I’m interested in going from my current job as a sales rep into web design. I consider myself pretty knowledgable of HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, Stylesheets, etc. I’m just not sure where to start. I have no prior experience in the work force with these technologies. For that matter, I have no idea whats oppurtunities exist. Should I try and freelance for awhile or should I seek out a web design company? Has anyone out there made this jump? Or something similar? I should note that I don’t have any formal training in these technologies. Everything is self-taught.
BTW, I really enjoy tinkering with web stuff (browser incompatibilities aside) and I think that I would be more fulfilled if I was doing something I liked to do.
I have been following that career path out of the corner of my eye for too long, now, and would suggest you speak to some contract agency pimp you meet through Monster or something. Everybody is looking for five-to-ten-years (!) experience in e-commerce or a degree in it. They aren’t all going to find it. This is a great time for the self-taught. And a kick-ass web site could get your foot in the door.
There might be a way to use your sales experience to help leverage you into something, too. If you are unencumbered (by mortgage or kids), or have an SO to help, freelancing is fun and you can make enormous piles of money. When you’re working.
I agree with dropzone. There is a big demand and the supply can’t meet it. I have been programming for 15 years and I am constantly getting calls and email from recruiters, to the point I always let my phone go to voicemail unless I recognize the person calling me on caller id, because I am SICK of having to talk to recruiters. And another point to consider in your favor is, I have been programming for a long time, but web stuff is pretty boring to me, I would rather do scientific programming. So though I am considered very qualified for the work, I don’t want to do it. and I know people I have worked with who feel the same way.
I think if you are willing to do grunt work for awhile you can break into the industry. Contract work is probably the best place to look because they can fire you without cause if it doesn’t work out so their risk is small. Post your resume on monster.com and dice.com. I have gotten all my jobs for the last couple years there.
Hey Winky – if you don’t want to quit your day job yet, go to someplace like Guru.com and make yourself available for short-term paid projects. If you want to do html there’s no reason you have to quit your day job or even move, until you have built up a bigger portfolio that you can then use to interview for when you’re ready to quit your day job.