my point was there are loads of young technicians around whoknow csss, html and jave etc. A client requires a developer who understands the value of great written creative.
A client always requires a developer to understand what the goals are and how to achieve maximum results.
A great looking css, html java site is all very well but if the written content is uninteresting and doesn’t command attention with calls to action from the visitor then there is little point developing a site at all.
My point is dont get too bogged down with the technicalities but put thought behind great innovative creative.
In which situations should the developer be writing the creative ? Everytime!
Agreed. There is a certain (large) group of people who do really well passing the exams, but are useless in real life situations.
A really bright individual wouldn’t need a certification to land a killer job.
Web design agencies/firms etc may provide writing content as a service but I doubt you’ll find many individuals whose job description is ‘developer’ who actually do.
You should be careful about focusing only on the technical and graphic aspects of web development and design. A developer or designer might improve some aspect of your site while destroying another. During an interview see what they know about DMOZ, PR, SEM, SEO, backlinks, 301’s, etc. If they can’t show some evidence of understanding what these are and what there importance is then you should move on to a candidate that has some understanding of the web business. If they don’t understand these items they may make you disappear in Google rankings or jack up your advertising costs. I recently bailed out a group that had spent months “upgrading” a site and they did manage to change the site to the CIO’s prefered technology but critical items like page titles were left generic (“Home Page”) instead of focused on a keyword.
Regarding degrees, I suggest that you just get one if it is an objection by employers. It is a valid way to do some screening as it verifies foresight, may indicate ambition, and shows that you at least made it through the schools screening process. And come on, you can get degrees easily now online.
Just wanted to let you guys (and ladies among us) know, something came up yesterday (if you’re interested in what exactly, check the General Chat board), so I’ll be a bit late in getting my updated summary (employment vs contracting) of qualfiications up when I can.
I sincerely apologize for the delay.
That has been the BANE of my career existance. Only for me, it is I do not have certifications (CIS major, focused on Support and Networks). I do not have ceritifications because I can not afford the tests right now, and feel they are over-priced as it is. And A+ and dare I say N+ has become WAY over-rated.
I would stick to Dans plan of attack, and heed is warning about not passing up at least looking at the “diamond in the rough”. Most of this stuff is VERY easily self taught. Heck, most of the classes just have you follow a book and then the teacher just regurgatate what was in the book. When it comes to any kind of computer language, I have learned more on my own and on sites like this than in the class.
I tried taking a class a couple years ago (two years ago this month, in fact). They tried to claim that JavaScript 1.2, table-based layout, and Photoshop slices were not only the best thing since sliced bread, but also the latest innovation in the industry.
My foot it was.
The answer is no, there isn’t. Some people with certifications/schooling kick ***, others don’t. Some people without certifications/schooling kick ***, others don’t. It all depends on the person. There is no certification that you can use to weed out the best, only their actual past work and experience… and even that can be a questionable measurement as some show work they did 10% of the work on while you think you are getting the full 100%. It’s tricky stuff finding good, smart people.
That’s good. So taking the problem with many organisations is that they employ people who know little or nothing about the (latest) technology (and don’t want to) is there any consideration being given to running a Sitepoint accreditaton system?
Peer to peer review is the basis of the university system. But the poor old bug**** can’t keep up, which is why technical colleges started in the first place at the beginnings of (OK, half way through) the Industrial age. Seems like there is a need to doing something similar in an Electronic Age.
I’d also be interested to know, now the comms, like VoIP, etc has to be integrated into the Web mix, if anyone is offering a course.
I’ve just come off the lurk list because this I(info) and C(omms) T(echnology) integration is starting to get serious, and I could use some feedback. Taking that [URL=http://www.groups.edna.edu.au/]this moodle is the core of the forum design universe for technical teachers in Oz, seems like it makes more sense having sitepoint associates qualify them rather than them validating you. Love to find their equivilants in other countries.
Just wanted to thank you all for the great comments. I’m a new boy to the technology side of the business, in fact I’m pretty bloody useless at the more advanced stuff.
What I have been involved with most of my life is Entertainment, Advertising and Producing. I have become a latter day developer entirely by accident. Only because the people I have met over the years asked me to write the creative for them. Now, I’m well aware of java, css and html codings and the need for key words etc to enable the search engines to get the viewers to the site. Keeping them there with interest and with a need to want more or to buy is what the end result is about. Or have I missed something? Anyway, many thanks for the good reading, I look forward to reading more, maybe contributing too? The baldchemist
Sorry if I’m duplicating comments here as I read only the first few posts of this thread and started throwing things at my wall in disgust and jumped to the end to add a comment. I have 4 contracted developers that work for me (and am always on the lookout for more).
If you want to hire a good contractor, forget about credentials, references, years of experience, and looking over his shoulder as he pounds out something in Notepad in your presence! Good grief! You’ll pay out the wazoo for someone that will meet your expectation!!
Better to find someone that has the passion for trying new things. Someone that is in it for the experience of building and creating. One of the best ‘developers’ I have is a 17-year-old that I’ve never met…or even talked to on the phone for that matter. We just IM our project details. No wait, he just turned 18, sorry.
You just have to be a little more patient and a little more broad in your testing to make sure things are the way you want them. There are tons of highly skilled developers out there that are willing to not rob you blind. To find the developer you’re looking for, start with a small project and work your way up. Maybe a component of a larger project. Be careful.
just dedication and hardwork are the main qualifications.
Thanks
The problem with certifications is that the web is being updated every single day and so a certification can mean something one day but very little the next…
It would be almost impossible to keep up with
Dave
One thing that you have to remember is that the IT industry is still in its infancy and web development is one of the younger areas of IT. When I got started working in computers back in the late 1970 there wasn’t ANY sort of computer related degree around at all. Anyone who has been working in web development for even a short time is unlikely to have a degree with any web development content at all and anyonwe who has been in IT for over 20 years is unlikely to have a degree at all as actual work experience counted for 99+% of what employers were looking for back then and a degree counted for less than nothing (because it meant that you spent several years studying when you could have been working in some clerical job in a company with computers waiting for the opportunity to get an internal transfer).
Main skill of a web developer is being clever. Web developer must to have a big brain 
Also “able to learn” function is very important
You have have the cadidate take a Brainbench.com test. They have tests on HTML, CSS, Javascript, etc. These are paid tests, so you might have to re-imburse the candidate for the price.
I agree with Dan and am suprised at some of the comments here regarding valid code… yes it’s easy and quick to validate your code but surely that’s the point?
If somebody can’t validate their code or be bothered to correct any problems with it, then it goes to reason that they won’t be bothered for other projects.
Speaking from a personal point of view on qualifications… I completed a college course on web design about 6 years ago which covered nothing to do with accessibility, usability or even the basics of CSS. Everything that I have learnt has been whilst I’ve been employed which I’ve found much more valuable than any course.
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN” “http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd”>
<html />
…I’m a MAN!
Dude…
What is “<html />” ???
Secondly…you can’t validate a page without a <head> opening tag and a </head> closing tag.
Thirdly…you can’t validate a page wihtout an openening <html> tag.
…atleast you got the DOCTYPE right. (depending on what you are doing).
I have not seen anyone mention a VERY IMPORTANT aspect when searching for a contractor of any kind: References.
When I want complex (or expensive) work done on my house I speak with several current customers.
Yes, any good business will only offer you their ‘best’ customers as references, but in many cases having even ONE is challenge for them.
This separates, quickly, those who have “satisfactorily met customer’s expectations” regardless of technical talent.
Afterall, isn’t all business really about satisfying the customer?