Changeing Career Path
mattacuk
Oct 25 2007, 11:36 PM
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I am currently looking at changeing my career path as i am not happy with the thought of a life in PC/server tech support which is what i have previously done. I am 26, 27 in late febuary so i need to make the right choice now. Im really into Deisgn and the Web so i was seriously toying with doing an Open Univirsity course in web design application.

I was wondering if we have anyone here that works as a web designer full time? or perhaps we have some graphic designers here? smile.gif If so some advice would be great.

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Kevin98497
Oct 25 2007, 11:49 PM
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wouldnt the dude who made GMC have something clever to say? summon Dude who made GMC!!!

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Owen
Oct 25 2007, 11:54 PM
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QUOTE (kevin-riff-after-riff @ Oct 25 2007, 11:49 PM) *
wouldnt the dude who made GMC have something clever to say? summon Dude who made GMC!!!


Seems like a remarkably long way of saying 'Kris' rolleyes.gif laugh.gif

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Kristofer Dahl
Oct 26 2007, 12:39 AM
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QUOTE (kevin-riff-after-riff @ Oct 26 2007, 12:49 AM) *
wouldnt the dude who made GMC have something clever to say? summon Dude who made GMC!!!

biggrin.gif Well that's one that I haven't heard of before - I will definately take it as a compliment as you obviously are fond of long nick names. By the way welcome back kevin, we haven't seen your for a while! smile.gif

To mattacuk - I unfortunately cannot give you any good advice about choosing web design for a profession. I do however believe that you should go for what your heart beats for - as it will make you struggle harder to get wherever your aiming at! smile.gif

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mattacuk
Oct 26 2007, 12:44 AM
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That is very good advice Kris !! smile.gif There seems to be a fine line between being a graphic designer and a web designer! Oh well im sure ill figure it out !! wink.gif

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"The Fundimental Difference between Paul Gilbert and Buckethead is that Paul Explores the Good side of the force, while Buckethead Explores the Dark Side of the Force" :)
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Jeff
Oct 26 2007, 01:33 AM
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Matt,

I have done a little web design and I can tell you that for me it was a lot more fun than any other tech stuff I was involved in like coding, hardware installation, etc. I felt like I was creating something and I got a lot more satisfaction out of doing it.

You can be original and maybe market your skills better because you would be the one creating something unique that people would want rather than supporting and maintaining systems that are already existing.

That sounds more interesting to me. smile.gif

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mattacuk
Oct 26 2007, 01:42 AM
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QUOTE (jeff @ Oct 26 2007, 01:33 AM) *
Matt,

I have done a little web design and I can tell you that for me it was a lot more fun than any other tech stuff I was involved in like coding, hardware installation, etc. I felt like I was creating something and I got a lot more satisfaction out of doing it.

You can be original and maybe market your skills better because you would be the one creating something unique that people would want rather than supporting and maintaining systems that are already existing.

That sounds more interesting to me. smile.gif


That does sound interesting Jeff. I would like to combine my artistic side somehow in with webpages to create something totally unique ! I feel i have the artistic flare, it would be a shame to waste it !! smile.gif

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"The Fundimental Difference between Paul Gilbert and Buckethead is that Paul Explores the Good side of the force, while Buckethead Explores the Dark Side of the Force" :)
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steve25
Oct 26 2007, 02:32 AM
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I'm currently doing a foundation degree in computing at college at the moment and one of the units is website design (im writing an assignment for it right now actually). It's interesting, and if you're completely new to coding HTML took me only about a week to learn it was simple stuff. If you think you'd be good at that and you think it's something you'd enjoy go for it. I can't imagine anything worse then being in a job you absolutely hate.

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Andrew Cockburn
Oct 26 2007, 09:55 AM
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Matt, heres my 2c ...

Firstly, as I understand it, your current work is contract based right? In any case you are working a set number of hours at a set price per hour. Web design if you have the flair for it and approach it the right way could be very different - as a web designer you would be more in a position to quote flat fees for entire jobs. In the IT industry this is a double edged sword - your potential reward is greater but so is your risk. If you are good at what you do, good at scoping it, and good at writing up front agreements of what you will give to the customer for a price, you can reduce the risk to an acceptable level, and earn some good money.

For example, if you quote a customer $10 for an entire website (stupid example on purpose!) and it takes you 1 hour to do it because you know the technology, have done a good job of finding out what the customer wants and have given it to him first time around, you earn $10 an hour and move straight on to your next commission. If on the other hand, you quote $10, get it wrong the first 9 times, and only get it right after 10 hours, you make $1 an hour and your next commission has to wait until you are done.

