Webmaster Plus
Weaving Your Career on the World Wide Web

Once upon a time, when the web was even younger than it is today, all you needed to become a webmaster was a computer, an ISP and some simple programming skills or a WYSIWYG web page program.

Now that the World Wide Web is becoming big business, the potential job market is growing as dramatically as the web itself. While it is still possible to become a self-employed, self-educated webmaster, if you are seriously considering a career as a web professional, you will need the skills and knowledge to become just that—a professional.

Virtually every business wants to become a "virtual" business, with its own cyberspace portal offering free information, enticing consumers to visit and revisit its display of on-line services and merchandise. The best news is that high demand in this emerging field is translating into equally high salaries.

Yearly income for web professionals varies depending on the individual's programming skills, knowledge, and experience. The average starting salary for a Webmaster is $40,000 per year, plus vacation time, sick leave, and other benefits, while seasoned Webmasters may earn as much as $100,000 annually.

Small or home-based businesses may only require the services of a single Webmaster, but large corporations often hire a team of experts to fulfill the specific requirements of their vast web domains. As web-based technology develops, its use is spreading to business applications, making Internet and Intranet site construction and maintenance two of the most dynamic careers available to today's graduates.

Large corporations often split the workload for their site into specific tasks, each requiring its own team of specialists, overseen by the webmaster. They hire personnel for web-related positions in graphic design, programming, marketing, Internet security, advertising, and a host of other categories.

One of the first steps in identifying the courses you should take is personal discovery. Where is your passion? Does the prospect of global marketing excite you, or are you interested in revising the way the world does business? Do you prefer solving technical and logical problems posed by new software and hardware, or are you more artistically adept?

The answers to these questions can help you decide which school you should attend and which courses you should take once you are there.

Whether you are a self-employed Webmaster, in charge of designing, operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining the site, or part of a corporate design team, you will need a well-rounded education. Strong computer skills are necessary, but you will also want to cultivate a sense of layout and design, as well as basic business and marketing skills.

A two-year school can provide the instruction you need to get started in the field. If you are artistically inclined, an accredited program, featuring both computer graphics and business courses specifically designed to get you an entry-level position, might be the answer. Many students choose this option in order to start working in the field and making money as soon as possible. Credits from these programs are often transferable, allowing you to follow up the associate degree with bachelor's and graduate degrees.

Other students prefer a four-year program, giving them basic knowledge in many fields. As a student, you will generally spend the first two years at a college or university earning credits in English and other courses required for a bachelor's degree. By your junior year, you will probably have decided to major in business, graphics, or computers and technology, and take courses related directly to that field.

You also have the freedom to choose electives outside your specialty, so if you decide to major in computer technology, with a minor in business, art courses are available as electives. Most colleges and universities also offer a work study program, which will help students establish their careers while completing their degrees.

The need for computer courses is obvious, but you may wonder why business, English, and graphics courses are also essential. On the web, many skills are interrelated and as a web professional, you will need to be able to speak with and write to people specializing in many different fields.

Business courses, as well as writing, editing, and proofreading courses are especially important for the self-employed. Not only will you need to speak with clients, but also keep your own records straight. Both writing and business courses will help you decide what portion of the copy will become body copy and which should be headlines or hyperlinks.

The web is a visual medium, and graphics courses will teach you the elements of design, color theory, and layout. Photography courses, where you can learn many of the same principles, are also an option. You should also be aware of copyright law, and how it affects what graphics you can use on your site.

The rapid rate of change on the web means that continuing education is the norm, with new standards, new products, and new legal issues emerging daily. This field requires a desire to continue learning; additional courses to upgrade your skills, knowledge, and credentials will be necessary.

Many progressive companies are using web technology on their internal networks. Web professionals are redesigning the processes we use to create, distribute, and update information. Businesses as diverse as bookstores, hospitals and tourist attractions are using web technology for everything from new employee orientation to virtual trade shows.

You will need to be both independent and a team player. Most companies are looking for an energetic, motivated self-starter, with excellent organizational skills who can work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Web professionals are in high demand, but it is up to you to decide whether you have the personality, aptitude, and motivation required to succeed in this field.

Provided by Susan Jensen, graduate of Antonelli Institute of Art and Photography, Philadelphia, PA.