Many individuals may have entry level web designer skills, especially as so many now complete their own design projects, including everything from the creation of personal blogs to family-related or business-driven websites. The working knowledge of the web that the average younger person contains within his or her mind is impressive; however, the process of becoming a professional level designer is significantly more complex than most people realize.
Do not mistake the skills you have as being the only ones of merit in obtaining designer jobs. Even if you have achieved a significant degree of knowledge and skills within the web design field, there is always so much more that you can learn. And with the ever-changing and constantly advancing technologies in the IT and web design industries, you'll never run out of new things to learn or new challenges to meet, even after completing a formal education and years of practical work experience.
Many younger people understand the basics of HTML, though few have advanced HTML skills. Learning the ins and outs of higher level HTML, including frames and tables, DHTML, style sheets and other skills, is part of what is achieved through undergraduate programs with technical schools, colleges and universities.
Most web designer jobs with reputable firms require a minimum of a bachelor's degree. You will need to master not only HTML but many other cruel design and programming skills. Although web designers primarily focus on the appearance and character of the website design, it is possible to merge programming and design skills and, in fact, some of the most highly thought after designers are those who are both designer and programmer.
The ability to complete the seen and unseen parts of a website design makes you a more highly valued employee in many instances. Employers are happy to have both skill sets in one individual, especially as this means that the designer / programmer is able to fully integrate all of the aesthetic and technical elements of a webpage in a cohesive, beautiful, and fully-functional manner.
As more and more businesses are taking advantage of newer technologies, it is becoming even more important that those working in web designer jobs understand how to create web content that can transfer easily and attractively to other formats. As the multimedia focus in digital design continues to expand, designers with multiple skill sets will be even more highly valued in the future job market.
A formal education in the field is only the first step to obtaining jobs in the web design industry. Since the technology and methodology of web design is ever changing, much of your learning in the field will occur on the job. For this reason, practical, real world experience in design and programming is also quite highly valued by employers. Part-time jobs, hobby designing, and internships – whether paid or unpaid – are all legitimate ways to gain practical experience before obtaining any full-time web designer jobs.