[Chappers11050]

Hi, I hope this is the right section of the forum, please move it if not.

I am 18 and have been taken on by Teignmouth Community School as a Web Developer/IT Technician Apprentice, as part of this I have day release where I go to Exeter College and do an IT Proffessional NVQ Level 2/3.

But I want to go into working in industry as either a Web Designer/Developer, what qualifications do employers look at as recognised or essential on your CV???

This post has been edited by Chappers11050: 13 January 2012 - 01:50 PM

[MikeChipshop]

You're already doing the best thing you can do and that's work experience doing the job you want to do.
Experience and a good portfolio would win hands down over any formal qualification.
As you've already got a place getting the experience then next step is to sort out that portfolio. Build and design some great stuff and stick it up on your own site!
If you want to learn something in college then go more for a bookkeeping course or business management as these will help you far more in the long run.

[rallport]

Chappers11050, on 13 January 2012 - 01:39 PM, said:

Hi, I hope this is the right section of the forum, please move it if not.

I am 18 and have been taken on by Teignmouth Community School as a Web Developer/IT Technician Apprentice, as part of this I have day release where I go to Exeter College and do an IT Proffessional NVQ Level 2/3.

But I want to go into working in industry as either a Web Designer/Developer, what qualifications do employers look at as recognised or essential on your CV???

It's a good position to be in, especially at 18. As a result you're in a position to get some amazingly relevant experience. For instance, building in house system, improving/upgrading exisating systems etc. Make sure you document all your work as it would make a great talking point in interviews.

Web development isn't one of those niches that you can go and get "accredited", it's inherantly grey. The thing that will set you aprt though is experience and the range of projects you've worked upon. I'd tend to say the NVQ focuses more on general IT (E.g. leading to the infamousing useless degree in IT that is too vague) and not web development that you want to work in.

I'd be tempted to get in on a range of short courses initially on subjects like DB design, that form the part of 99% of any web project- it's one of those areas you need to be an expert in.

This post has been edited by rallport: 14 January 2012 - 06:41 PM

[Chappers11050]

thanks for the advice, yeh I guessed that might be the case. just need to learn php and mysql then lol.

[ReaperWD]

Chappers11050, on 17 January 2012 - 02:21 PM, said:

thanks for the advice, yeh I guessed that might be the case. just need to learn php and mysql then lol.

Ive also recommending getting some experience in some of the software that is about - particularly ecommerce ones - as alot of clients will be looking for that too.


Have you got any portfolio or anything similar already done?