The Internet has changed the way that the public gathers its information, the way that products are sold, the way people express their opinions, and even the way that companies market to new and existing customers. As the Internet becomes more popular, there is a growing need for professionals who can design webpages and develop websites. These professionals are called web designers, and while some companies will hire a web design firm, larger companies will employ their own professionals to design and maintain their website’s design on a regular basis.
If you want to become a web designer, you can either be a self-employed professional, or work for a company where you earn a salary. If you prefer earning a stable salary, you must recognize the fact that the field is very competitive. In order to compete in this highly competitive field, you must possess the skills and experience that employers are looking for. If you want to become a web developer or a graphic designer, here are some of the important things that employers will look for when reviewing your written resume or your web design portfolio.
Common Educational Requirements for Web Designers
When you are self-employed, your educational background may not be a deal breaker when it comes to attracting clients, but employers will typically hire applicants who possess degrees in a relevant major. While designers are high in-demand, more and more students are graduating from college, making the supply of applicants to choose from much higher for employers. When you are looking at the requirements for a web designer position, it is common for an employer to require all applicants to possess a BS degree in Information Technology or Computer Science. In some cases, an unrelated Bachelor’s degree will suffice if the applicant has web design experience. The first thing you must do to satisfy the educational requirements is enroll in school and complete the program.
Other Skills Employers are Looking For
An employer will look for web designers who possess a wide range of different skills. You will need a comprehensive portfolio that includes some of the websites and pages that you have designed. If you want to be a graphic designer, creativity will play a major role in whether or not you will get a position, but the employer will look at more than just the aesthetics of a webpage. In fact, employers will dig deeper and look behind-the-scenes when reviewing your web pages. They will check the JavaScript code, the HTML markup, the tags, the encoding, and see if all of the correct elements are on the page. The skills that employers will look for depend entirely on the position. Stunning graphics are important, but not as important when you want to be a coder.
One of the great things about looking for a job in web design is that you can start to build your portfolio while you are in school. While some employers are looking for graduates with on-the-job experience, many are willing to take a risk when there are high-quality pieces of work in the applicant’s portfolio. Build your portfolio, work on your skills, and do something that you enjoy doing.
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