Anyone in the web design Industry?

Discussion in 'CIW Certifications' started by jodsclass, Jun 5, 2006.

  1. jodsclass

    jodsclass Byte Poster

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    Hi all.

    Just curious if anyone here is employed in the web design industry? I have just finished my Web Design degree and as such im qualified in everything from xhtml/css/php and other coding, to Law governing the internet, project management and Client pitching/development/handover. I am also profecient in Metadata generation, dublin core standards and SEO aswell as usability and accessibility awareness. I am desperately trying to break into the Industry here in Manchester. I have applied for dozens of jobs and haven't heard a peep as yet. Anyone got any tips for me with regards finding Web related work?

    My Portfolio is available online and includes my CV. If anyone could help I would really appreciate it.

    Kind regards

    Jodsclass
     
    Certifications: BSc IT & Web Development
    WIP: MSc Advanced Computing, Oracle Cert
  2. csx

    csx Megabyte Poster

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    Not in the industry my self but, my views:

    I would make the site simple and less graphical...

    If i resize the site to 1024*768 i mainly see the top logo and not much else and have to scroll down to read your portfolio work... imo that doesn't look professional and might put some people off... (agency/companies might not be using 1280*1024, works fine on that resolution for me)

    Might be good to add a gallery to your sites on your portfolio page... show off some CSS/HTML coding and not just one picture

    At a quick glance i can't see what languages you have used to create the sites on your portfolio... maybe list all languages after your comments so its easier to read (agency/companies might not have time to read your comments to understand what you have used)

    On the front page maybe put the languages and software you are familiar with in bullet points, stands out alot better.

    Get the site validated by W3C and whack the logos on there somewhere (show off a bit)

    Heres an example of mine http://portfolio.cstark.co.uk - nothing fantastic, logo is crap and need to sort that out one day. But i hope it gets the points across and shall continue adding to that and one day redesign the site (All work stored in MySQL so i can change layout etc without having to lose the data) My images need to be compressed as well.

    All i can think off atm, good luck!
     
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  3. d-Faktor
    Honorary Member

    d-Faktor R.I.P - gone but never forgotten.

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    web design is a strange part of the infotech biz. i'm not in that sector, nor do i wish to be, but as far as i can see it's very easy to get experience (by creating sites for friends, family, local businesses, etc.), but it's very difficult to find a permanent job.

    if you want to freelance, you either have to be really REALLY good (and very allround) at what you do if you want to reel in some bigger clients, or you will be stuck at creating small scale semi-local sites (and you will eventually run out of clients).
    or you can team up with a few like minded people to form a small design firm and make sure you each develop your own particular strength. specializing in a certain part of the whole web design process is your best option, if you ask me, also if you want to join an existing design firm. because when you look at it, it's difficult to be very good at visual design (site layout, color coding, logo design, branding), and to be very good at coding (xhtml, xml, css, php, asp, actionscript, javascript, perl, etc.), and to be very good at maintaining infrastructures (apache config, sql database management, etc.), because those are all very different technologies requiring very different skill sets.
     
  4. Keimos

    Keimos Byte Poster

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    Hi John,

    Its hard but your portfolio is not one that will get you employed.

    I could say stuff but there are more experienced and better people available at - www.webproworld.com, go to the review my site part. You have the ability and knowledge, that is definitely not in doubt, but the people that are employing you? are looking for something more.

    My first impression your site, was of a CV that had been written with no passion or flair. Straight facts taken from the How to Market yourself in ten easy steps.

    Your portfolio shows no variety, your graphics and flash can be done by most people in the industry. Check out all your links!!

    You have ability and I do not want to put you off but to go to the next step you need to evolve.

    You are definitely a techie and you need to be approaching that sort of design company.

    Get some feedback from the forum above, as it is international opinion, with some very experience people about.

    Keimos

    PS. html is out go to XHTML
     
    Certifications: Microsoft Office Specialist
  5. Bluerinse
    Honorary Member

    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

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    Hmmm, I am sure that the content is good but to be honest the background picture is far to distracting and makes the text really difficult to read.

    I do not class myself as a professional web designer and so should probably keep me gob shut. However, I have churned out a few sites myself over the years. Nowadays the important thing for me is to try and get the code compliant with W3C standards, as has been already stated above. At least go for XHTML transitional rather than lose HTML.

    I ran a markup check on your site and the home page comes up with 23 errors.

    Try it yourself..

    http://validator.w3.org/
     
    Certifications: C&G Electronics - MCSA (W2K) MCSE (W2K)
  6. Baba O'Riley

    Baba O'Riley Gigabyte Poster

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    Hi mate,

    I am not in the slightest bit interested in web design so I won't offer any advice in that area, but as a regular and experienced web user, I will offer you this: I read about three words of your page and then gave up because the text is so frickin small I had to squint. By the same token, the logo at the top is a bit on the large side.

    HTH :D
     
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  7. UCHEEKYMONKEY
    Honorary Member

    UCHEEKYMONKEY R.I.P - gone but never forgotten. Gold Member

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    I think you just have to be patient, you will probably find those jobs you applied for will all come at once and you will be running around like a headless chicken just to go to the interviews. That's usually how life works.

