Full Careers

Is Web Design/Development worth a Full-Time Career/Job?

Hello, I am a web designer w/some development skills that has been unable to find a steady job in the field. I have had various contract positions but nothing perm.It seems to me that people are figuring out that most of this web work is cake and the only thing left to make money is web applications. Im am trying to figure out if its worth it to go back to school and learn more back-end skills(sql, programming,etc. (but i dont want to be stuck writing stupid content management or blogs, with to me is just redundant,repurposing or for the intranet that can be done in 2 months, maintaining it is not worth even being there for 40hrs.Web related jobs in general are all over the place(i have seen postings for webmaster requiring HTML and another requiring JAVA(totally different)others want seo, high-end design, some coding /some design, Im in Florida, which I know might have something to do with it, and moving to a larger market (NYC/LA) could offer more. Not sure where to go from here?

Public Comments

1. I tell you a story, I know a guy in texas, He was also a Web desginer and now he is making like 200,000 USD in month, You know how? He started his own Website, secondly he posted his information on Alibaba.com and someother trading websites, He started having projects from China Mainland, and from Russia, Yes it is full time job and if you want to be a rich man just continue with it and yeah most important, Learn J2EE and PHP.......good luck man
2. Unfortunately, another forum member's reference to someone earning $200,000 USD per month sounds somewhat exaggerated; perhaps that figures would be more correctly stated for an annual income. Nevertheless, getting back to your situation as a web designer "with some development skills," the one singular skill - SEO really makes or breaks your suitability for employment since many web design groups are seeking web designers with practical and published websites with proper SEO styling. And moving to a larger market [NYC/LA] with your current qualifications may not be a good idea. Perhaps beginning a self-learning course of study by reading as much as possible about SEO would prove more beneficial in the long run and will equip you with enough expertise to allow you to apply and be given employment as a web designer/SEO specialist. Good luck!
3. Hi, By creating a profile on our website http://www.GlobalJobsTrading.com you can do both: bid on the jobs/projects that you are interested in, and promote your service worldwide. We allow you to post contact info in your profile, link to your website, etc., which will help you to promote yourself, allow people to easier find you on the internet, contact and eventually hired you for a job. Try our service, it is FREE. What could you lose?
4. This is entirely dependent on your abilities as a Designer and what you want out of life - how you want to earn your income. The rule is, do what you love and the rest will come. Our designers are kept busy all the time. However, we have to sort through literally hundreds of mediocre hacks in order to find the talented Web designers; and when we do find them we take care of them like prize race horses. Going back to school and learning code - nope. Any designer who is worth a damn will not know very much code. Design and code are two different things requiring two different types of wiring, brains, makeup, people. Do not try and be something you are not to simply make money and sort-of stay in the industry you obviously love. Relocating - nonsense. You can do it all remotely. Live where ever you want and do it all over the Internet - that is why it is there - use it. If you are really good, you will make it as a designer. Or, perhaps you just need to lower your salary expectations and stick with what you love and then, with time and dedication, you will be a Great Designer and clients will be waiting in line for your services. Follow Your Passion!