Learn Web Design or PHP?

[manxcat]

Hi,

I am thinking of learning one of them to try and get a job in either one in the UK. But I am not sure which one would bea better choice to find a job or make money out of.
I have no qualifications or experience in this kind of thing so I was just hoping that proving I have the skill might help me get some work out of it.
I'd also love to work remotely if I could.
I think i'd enjoy designing more that PHP but not sure if getting a job in PHP would be harder for someone like me?
Thanks.

[eliza189]

You should learn both. A good PHP developer also knows about designing. And it would be more beneficial for your career perception.

[NogDog]

However, not very many people are really good at both. If you want to be a single-person freelancer who does everything, then yes, you probably need both skill sets (or else be really good at one and know people in the other you can use as sub-contractors); but if you are going to work in more of a full-blown software shop of some sort, you'll have separate graphic designers, front-end developers, and back-end developers (possibly separated into DB specialists and application code specialists).

[OctoberWind]

If you have no experience in either field, then I think design is going to be a better option than development, if

...just hoping that proving I have the skill might help me get some work out of it

It'll be easier to learn enough design skills to start getting work, than enough development skills, which are usually harder to master.

just my 2cents as a developer.

[NogDog]

For that matter, which one are you more passionate about? It will be easier to make yourself spend the time to learn and master something you like than something that bores you.

[webdoer]

Any ideas on where to find job specifications in USA or UK, etc.? Or keywords to use in search?

[theyoker]

Brief overview of what is expected of a web developer:
http://www.theitjobboard.co.uk/brows...Design-Jobs/en

Brief overview of what is expected of a php developer:
http://www.theitjobboard.co.uk/brows...se-PHP-Jobs/en

Today universities are giving students knowledge in all areas of web development, so they'll know the basics. Many people say once you know one programming language you can pick up others incredibly fast. If I was you I'd set-up a freelance IT service offering web design and consultancy and just outsource all the work to someone in India. Or go to university as many of the web company's are looking for qualifications.

[hurryburry]

Both are more or else the same while it is quite easy to learn web design rather than PHP.If you have the ability and interest learn PHP or go with web design.