Becoming certified?

[polorboy]

Hi everybody, I just joined this forum and I have a question. I am 25 years old and I have been making web pages since I was 15 kind of as a hobby. Well, I actually got a job as a web designer/developer for a startup company. I am working on their site now and I am going to be working for them as a onsite web designer for their clients (they are a digital printing company). Anyway, I have some experience doing this for the past 10 years, but it has only been a hobby. I am starting to buckle down and really learn this stuff and it is really fascinating. What I am wondering is that I have heard about certification programs to become a "certified" web designer. Kind of like getting Cisco certified. Do I need to do something like that or do I need to do something else? What do most of you guys have, if anything?

[FireCracker37]

Once upon a time I was going to go out and get my CIW (Certified Internet Webmaster); however, I think that having a good solid portfolio and a decent business sense more then outway the certificate.

On the plus side it may give you an edge on your compotition, and might help you land some of the bigger accounts. It also makes for a nice logo to have printed on your business cards.

[KDLA]

Best thing is to have a good client base and portfolio. That's what potential clients will want to see, not really paperwork. (I have a valid driver's license, but that doesn't guarantee I'm a good driver!)

Also learn about standards and accessibility -- especially accessibility. Many gov. agencies, educational institutions, etc. - just about anything that's considered a "public organization" - are looking for people proficient in accessibility issues.

KDLA

[AnotherDesigner]

polorboy...

Just following on from what KDLA said about accessibility, if you're working in the UK, you will (of course ;)) know that Accessibility of web sites, imparticular Government agency, public service, education etc etc sites all need to fall inline with the Disability Discrimination Act, so if you are UK based (or you work on UK sites), then knowing about Web Site Accessibility is a must (check out http://www.w3c.org for more information).

There are a couple of 'organisations' over here in the UK that web developers are encouraged (to some degree) to join... I think that the main one is the Web Designers Association (or something like that) - I'm sure if you Google it you'll find it - and if you have this on your portfolio site/ business card, it just goes to prove to your clients that you're not going to rip them off etc

But a good, solid portfolio and positive feedback from clients is never a bad thing to take to your meetings with 'future' clients...

[eddydesigns]

Well if dont' have a degree don't count on making the big bucks so if school isn't for you, get certified. It puts more money in your pocket when you are working for big corporations. Portfolio speaks but to a point. Getting certified also means you are goal oriented too and companies look for those cues. This is pure honest and true information because I am a web designer working in big companies already. Best of luck to you.

[Waylander]

The first thing I trained for was a diploma in software development, I had found it challenging and decided to do a web development diploma as well, as I could cross pre-requisites and get straight in to the final part.

Throughout the whole time I spent studying I did freelance web work, I knew a couple people who had been doing it a while and they taught me the things that they had learned, and I learned from having a go.

I never finished the web development diploma because it was a joke. The things that I had learned from other people and from experience were infinatley more valuable than what I was doing in the web development diploma. Things on the web change too fast to gain anything valuable from the learning itself, the only thing valuable is that little piece of paper with the big stamp on it.

I didnt finish it because I already had a diploma, if I didnt though I would have soldiered on and completed it anyway regardless.

When the client wants to quible about how much you charge and get you to work for peanuts, the piece of paper with the stamp on it is what keeps the money in the bank.

If you want to go for a higher job at a big firm, often you might not get into the interview to talk about your experience and portfolio if you dont have the piece of paper with the stamp on it to just get past a screening phase.

I would recommend getting something certification, what ever is good in your country/state, however just get done what you need to get done. Dont let it tie you down and dont get too involved in the course content... if you get some valuable skills out of it, then fair enough but if your doing pointless unrelated excercises, just hack through them as its one step closer to that big stamp of goodness.

Waylander.

[eddydesigns]

Well at the end, you get a nice hefty check when you do get the diploma. This is really what matters and yes the internet changes fast and it is always a learning process. The basics are there though.

Best of luck! :cool:

[KDLA]

Throughout the whole time I spent studying I did freelance web work, I knew a couple people who had been doing it a while and they taught me the things that they had learned, and I learned from having a go.

I never finished the web development diploma because it was a joke. The things that I had learned from other people and from experience were infinatley more valuable than what I was doing in the web development diploma....

I've learned more from this forum than any of the "training" classes I've taken. What has benefitted me most was participating in the Website Reviews section. I learned a lot about how to implement code, and having the finished website right there let me see how it works. Many online tutorials don't do that; they just provide the code. Also, seeing "badly coded" websites alerted me to practices that don't follow the Standards - many of the tutorials you see don't necessarily do that, either. (Also, some of the classes I went to actually taught how to do layout in tables! :eek: )

So, enjoy your time here. You're bound to learn lots! :)

[FireCracker37]

All the website design classes I took weren't even smart enough to teach us how to do the layout with tables. They used FRAMES!

[eddydesigns]

Well that is good to know that you learned more from others. They say that is the best way to learn and also to look at the source code as well. Our field is changing all the time and it is hard enough to keep up with everything else that happens around us. Kudos to us developers! :)

[polorboy]

Thanks a lot, I am impressed that quality of replies I got. I really appreciate the input. What do you guys think of this: http://www.w3schools.com ? I was thinking of taking their test and getting certificates from them for the languages I know.

[eddydesigns]

That is an ok school. Not bad for being free. The tests are about $150.00 a pop.

[meinsla]

:confused: What the heck is wrong with tables??? :confused:

[KDLA]

:confused: What the heck is wrong with tables??? :confused:
http://www.hotdesign.com/seybold/

KDLA

[meinsla]

I've read that. I didn't ask why CSS was great. I already know it is. I asked what was wrong with tables. The article barely touches on tables and on the few points it does, it marginally praises them.