If you’ve aspirations to be a professional web designer and have the most recognised qualification for today’s employment market, the course you need is Adobe Dreamweaver.
Additionally, it’s good practice that students get an in-depth understanding of the full Adobe Web Creative Suite, which incorporates Flash and Action Script, to be able to utilise Dreamweaver professionally as a web designer. This knowledge can take you on to becoming an ACP (Adobe Certified Professional) or an ACE (Adobe Certified Expert).
Building a website only scratches the surface of the skill set required though – to drive traffic to the site, maintain its content, and work with dynamic database-driven sites, you’ll be required to have additional programming skills, namely ones like HTML, PHP and MySQL. You should also gain an excellent grasp of E-Commerce and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
Many training companies offer a Job Placement Assistance program, to help you into your first commercial role. It can happen though that people are too impressed with this facility, because it is actually not that hard for well qualified and focused men and women to land work in this industry – because companies everywhere are seeking qualified personnel.
Update your CV at the beginning of your training though (advice and support for this should come from your course provider). Don’t procrastinate and leave it until you’ve qualified.
Having the possibility of an interview is far better than not even being known about. A surprising amount of junior support roles are given to trainees in the early stages of their course.
The most efficient companies to get you a new position are generally specialised and independent recruitment consultants. Because they make their money when they’ve found you a job, they have more incentive to get on with it.
A big grievance for many training providers is how much people are prepared to work to get top marks in their exams, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the role they’re acquired skills for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.
Many people presume that the state educational route is the right way even now. So why then are commercially accredited qualifications becoming more popular with employers?
As we require increasingly more effective technological know-how, industry has of necessity moved to specific, honed-in training that can only come from the vendors – that is companies such as CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise.
University courses, for example, can often get caught up in a lot of background study – and much too wide a syllabus. Students are then prevented from getting enough specific knowledge about the core essentials.
If an employer understands what areas need to be serviced, then all it takes is an advert for a person with the appropriate exam numbers. The syllabuses are set to exacting standards and can’t change from one establishment to the next (in the way that degree courses can).
Trainees looking at this market often have a very practical outlook on work, and aren’t really suited to the classroom environment, and poring through books and manuals. If you identify with this, try the newer style of interactive study, with on-screen demonstrations and labs.
Many years of research has time and time again demonstrated that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.
Learning is now available via DVD-ROM discs, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Utilising the latest video technology, you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how to perform the required skill, and then have a go at it yourself – in a virtual lab environment.
Every company that you look at should willingly take you through a few samples of their training materials. You’re looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and interactive areas to practice in.
Choose disc based courseware (On CD or DVD) every time. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with broadband ‘downtime’ or slow-speeds.
Don’t get hung-up, as many people do, on the accreditation program. Training for training’s sake is generally pointless; this is about employment. Stay focused on what it is you want to achieve.
It’s an awful thing, but a great many students start out on programs that sound marvellous in the syllabus guide, but which gets us a career that is of no interest. Try talking to typical university graduates to see what we mean.
It’s a good idea to understand what expectations industry may have of you. Which particular exams you’ll need and how to gain experience. It’s also worth spending time considering how far you’d like to get as it may control your selection of accreditations.
Look for help from an experienced professional who understands the sector you wish to join, and who can offer ‘A typical day in the life of’ synopsis of what kinds of tasks you’ll be undertaking on a day-to-day basis. It just makes sense to discover if this is the right course of action for you before you commence your studies. After all, what is the point in starting to train only to realise you’ve made a huge mistake.
(C) Jason Kendall. Check out LearningLolly.com for excellent information. CLICK HERE or www.learninglolly.com.
