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We hope that you have gained some valuable information throughout this book. It has been our goal to relay our experience in this field to help you understand how to use the WWW as a marketing tool, and to give you some of the tips and tricks we've
learned the hard way.
So, can you now consider yourself a commercial Web designer, hang out a shingle, and start making huge sums of money? Well, of course not. While we hope that this book will help in your future, you'll need to learn from your own experience. Regardless
of what your future plans are, however, the skills you've learned in this book can help you on your way.
Now that you have knowledge of the mechanics of HTML and have designed a Web site, you possess skills that are in high demand. Whether you are a receptionist, executive, computer programmer, graphic designer, entrepreneur, or whatever, you now have a
skill that others are seeking.
While there are an increasing number of Web designers on the marketplace, there are very few who actually possess the skills and knowledge necessary to create effective Web marketing campaigns. You are now well on your way to becoming one of these few.
Whether you are planning a new career, or just looking to make yourself more valuable to your current employer, you may find a very bright future ahead of you.
If you currently hold a position at a company, it's important that you let your superiors know what you've been up to. Revise your re[as]sume[as], ask for meetings, make it known that you have a new and very valuable skill. There are few business
people who wouldn't be intrigued if you said, "I've been studying commercial WWW design, and I have a few ideas for the company." In short, get yourself noticed.
You may be surprised by what you find out when you start spreading the word. Many companies are either on the Web or are considering it, but very few have internal people who really understand the medium—and fewer still have people who understand
Web marketing at the level you have learned here. A big promotion may be in your future.
Now, how you handle this all is up to you. Some companies may recognize the value of your expertise, and some may not. Maybe you'll get a promotion, maybe you'll be asked to start creating Web pages, and maybe you'll be ignored. The point is that
you'll never know unless you try. If you don't like the response you get, don't forget that there are companies all over the world looking for WWW designers.
The best way we have found to let people know you're available is by posting your re[as]sume[as] online. There are hundreds of Web sites out there for this purpose, and they are widely used by headhunters and corporate personnel departments.
Recruiting on the Internet has been going on for many years. It began through Gopher and newsgroup postings, and has now branched onto the Web. Sites like the Online Career Center, The Monster Board (see Figure 26.1), Career Mosaic, and CareerWeb can
be invaluable for recruiters as well as those seeking employment. By utilizing search engines and directory listings, these sites have brought the job search to a whole new level.
The first step in using these services is to adapt your current re[as]sume[as] to include your new skills and save it as a text file. You may also wish to make an HTML document from this, as many services allow you to post your re[as]sume[as] in this
format.
Figure 26.1. The Monster Board, a Web career center.
The next step is to post your re[as]sume[as] on the major services, some of those being:
Figure 26.2. Posting your resume at OCC.
After this, you will want to search for jobs that interest you, and to contact the companies offering these positions. Most of the above services also have job postings and offer a search engine to help you sift through the information (see Figure
26.3). You will want to prepare a simple e-mail cover letter to include with your re[as]sume[as] when sending to these recruiters.
Figure 26.3. Searching for a job at Adam's Job Bank.
You can also search the newsgroups for job postings under your specific industry. A good listing of these is provided by Yahoo (see Figure 26.4) at
http://www.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Employment/Jobs/Usenet/
Figure 26.4. Yahoo's list of newsgroups listing job openings.
Having a knowledge of HTML may mean more to employers than the fact that you can make Web pages. Many people will see that you have recognized a leading-edge technology and have had the self-determination and courage to learn about it on your own. When
job descriptions say "motivated" and "self-starter," this is what they are talking about.
So, even if you are looking for a job that has nothing to do with HTML, don't forget to put it on your re[as]sume[as]. You never know what it might mean to someone else, or where it may lead you.
If you have studied this book as a way to better approach the commercial Web design industry, you may be looking at the possibility of offering Web design services to clients directly, either as a freelancer or through a design firm. If you have
experience in business, and have practiced enough to have gained some skill at design, you may very well find a market.
If you are already a business professional, you probably knows what it takes to gain and keep clients, to manage people and resources, and to get the job done. You will have seen the opportunities available for truly professional HTML designers, and
are probably preparing to hit the streets. You'll find that the next chapter is geared specifically toward you, as it gives some tips on handling clients. Aside from this, there is probably little we can do for you except to give you encouragement, so go
get 'em!
In this chapter we've covered a few things that may help you apply your new skills, either to excel in your current job, or to get a new one. We've discussed the fact that you need to let people know that you have some good insight into a leading-edge
industry, and have given you some resources for getting the word out on the job market.
The next chapter deals with handling clients and is directed specifically to those who will be responsible for negotiating Web site projects. However, it may also be useful for those who want to breach the subject of Web site creation at their current
company, as it gives some hints on educating and communicating in regard to WWW design. This final chapter also covers some key ideas regarding professionalism, which we have found lacking in this field—a problem we hope you will help
change.
