Question:
I am interested in getting a job as a webmaster, but I do not have a
computer science degree. What kind of education or certificate will I need? Where can I get the proper training or class for that? How long will it take to finish
those courses?
Answer:
One does not need a degree in computer science to be a webmaster. But, do
you know what a "webmaster" actually is? Is it "web development," "web
architecture," or "web design" you are most interested in pursuing as a
career?
I must applaud you for choosing one of the fasting-growing fields available
to you. The industry is so young, and growing so fast, you will have no
problem securing work with a little bit of training. Concern yourself less
with formal-sounding certifications and more with actually knowing the
technical parts of your field. Finding appropriate training will be your
biggest challenge. But it is out there. If you dedicate a year to learning
and about $2,500 to a decent computer system, you could easily be making
$40-50K when you set out for your first job.
First and foremost, learn HTML. It is the backbone to all of it. From
there you can branch off in many directions. If you desire to be a
developer or programmer, you will need to find courses in Java, JavaScript,
ASP, PHP, ColdFusion, Perl, CGI, and others. You won't need to know them
all - but at least half of them to land a job. If designing is more up your
alley, you need courses in Dreamweaver, FrontPage 2000, Adobe GoLive, Adobe
PhotoShop and possibly Adobe Illustrator. If you want to get into the
animation and multi-media part, Shockwave, Flash and other similar software
is the right direction. A really fantastic place to begin your education is
at
www.webmonkey.com. This site provides tutorials, tips, and useful links that will help you understand what you need to look for when looking at educational options. Also, read the want ads. The classifieds list the skills required. Make sure those are the skills you are getting when you sign-up for classes.
It was about two years ago when I made the decision you recently made. I
have taken classes at two universities, one college and two privately-owned
techical schools. Some were great. Some were really not worth the money.
But between those experiences, networking with others who have the same
interests, and reading A LOT on my own, I have nearly doubled my income.
You can do it too.
-- Holly Lentz, Lentz Productions
