Hello.
I like to class myself as a 'Web Developer' as I can code in an array of languages, I can also design a website, though it's not my stong point. It is my career goal to work for a web design company (whether big or small, start from the bottom) I believe I have what it takes to work in the business, though employers might think differently.
I live in Leeds, and do not currently work, I'm down the dole office every two weeks *sigh* but daily I look on job websites for a web design position and there are many on offer, and I apply for them, I must apply for about 3-4, 5-6 applications per week, yet I never hear anything! I know 90% of them are agencys and agencys are twats, they probably wouldn't give the queen a job as a data inputter.
All they require is a CV with links to websites you have produced... well I have a CV, professionally done.
I wanted to know if anybody on the P2L forums here works in the web design business? Do you have any storys or tips on how you got into the business? what's it like to work in? etc.
Look forward to hearing what you have to say.
- Chris.
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Working as a Web Developer
Started by .CJ, Aug 25 2007 10:06 AM
7 replies to this topic
#2
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Young Padawan
Posted 25 August 2007 - 07:29 PM
Based in the UK also.. Sometimes for work you must search further out there.
http://www.odesk.com
try there...
I work alot for US based design companys, all you have to do is put across the point that USD's converted to GBP's is alot lower.
I've been doing this and get paid what i'd normally charge in GBP's and they pay me in USD's.
Personally, I hate freelancing for UK based companys. The wanna pay you near on nothing for the work you produce.
My TIP. if your gonna freelance.. go to the US for work.
If you need some US based sites for work let me know.
Good luck dude.
PS. How well can you program? I may have a project you'd be interested in.
http://www.odesk.com
try there...
I work alot for US based design companys, all you have to do is put across the point that USD's converted to GBP's is alot lower.
I've been doing this and get paid what i'd normally charge in GBP's and they pay me in USD's.
Personally, I hate freelancing for UK based companys. The wanna pay you near on nothing for the work you produce.
My TIP. if your gonna freelance.. go to the US for work.
If you need some US based sites for work let me know.
Good luck dude.
PS. How well can you program? I may have a project you'd be interested in.
Edited by Diaz, 25 August 2007 - 07:30 PM.
#3 _*Creative Insanity_*
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Posted 25 August 2007 - 07:40 PM
I do free lance stuff with another guy who does the templates and I started on opensource projects and got my name out there and just went from there once I got known I was offered a few jobs. There are lots more sites nowadays from when I started that offer work and they were not around when I started. In the last few months I have started more on PHP and learning much from Demonslay on here.. most of what I do though is dw generated and for me anyway that does the job and with minor code changes I get most to work.
But no matter where you are from it is just a matter of getting your name and abilities out there and go from there.
Most of what jobs I got in the beginning came from my first dynamic site which was an education portal application for teachers and students that catered for over 3000 pupils and 280 teachers. This was all UltraDev generated ASP and worked a treat. It was from that I gained other projects and work and nowadays I have more that enough to keep me working 18 hours a days 6 days a week.
The trick like I said, is to just get your name and abilities out there. It is a struggle to start with but perseverance pays off.
But no matter where you are from it is just a matter of getting your name and abilities out there and go from there.
Most of what jobs I got in the beginning came from my first dynamic site which was an education portal application for teachers and students that catered for over 3000 pupils and 280 teachers. This was all UltraDev generated ASP and worked a treat. It was from that I gained other projects and work and nowadays I have more that enough to keep me working 18 hours a days 6 days a week.
The trick like I said, is to just get your name and abilities out there. It is a struggle to start with but perseverance pays off.
#4
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Young Padawan
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- Location:Leeds, UK
Posted 25 August 2007 - 09:06 PM
Sounds good guys.
To Diaz: In my own personal opinion, I'm decent. When I build a site, I build it around a content management system for easier access by others and for database querys, I use MySQL. I've had sites up online, over the years, to date, two of them were a success. Currently I'm building a website that if you categorized it, it would fit in the 'Social Networking' column, though while it is that, it's only for a certain base, i.e. fan's of something. Just finished writing my own login script for that, it's worked out well, am pleased with it.
Thanks for the advice so far, I'll keep it in mind.
To Diaz: In my own personal opinion, I'm decent. When I build a site, I build it around a content management system for easier access by others and for database querys, I use MySQL. I've had sites up online, over the years, to date, two of them were a success. Currently I'm building a website that if you categorized it, it would fit in the 'Social Networking' column, though while it is that, it's only for a certain base, i.e. fan's of something. Just finished writing my own login script for that, it's worked out well, am pleased with it.
Thanks for the advice so far, I'll keep it in mind.
#5
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PHP Master PD
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- Interests:Web Development
Posted 25 August 2007 - 11:12 PM
See, if you put in an application through one of those sites, you should probably see if they have a contact number that you can call them at. Businesses look more at applicants who are willing to take initiative more so than those who are willing to sit and wait.
Personally, i went to one of those job listing sites (through my college), and they called me 4 hours later saying i was hired (not trying to brag, just saying i got lucky). It's also happens to be my dream job for the time being (while in school), i couldn't ask for anything else. I may even keep the job after i graduate if me and my employer are still willing to work.
They have me make new sites (static ones mostly, but they send an occasional PHP one my way), fix old sites, and do just about everything else making and maintaining websites demands.
GL
Personally, i went to one of those job listing sites (through my college), and they called me 4 hours later saying i was hired (not trying to brag, just saying i got lucky). It's also happens to be my dream job for the time being (while in school), i couldn't ask for anything else. I may even keep the job after i graduate if me and my employer are still willing to work.
They have me make new sites (static ones mostly, but they send an occasional PHP one my way), fix old sites, and do just about everything else making and maintaining websites demands.
GL
#6 _*Creative Insanity_*
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Posted 25 August 2007 - 11:14 PM
Can I give you a small tip where the money is? That is not in websites but in cooperate applications like Intranets, extranets, and company portals. That is what I do most of these days and they can bring in big money.
As an example my last job was an Intranet for a company that restricted staff doing certain things according to there level of access. Some could manage some projects.. some could manage none and some could access the web and some could not.. depended what the powers wanted to set who to do what. Big application and took around 4 months, but that bought in $NZ24,000. Even divided by the 4 months that is still good money.
As an example my last job was an Intranet for a company that restricted staff doing certain things according to there level of access. Some could manage some projects.. some could manage none and some could access the web and some could not.. depended what the powers wanted to set who to do what. Big application and took around 4 months, but that bought in $NZ24,000. Even divided by the 4 months that is still good money.
#7
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Young Padawan
- Gender:Male
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Posted 26 August 2007 - 11:53 AM
ODesk looks alright, I may look more into that. I agree that ringing employers can benefit you more than say an e-mail or post application, though it seems every job I find is through an agency, and they sure do suck.
Cheers for the advice so far
Cheers for the advice so far
#8
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P2L Jedi
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Posted 26 August 2007 - 02:07 PM
I got my job because of a little portfolio of about 4 sites i had done in the past, it basically just showed that i could actually do something and wasn't all talk since i don't have any certifications and had never had a previous job as a web developer. But mine was also a local job with a local company not a corporation.
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