ALT-1 How to Find Web Design Work
There is more to finding web design work than simply approaching potential employers. Firstly, understand that there is a difference between being a web 'designer' and a web 'programmer'.
A web designer is someone who designs how the web site will look and how users will navigate around a site i.e. the site's layout. A web programmer is someone who designs the 'back-end' of a site i.e. all the things that make the site work, for example, linking the site to a data base of content or making the site search-able etc.
Most employers require their web designer to have some basic knowledge of web programming (such as HTML, Java-Script etc.) but in general will hire dedicated web programmers for more complex tasks. As a web designer your job is to make a users visit to a web site an easy to understand, pleasant and enjoyable experience.
If you aren't formally trained as a web designer, it is possible to teach yourself designing for the web if you already have a design background (for example - designing for print). Many design principles for other mediums do translate into web design. However there are a few specific to the web that you can pick up as you learn how to use web design software.
Web design software comes in many different varieties however the industry leader is 'Dreamweaver' and its related software packages such as 'Flash', 'Illustrator' and 'Photoshop' created by Adobe. All of these packages are quite expensive to purchase but well worth it for serious designers. It's useful to know that Adobe offers free 30 day trial versions of their products that can be downloaded from their web site at www.adobe.com so you can evaluate (or at least spend some time learning) each program.
Of the above mentioned software the two most critical are 'Dreamweaver' (this is your workhorse for designing and managing your web sites) and 'Photoshop' (where you'll design the majority of your graphical web site elements). Both 'Illustrator' and 'Flash' can be used to design web sites however these can be learned later as you become more confident with your skills. 'Flash' especially is worth learning if you want to design complex, animated sites.
Note that there are other web design software packages around that are more than capable of creating high quality web sites (I personally use Net Objects Fusion) however, unless you plan to start your own web design business, sticking to the industry standard is the safe option.
Potential employers will want to see examples of your work. Before you start sending out your resume make sure you have some sample sites made up. Whilst it's great to have examples of real web sites that you've made for people it isn't essential.
A good idea is to create your own personal web site promoting you and your abilities to potential employers. You could look around at existing sites that you feel could benefit from a make over and create your version of that site (which you could then offer to the original site owner to purchase if they wished). Or you could make some fictional template sites. Volunteer your services to a community organization and develop a web site for them that you could show prospective employers.
Whichever way you go these samples either need to be uploaded onto the Internet so you can refer employers to them or stored on a CD/DVD ROM that you can send copies of with your job application (obviously the latter is more expensive).
Actually finding web design work is much the same as looking for any job.
Searching on-line job sites, newspaper employment pages, visiting employment agencies, putting your name down for temp work etc.
Check your local area by looking through phone directories for businesses that not only do web design but other forms of design (many businesses that offer graphic design also offer web design as a service). Don't wait for jobs to be advertised either write to or visit these businesses and let them know you're looking for work. Some businesses will take on extra staff during busy periods - this can lead to a more permanent position later on or at least provide you with more credible and relevant references.
Many businesses employ dedicated web designers to create their web site in house. It's worth scouting around web sites of larger companies and finding out if they have a department or in-house team that specifically manages their web site.
Remember too that this is the age of the Internet - it is entirely possible to be employed as a web designer on-line with a business in another state or even country without leaving your own home. Just because a business isn't in your state doesn't mean you should rule it out as a potential employer.
However you go about looking for employers use the advice of many employment web sites in terms of designing your resume and writing a cover letter. In general your resume should be no longer than two pages with at least two current referees. Your cover letter should be no longer than a page. Keep it short and to the point. If you are sending along a CD/DVD with samples of your work then don't overload it with samples. Three or four of your best web site designs should be enough.
Whilst you're looking for work with an established business it is never a bad idea to set yourself up as a freelance web designer. You'll need to check with your own countries laws for working as a freelancer (sometimes called a 'sole proprietor' or 'contractor') for working out paying taxes on your income etc.
Use your network of family and friends to find leads for people looking for someone to design their web site and offer your services. You can even approach local businesses, your local council or again go on-line and offer your services to businesses that have poorly designed web sites. Depending on your drive and motivation you may end up running your own web design business before ever finding someone to employ you as a web designer.
All the time you should be looking to improve your skills as a web designer. There are many books and on-line tutorials available that can teach you better web design. If you're really serious a college course will really advance your knowledge quickly. Many colleges even offer web design as a full time accredited course.
If you keep improving your skills, you'll stand a much better chance of gaining employment when that next opportunity arises.