What I am saying here is that there is an upside working this way of you have the experience to carry it off - the difference between being a wage slave, and running a successful business.

Now, another thing to consider - web design is great, but there is more to it than laying out a site and getting the graphics right. Look at GMC- it has a great design for sure, but behind it is also a lot of programming and database work (courtesy of Henrik!). If you are technically minded (and any guy that can work out netmasks in his head must be!) you can also add this to your skillset, if programming is something that interest you. People that have a flair for design, AND can do the programming and dynamic aspects are rare since these skills don't tend to overlap. For instance, I can put together cunning dynamic web pages until the cows come home, but they look like garbage until I get help from someone who can design... I think you have the potential to do both these things and could make a nice little business out of it!

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mattacuk
Oct 26 2007, 04:26 PM
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Hi Andrew!
really great advice there. I am technically minded, and the course i was looking at doing covers web deign as a whole package, that includes dba etc. Im thinking though im more interested in designing graphics than i am codeing. This is why im not too sure where to go next! There is no obvious job i can think of where i would work in photoshop all day ! laugh.gif

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Kristofer Dahl
Oct 26 2007, 05:31 PM
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QUOTE (Andrew Cockburn @ Oct 26 2007, 10:55 AM) *
Now, another thing to consider - web design is great, but there is more to it than laying out a site and getting the graphics right. Look at GMC- it has a great design for sure, but behind it is also a lot of programming and database work (courtesy of Henrik!). If you are technically minded (and any guy that can work out netmasks in his head must be!) you can also add this to your skillset, if programming is something that interest you. People that have a flair for design, AND can do the programming and dynamic aspects are rare since these skills don't tend to overlap. For instance, I can put together cunning dynamic web pages until the cows come home, but they look like garbage until I get help from someone who can design... I think you have the potential to do both these things and could make a nice little business out of it!


Agreed - having both the technical programming knowledge and sense for graphics is not a common thing!

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mattacuk
Oct 26 2007, 07:05 PM
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QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Oct 26 2007, 05:31 PM) *
Agreed - having both the technical programming knowledge and sense for graphics is not a common thing!


That could be a very interesting selling point for me Kris ! smile.gif

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"The Fundimental Difference between Paul Gilbert and Buckethead is that Paul Explores the Good side of the force, while Buckethead Explores the Dark Side of the Force" :)
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Pavel
Oct 26 2007, 08:04 PM
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That's interesting...i was just reading this topic for a while...i thought all IT guys are happy with their job but looks like they are not. I will better stick with guitar to see how far it can get me.

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mattacuk
Oct 26 2007, 08:07 PM
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QUOTE (Pavel @ Oct 26 2007, 08:04 PM) *
That's interesting...i was just reading this topic for a while...i thought all IT guys are happy with their job but looks like they are not. I will better stick with guitar to see how far it can get me.


Its not always as glamourous as it seems Pavel! smile.gif I have found it often very stressfull, with lots of managers and staff falling out all the time sad.gif

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"The Fundimental Difference between Paul Gilbert and Buckethead is that Paul Explores the Good side of the force, while Buckethead Explores the Dark Side of the Force" :)
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ActiveX
Oct 27 2007, 04:52 AM
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QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Oct 26 2007, 09:31 AM) *
Agreed - having both the technical programming knowledge and sense for graphics is not a common thing!


Very true indeed. I can write beautiful code; but I cannot design worth s**t.

QUOTE (Pavel @ Oct 26 2007, 12:04 PM) *
That's interesting...i was just reading this topic for a while...i thought all IT guys are happy with their job but looks like they are not. I will better stick with guitar to see how far it can get me.

Pavel, the IT industry is huge; with many different career paths. You may hate one job in IT, and love another one. Even the company you work for makes a huge difference. My first IT job, was for a great company, but I hated my job... boring manual software testing. My second job, I was developing code for software QA Automation; loved the job...hated the company, only stayed there for 6 months.
Now I have found a job where I love what I'm doing, and the company is awesome - treats their employees well, fun and casual atmosphere, and really cool people. Sometimes it just takes a while to find where you best fit.

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Owen
Oct 27 2007, 05:21 AM
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Apparently the people with the most job satisfaction are hairdressers, you could always take care of peoples gorgeous locks! wink.gif

On topic, I think Kris and Andrew are right, I've never really met many people who have flair for both design and programming so you might be quite unique in that sense!

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