied, the only time i'll have to spend money is wen i'm actually prepared to write the exam which is not so bad considering the fact that many people write about how they pay for TP's & get ripped.

    Also the fact that I made this decision doesn't that i have totally disregarded everything that you guys said, i listened to wat u said, taught harder about it & made my decison.
     
    Certifications: MCTS: Vista
  11. SimonD
    Honorary Member

    SimonD Terabyte Poster

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    Everyone? I think not, I can type fast but have never really needed to use 'txt' speak, there are one or two words that do get shortened (tho for example) but in the main I don't find the need to use it (even on mobile phones actually).

    And have you taught hard or thought hard? Please, whilst you are posting on a forum these things do tend to crop up in every day life and before you know it you're using them on design documents going to clients, it's very unprofessional and looks awful.

    Actually there is harm in getting extra certs, admittedly not as much with what you're aiming for but please remember that these certs are designed to show your experience rather than be used as a means of getting a job. They aren't used to get you a job, they are used to show prospective employers that you can do the job, if all you have done is do this via self study and have no real world experience in implementing anything you have learnt then why would I hire you over someone with 5 years experience and no certs.

    When you finish university and try getting a job with all of these certs and no real experience you may find that it starts giving you issues but again because these are more niche you 'may' get away with it more.

    Just stop thinking that certs are a way of getting a job because they aren't!!
     
    Certifications: CNA | CNE | CCNA | MCP | MCP+I | MCSE NT4 | MCSA 2003 | Security+ | MCSA:S 2003 | MCSE:S 2003 | MCTS:SCCM 2007 | MCTS:Win 7 | MCITP:EDA7 | MCITP:SA | MCITP:EA | MCTS:Hyper-V | VCP 4 | ITIL v3 Foundation | VCP 5 DCV | VCP 5 Cloud | VCP6 NV | VCP6 DCV | VCAP 5.5 DCA
  12. SimonD
    Honorary Member

    SimonD Terabyte Poster

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    Dude, seriously stop and look at what you're writing, the spelling is atrocious and you're one of the ones going through uni. (I should hasten to add that I left school at 16 and didn't go to college or uni and it's not done me any harm (and I can spell properly - most of the time)).
     
    Certifications: CNA | CNE | CCNA | MCP | MCP+I | MCSE NT4 | MCSA 2003 | Security+ | MCSA:S 2003 | MCSE:S 2003 | MCTS:SCCM 2007 | MCTS:Win 7 | MCITP:EDA7 | MCITP:SA | MCITP:EA | MCTS:Hyper-V | VCP 4 | ITIL v3 Foundation | VCP 5 DCV | VCP 5 Cloud | VCP6 NV | VCP6 DCV | VCAP 5.5 DCA
  13. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    Mmmm... no, it's not something "everyone does".

    I'm not offended... just trying to help YOU look more attractive to potential employers... some of whom might frequent this forum. And yes, I have been offered employment based on what I've posted on forums, so it does happen.

    Good luck, Stunna. Web design companies couldn't care less about certifications... they want to see that e-portfolio you've developed.
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2010
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  14. greenbrucelee
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    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    Guess what? your potential employer may be on this forum, typing like your on a mobile phone won't impress them.

    As for web design employers would rather see a portfolio and examples of what you can do rather than what certs you have. BTW I can type at 100 words per minute, I used to be faster and I don't use Txt spk
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2010
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  15. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    I didn't say you were going to get ripped off, I said that you would be out of pocket.
    Certification exams can cost anything between £100 and £150 each depending on which one you're doing and how you pay for them.
    Then you need to buy the material which will set you back even if it's only a couple of books per exam.
    Where are you going to get your CIW material to self study with? They only sell through ATPs who aren't interested in passing it on cheap.
    Have you looked at the curriculum for either cert? Do you think it will make you a better web designer?

    I don't really think you've looked into it terribly deeply - but the decision of course is yours.

    Personally, I wouldn't go within a million miles of web design at the moment, and certainly not in London. All the big stuff is sewn up by big media corporations and 'branding' agencies. For small stuff, well, my mum can build a website with today's technology so I'm not going to pay someone else to do it.
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  16. solidstunna101

    solidstunna101 New Member

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    @simon D: duded , just get off my back with the typo errors, how many times are you going to complain about it. what are you? my dad? i dont care what you are. people do make typo mistakes once in a while regardless of how literate you are.

    as for the thread topic i'll take my chances & go for the certs, build my portfolio & making a push into the industry wen i'm done wit my course even though they disregard certs. I'll give my best shot & never give up at my main goal.
     
    Certifications: MCTS: Vista
  17. kevicho

    kevicho Gigabyte Poster

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    Far from offended, was trying to offer advice based on experience, the point is when you talk to customers you will need to give the best possible impression 100% of the time, spelling mistakes or sloppy English do not inspire confidence in someone who is wanting to hand over their hard earned cash.

    Textin your mates this way, fair enough, but professionalism will help you go a lot further than just "havin da skillz"
     
    Certifications: A+, Net+, MCSA Server 2003, 2008, Windows XP & 7 , ITIL V3 Foundation
    WIP: CCNA Renewal
  18. greenbrucelee
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    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    whatever :twisted::D
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
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  19. kevicho

    kevicho Gigabyte Poster

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    Funnily enough ive been approached today to do a small website for a small company, bit of pocket money in exchange for some spare time, if nothing else, and as a good samaritan ive enrolled a friend who is learning HTML and CSS so im splitting the proceeds and giving him some experience, but yeah totally agree with what you are saying, basic webdesign roles seem to be dimishing.

    Also in fairness for less than the cost of a web designer people can buy CSS based website templates, or download them for free, and do their own websites, so the idea any one is going to make a living from basic webdesign is 10 years out of date, internet marketing seems to be a more profitable avenue at the moment, sharepoint developers seems to be in demand as well.
     
    Certifications: A+, Net+, MCSA Server 2003, 2008, Windows XP & 7 , ITIL V3 Foundation
    WIP: CCNA Renewal
  20. solidstunna101

    solidstunna101 New Member

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    I definitely agree with the fact that theres not that much money to be made in web design, I've always wanted to go into other stuff like networking, but i find the networking jobs out there quite boring. although networking jobs pay big money especially if your doing admin stuff. i just dont see myself being the guy who sits behind the helpdesk answering peoples questions about faulty computers, i also dont see myself being the guy that everyone cries to when their computer or network is crashes down because it is annoying & frustrating. I'd prefer making websites, that way I get to use my imagination & creating something new every single day. that way I'd have a new challenge to deal with everyday. I also get to play different new web technologies out there which in my opinion is fun:biggrin

    I mean i've seen web designer jobs out there that pay up to 35k which is good enough for me, so i would really love it if i could push myself to that level where i could easily secure a web designer job of 35K and over.
     
    Certifications: MCTS: Vista

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