Adonis

Hello all, Thanks for the advice, its appreciated. I think I will focus my efforts into getting a firm understanding of Codeigniter and Wordpress as well as brushing up on my Photoshop skills. Unfortunately I wouldn't be in a position where taking a Junior Developer role for under 20k would be feasible, I would imagine that in order for me to earn the wage I require I would have to open a design studio as part of a team. And then, as was mentioned, network like crazy. It not something I'm going to rush into but its definately where I want to end up.

Hello all, Apologies if this is not the correct forum for this but I am looking for some sage advice from those in the industry currently. I am 31 and currently employed in a secure, pensionable and unfullfilling job. While I am, in this obvious economic quagmire, fortunate to be in such a position, I can almost certainly say the thoughts of doing what I'm doing for the next 35 years is a grim one. Now a little bit about me, I have knowledge of HTML, I can manipulate Javasript and understand how PHP works though wouldn't count myself as anything of an expert in either language. I can develop a website from scratch and would consider myself more of a welder than a developer (due to using other peoples pieces of programming to accomplish the look or usability I desire on a site). If I had the ability to click my fingers and be in a reasonably achievable position that I had to stick to for the next number of years, it would be a position where I get to develop websites and do graphic design work (logos, brochures etc) and develop small apps. Maybe my lack of practical experience in the industry has me having romantic notions of this kind of work, I'm not sure. From some of the research I've done I would maybe have to reach the level of lead-designer in order to earn what I would need to have a relatively good life (40 - 60k) or else be an in demand freelancer. Now this is where I hope you can help me, how can I achieve what I want to? Or maybe, what skillsets should I have on my CV in order to get what I want? And to what level? Should I consider going back to college parttime or would I be better off developing my skills and portfolio in my own time? Should I learn a new language (I was considering PHP or .NET)? Or does a working knowledge and a good Framework (like PHP Recess) negate learning PHP back to front? If there's anything I'm missing please fill me in. What would you like to see on a candidates CV? Thank you for any help you can provide.

Hello from Dublin, I'm here hoping to gain some nuggets of knowledge about a potential move from corporate work into a more fulfilling role in the design industry. A.