Calling all web designers/developers. What's it like?

[Spaceman]

Hello,

I am currently freelancing in PR, but am thinking about training in web development so I can open an internet communications business when my youngest child begins school.

Can anyone who works in this area tell me what type of person you have to be, if there's an awful lot of competition out there, and most importantly, does web development have a future? My worry is that I spend years training and Microsoft or someone will bring out a piece of software that'll render all us professionals redundant as it'll do it all for you. Sorry if that doesn't make sense; I really don't have a clue what I'm talking about.

Advice would be really appreciated.

bump

no web developers on mumsnet? Too busy earning the bucks probably.

DH gave up his teaching job to be a web designer eighteen months ago. He has now moved more into computer repairs (don't ask!!!) but still does some web design. I feel that he is losing his interest in it to be honest - as you say, many people will be able to do their own soon. He can't compete with the big companies who have got loads of designers to work on one project and some of the smaller jobs he gets seem so much work for not much pay! He has also really struggled getting payment from some of his clients which has really buggered us up financially this year!

That sounds very doom and gloom doesn't it - hope you can make the right decision for you

Thanks fatzak. Sorry to hear that it's been a bit of a struggle. Maybe I'll just focus on what I know and making that a success rather than changing careers at this point of my life. The last thing I'd want to do is have to get into computer repairs!

I worked in the area for a long time, started as a web designer and ended up directing development teams.

The type of person you need to be depends on the role you want to play. The only thing that applies to any web related role is that you have to be a quick learner and happy to live in a continuos learning curve (Software is evolving all the time, you look the other side and you are obsolete!).

I found it a bit too technical for my taste,but then I'm a creative type that enjoys to spend more time in the creative process rather than dealing with the very time consuming technicalities. Now, the managing of teams? I did enjoy a lot!

I have been out of the media for a few years and was looking forward to make a return this year, however?The credit crunch is taking its toll and at the time it is safer not to jump into that direction (Far too may people I know that are in the business are struggling to get clients, do consultancies or have been fired in the last few months)

Thanks memysonandI. What do you do now? Are you still in the profession?

I thought that because one needs to train so intensly for it, that web development would be a secure career path. Being in PR I am also feeling the pinch regarding the amount of work out there, but I thought that web development would be more specialised and therefore less competitive.

I'm really glad for your advice. It doesn't have all the answers, and that's what I needed to hear.

You need to train intensively for it (all the time, no exageration there), it is a secure career path but also a very competitive one. But again that will depend on what you have in mind to do.

Now, if you plan to go into it in the future, this may be a perfect time to train. I'm using this time to catch up with software changes and rebuild my portfolio (apart of working part time in a totally unrealted area!).

i teach web development at uni. i do have to keep up with what is going on in the industry and teach relevant stuff but i find it far less competative than actually working in the industry. I do enjoy haveing the time to try out new web stuff just for the ake of it rather than rushing to meet client deadlines.