Web design is an established field that has been around as long as the internet itself. It involves planning, designing, building, and maintaining websites and web applications. Web design is part of the overall web development process and includes both front-end and back-end responsibilities.
Front-end web development is concerned with anything the user can see or interact with. It focuses on factors affecting the user experience such as branding, themes, colors, fonts, logos, layout, structure, menus, and site navigation. Front-end developers usually come from a graphic or UX/UI (user experience/user interface) design background. But they should also have technical skills in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Web designer jobs will generally focus on front-end tasks.
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How to Prepare Your Resume
A resume is like a business card and is often the first thing an employer reads about you. You must make a lasting impression to get invited for an interview. Here are some key points to consider when applying for a web designer job:
- Be Authentic: Don’t copy work or invent qualifications, employers often do background checks and will quickly find any inconsistencies.
- Study Your Resume: It should come naturally as your resume is just a summary of your life experience, education, and achievements. But make sure you memorize the document word-for-word as recruiters like to base questions from it.
- Add Some Creativity: Try to avoid using a template. Web design jobs require creativity, so try to demonstrate this in your resume design. You should aim for something unique to help you stand out from the crowd. But also don’t go overboard and remain professional.
- Tailor Your Resume: Have a different resume for each application. Study the specific description of the web designer job you’re applying for. Highlight the key tools and skills mentioned and try to include them in your resume.
- Keep it Short: If you can list everything on a single page, that’s perfect. Keep sentences short and to the point. Employers may have to look through hundreds of applications so they don’t have time to read pages of text.
Web Designer Job Interview Etiquette
The job interview is your moment to shine. If you’ve prepared you’ll have nothing to worry about. Here are some general tips on interview etiquette: Greet the interviewer as soon as you enter the room. Ask for their permission before having a seat. Be bold and maintain a friendly tone while answering questions. Have a gentle smile on your face. Make sure to maintain spontaneity in your conversation.
Video Conferencing and Remote Interviews
Phone interviews have become a recent trend among recruiters. The nature of a phone interview makes them feel less formal compared to a face-to-face meeting. But many rules stay the same. Here’s a list of helpful tips: Don’t sound lethargic or inattentive. Focus on the opportunity and try to remain enthusiastic. Try to include any impressive achievements in your replies. Don’t talk too much. Your conversation with the recruiter shouldn’t be a monologue. Dress professionally, just as you would for an actual meeting. Ensure you’re in a quiet room and have an uncluttered seating arrangement. Avoid distractions during the interview. Speak with confidence and in a well-modulated voice. If you have bad reception, let your interviewer know. If the call drops, call back quickly.
Use Mock Interviews to Prepare: Feelings of stress and anxiety usually stem from the unknown. Interviews involve traveling to an unfamiliar location, meeting new people, and being asked a bunch of unknown questions. To calm the nerves and build confidence, mock interviews aim to familiarize you with the whole process. Start by writing out a list of questions. You can find topics by reading web design books or browsing online blogs. Invite a friend to help you conduct your mock interview. They can play the role of the prospective employer. Each time you run through the list of design-related questions, your answers should become more confident. This process will not only build your confidence but actually improve your performance during the real interview.
Skills Required for a Web Designer Job
Before applying for a web designer job it’s important to understand exactly what employers want. By aligning yourself with their expectations you can boost your chances of getting hired. Here are some skills required for a web designer job:
- Technical Expertise: A website should be effortless to navigate. Shopping carts should be especially easy to use. Everything from adding and removing items to paying at the checkout should be obvious and clear for the user. To make pages come alive a web designer needs to master JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
- Design Tools: Web design is a digital process. Designers often start with a rough sketch using a pen and a paper, but later transfer their ideas into a digital format. Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign are some of the basic tools that a web designer should know.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Users generally start with a search engine when exploring products and services online. Google, Yahoo, and Bing are examples of popular search tools. SEO is the process of maximizing the position of your website in search results. When done correctly it can increase the quantity and quality of traffic to your site. SEO is a specialized field in itself, but web designers are expected to understand the fundamentals.
- Lateral Thinking: Web design is all about solving user problems and improving the customer experience. You need to be creative and think outside the box. If faced with a unique design problem a traditional step-by-step solution won’t work. You may have to break the mold to meet user expectations. This involves creating impressive design patterns that gel well with the purpose of the website.
- Communication: Web designers need to discuss design ideas with the client. These requirements need to be shared with the development team. To make sure all this happens smoothly, you need strong communication skills. Persuasive presentation skills also help stakeholders understand the design process.
How to Find a Web Designer Job
There are plenty of online resources to help you find your dream job in web design. Here are a couple of options:
- LinkedIn: Everyone’s heard of LinkedIn. It’s the world’s biggest social media site for professionals. You can leverage the site to discover new web designer job opportunities. Start by creating an account and uploading your resume, this lets employers search for you. There’s also a job board where you can search directly for web designer positions. One of the best ways to use the site is by connecting with other aspiring web designers. Build your professional network and join groups dedicated to the field. You can learn from your peers and even be offered a job by one of your contacts.
- Online Job Portals: Attach an updated resume to your profile and start applying for job openings that match your skills. Tags play a major role in ranking your profile. Enter relevant tags on your profile to help recruiters find you.
Kickstart Your Web Design Career with an Online Course
To learn career-ready skills in front-end web design, enroll in our UX/UI design bootcamp. Or if you’re more technically minded and prefer a coding-oriented course, consider our full-stack developer program. Both options provide you with all the skills you need to become a fully qualified web designer. Our team of expert mentors will support you throughout the course and beyond.
These online education programs are designed to launch your career and help you land a highly-paid design job at a top tech firm. If you have any questions or want to know how to get started you can contact our admissions team today.
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