Every few weeks, a woman will post to the list and ask how to get started in a web design or development career. How much you need to learn to create a Web site can seem overwhelming when you are first starting out. Many of the job postings I've seen require knowledge of Section 508 accessibility issues, HTML coding, either heavy or light programming skills, and graphic design experience. Some position announcements even ask for strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills. It's no wonder that switching into this career can seem daunting. When you decide to change your career, it's best to start small and realize that learning new skills is a step by step process.

1. Learn what you need to learn first.
   The amount you need to learn can seem overwhelming. If you create a list of what you need and want to learn, it will seem easier to tackle. In my case, I wanted to work as a Web developer or designer, so learning HTML first was the most important. Once I decided what to learn first, I used books such as HTML 4 for the World Wide Web by Liz Castro and HTML Goodies by Joe Burns and began to tinker with HTML tags.
   
   Learn about the different kinds of HTML editors you can use. If you are just starting out, it's a good idea to use a text editor that encourages you to hand code in which case Homesite or Notepad are good choices. Even if you end up using a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor such as Dreamweaver in the future, you'll like knowing enough HTML to have control over tweaking the code.



2. Set goals.
   Write your learning goals down, and pick a deadline date. For instance, write down "I will learn HTML by May 27" and then stick to it. Be sure to give yourself a reasonable amount of time in which to complete the goal, or you might feel dejected about not meeting it.



3. Learn and learn.
   Combining live classes, books, online courses, and online tutorials keeps learning exciting. An interactive webmonkey.com tutorial will have you writing HTML right away and you can check your results as you work. Another HTML tutorial covers the basics and works as a good reference guide in the future.
   
   The HTML Writers Guild offers low cost web-related classes. If having a live teacher is more your style, you can discover what Westlake Internet Training or your local community college has to offer.
   
   Take a break now and then from coding and read up on web design and development issues in a magazine such as Web Techniques or Webreview.com. These magazines discuss topics you need to familiarize yourself with such as browser compatibility, creating style guides for large web sites, and Cascading Style Sheets.



4. Join web organizations.
   Joining an organization like DC Web Women allows you to meet people working in the industry. By subscribing to the DCWW list, you can find quick answers to hard questions. Where else can you ask several thousand women how to fix your code? Just by lurking on a technical list, you can learn a great deal about various technologies. At first, it may seem like people are speaking another language, but give it a few months and you'll be surprised at how much you learn.
   
   The HTML Writers Guild offers members several lists discussing, for example, how to operate a web business, HTML, and web servers. They even have a list dedicated to giving and receiving site critiques, which I recommend when you begin your first site.



5. Gain practical experience by volunteering to design a site.
   Find a small business, an artist, or a couple getting married that wants a site. Look through the yellow pages and ask your friends and colleagues. Also, requests for free or low-cost sites pass through the DC Web Women list on a regular basis. When I volunteered to create my first site, I learned more than advanced HTML and how to use Cascading Style Sheets. I learned how to basic information architecture, how to FTP, and how to create graphics.
   
   After completing my first site, I teamed up with a friend's brother who owns his own business. When he asked to see some of my work, I showed him the first (and only!) site I had and he asked me to join him in creating sites for his clients. This was a wonderful arrangement, because I could work on projects by myself at home and have someone to call if I had questions about how to do something. It worked well for him because he could offer my services to clients that could not afford to pay his regular rates.



6. Design your portfolio site.
   Having your work available for viewing online is vital to getting hired at some organizations. Plus, it looks professional.



7. Find work.
   Find work in your current job that involves HTML, and get all the experience you can get. If you're not working right now, then use your new portfolio to help you land clients and web work through temp agencies.
   
   When it comes time to find a job, have at least three live URLs. If your URLs are no longer live, then use screenshots and a brief paragraph on your portfolio web site to demonstrate your skills to potential employers. The brief paragraph can explain your involvement in the site and help to sell your skills.



8. Never stop learning.
   You never know what might be useful to your business or company. Last spring, I took a graphic design course, JavaScript, and studied Section 508 issues. All have proven useful to my work.

When you get discouraged, take time to look back at how much you have learned so far. You'll be surprised. Good luck!