    Your website loads within 10 seconds, which is good, however your choice of colours and navigation do need changing. If you are going to use this site for applying for jobs the first thing they want to see is your resume so make that the first page. Change your introduction you already have a section on "about me" on the homepage and then another menu on the same subject, it's confusing. Remember what the goldern rules are to website design

    1) 10 seconds to load
    2) Choose colours pleasing to the eye and font size
    3) keep it simple with easy navigation.
    4) use labels where pictures are for people with block pop ups.
    5) Check spelling

    I know you've got must of these right, but change the nav!

    Monkey :biggrin
     
    Certifications: Comptia A+
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  8. Baba O'Riley

    Baba O'Riley Gigabyte Poster

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    10 seconds? No website is worth waiting ten whole seconds for, not even pr0n :twisted:.
     
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  9. Bluerinse
    Honorary Member

    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

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    Anyway, surely that depends on the speed of your connection :blink
     
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  10. fortch

    fortch Kilobyte Poster

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    Aside from the errors, I think it's nice --- no shortage of information, that's for sure :eek:

    Possibly, the site may be a bit too personal, and offers too much? I'm certainly not into web design, but I'd try and keep my personal info and professional info better divided. The written word is often miscommunicated, and some meanings can be misconstrued, often in blogs. Potential employers might, for example, be curious how one can amass 10,000 mp3's, 400 DVDs, and then hack up 2 Xboxen -- while they all may be legit (aside from the hacks), this can put off some potential clients or employers.

    Honestly, I've known several people with your skillset, and they all did the same thing -- webhost providers. It takes such a wide variety of skills, many people can't cope, and those that perform poorly rarely survive (even though it doesn't seem that way). Being creative *and* a techie, you may be a perfect fit to 'do it all'.

    Above all, be patient. One second you've got nary a nibble, and the very next moment you're swamped. Good Luck!
     
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  11. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    I have been (still kind of am) in the industry.

    The real problem is that there is no such thing as a 'web designer' anymore. A 10 year old child can put together a professional looking website on a home PC.

    What people are looking for is specializations. We want a Flash animator. We want a graphic artist. We want a cool script guy. It's hard to be a jack of all trades so I'd be inclined to pick something you're good at and market yourself as such.

    There is a whole new generation of web design out there. Data driven sites, scaleable applications, Ajax... You need to dive back into it and keep studying.

    I must admit that I liked your site, but there isn't anything on there that makes you stand out from the crowd. Others have already made some good comments so I won't repeat them (except for, yes validate the site if you wish but for god's sake don't stick the logo on it! Yuk - I've never seen a professional designer do that in my life.)

    But above all. Be persistant and it wall work out in the end.

    Good luck.
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  12. csx

    csx Megabyte Poster

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    OT but gratz on 1337 posts Jonny. ;)

    Just for you:

    [​IMG]
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+, 70-271 & 70-272, CCENT, VCP5-DCV and CCNA
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  13. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    Ha ha!
    excellent...

    :cheers
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  14. UCHEEKYMONKEY
    Honorary Member

    UCHEEKYMONKEY R.I.P - gone but never forgotten. Gold Member

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    Not quite Blue rinse, it also depends on your browser, some websites have cascading sheets, some are flash based some need active X, some script that just don't work on IE ver 4.

    10 seconds is the max time it should take to load on dial up or broad band, in an ideal world it should be no more than 3 seconds.

    Which part of OZ are you in?

    Monkey :biggrin
     
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  15. UCHEEKYMONKEY
    Honorary Member

    UCHEEKYMONKEY R.I.P - gone but never forgotten. Gold Member

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    So what is your setup Baba?

    Do you have Broad band? what type of browser do you use and do you vist many pr0n sites with a stopwatch???

    Monkey
     
    Certifications: Comptia A+
    WIP: Comptia N+
  16. UCHEEKYMONKEY
    Honorary Member

    UCHEEKYMONKEY R.I.P - gone but never forgotten. Gold Member

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    What about putting the information into boxes, think about what questions are going through an employers mind when they read your website.

    Have a look at this to get some ideas-

    http://www.bluetreedesign.com/


    Also Have a look at stanford creative, he keeps it very simple and has easy navigation.

    http://www.stanford-creative.com/resume.html

    also
    http://www.the-pavement.com

    this is the company behind the design of DVD menu's for james Bond, Fat boy Slim, the league of gentlemen. They start off by asking if you have flash, the site is very creative. Have a look around it might give you some ideas.


    Good luck!

    Monkey :biggrin
     
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  17. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    You've got to if you know the missus is only out for 7 minutes...
     
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  18. UCHEEKYMONKEY
    Honorary Member

    UCHEEKYMONKEY R.I.P - gone but never forgotten. Gold Member

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    You can do it in only seven minutes
    wow that must be a record! :twisted:
    Do you use accessories?
     
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  19. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

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    im kinda feeling :sick
     
  20. Bluerinse
    Honorary Member

    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

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    I am about 12 hours drive north from Toronga Zoo - check my profile :wink:
     
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