If you’ve aspirations to be a professional web designer and have the most recognised qualification for today’s employment market, the course you need is Adobe Dreamweaver.
Additionally, it’s good practice that students get an in-depth understanding of the full Adobe Web Creative Suite, which incorporates Flash and Action Script, to be able to utilise Dreamweaver professionally as a web designer. This knowledge can take you on to becoming an ACP (Adobe Certified Professional) or an ACE (Adobe Certified Expert).
To become a well-rounded web professional however, you’ll have to get more diverse knowledge. You’ll be required to have knowledge of some programming essentials like HTML, PHP and MySQL. A working knowledge of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and E-Commerce will help when talking to employers.
Many training companies offer a Job Placement Assistance program, to help you into your first commercial role. It can happen though that people are too impressed with this facility, because it is actually not that hard for well qualified and focused men and women to land work in this industry – because companies everywhere are seeking qualified personnel.
CV and Interview advice and support should be offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Make sure you work on your old CV today – don’t leave it till you pass the exams!
Having the possibility of an interview is far better than not even being known about. A surprising amount of junior support roles are given to trainees in the early stages of their course.
The most efficient companies to get you a new position are generally specialised and independent recruitment consultants. Because they make their money when they’ve found you a job, they have more incentive to get on with it.
A big grievance for many training providers is how much people are prepared to work to get top marks in their exams, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the role they’re acquired skills for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.
Commercial qualifications are now, most definitely, starting to replace the traditional routes into the IT industry – but why should this be?
With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs increasing year on year, along with the industry’s general opinion that accreditation-based training is closer to the mark commercially, we have seen a big surge in Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA certified training routes that supply key solutions to a student at a fraction of the cost and time involved.
Patently, a reasonable amount of relevant additional information has to be taught, but essential specialisation in the required areas gives a vendor educated person a massive advantage.
The bottom line is: Authorised IT qualifications give employers exactly what they’re looking for – the title says it all: i.e. I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Designing Security for a Windows 2003 Network’. Therefore companies can look at the particular needs they have and which qualifications are required to fulfil that.
It’s likely that you’ve always enjoyed practical work – a ‘hands-on’ person. Usually, the trial of reading reference books and manuals is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you’d hate it. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if book-based learning really isn’t your style.
If we’re able to study while utilising as many senses as possible, then the results are usually dramatically better.
Search for a course where you’ll get a host of CD and DVD based materials – you’ll learn by watching video tutorials and demonstrations, and then have the opportunity to hone your abilities through virtual lab’s.
Make sure to obtain a look at some courseware examples from your training provider. You should ask for demo’s from instructors, slideshows and virtual practice lab’s for your new skills.
Some companies only have access to online training only; and while this is acceptable much of the time, think what will happen when you don’t have access to the internet or you get a slow connection speed. A safer solution is the provision of CD and DVD ROM materials which don’t suffer from these broadband issues.
One fatal mistake that students everywhere can make is to concentrate on the course itself, and not focus on where they want to get to. Universities are stacked to the hilt with direction-less students who took a course because it seemed fun – in place of something that could gain them their end-goal of a job they enjoyed.
It’s an awful thing, but a great many students start out on programs that sound marvellous in the syllabus guide, but which gets us a career that is of no interest. Try talking to typical university graduates to see what we mean.
You must also consider what your attitude is towards career progression and earning potential, plus your level of ambition. You should understand what the role will demand of you, what qualifications will be required and how to develop your experience.
Look for advice and guidance from an experienced advisor, even if you have to pay – it’s considerably cheaper and safer to investigate at the start if a chosen track will suit, rather than find out after two full years that the job you’ve chosen is not for you and now need to go back to square one.