Post by Declan Tribal on Feb 12, 2012 2:09:47 GMT
For about four years, I've been working on and off doing home learning for a web design course, after having flunked college back in '05. Basically, these courses offer students a Level 2 & 3 Web Design & Construction Award, which, on paper, would sound very nifty for employers. I took this route thinking it would be a quick and easy way to get a career in web design. Of course, I did waste a few years getting stuck on a couple of assignments, until I found out recently what the problems were (they were -really- minor ones, and I still beat myself up over them), and fixed them accordingly.
Well, I got my certificate in the post this morning while I was out. I wish I could say that I'm done and dusted with further education, but upon further inspection, these do not mean much in the grand scheme of things, and are simply not enough for long-term employment in the web development market. At best, they're simply high school qualifications for a hobbyist.
So it's not the Happily Ever After I've been looking for, but it's not the end either - upon further inspection, the e-learning site I got my course from also offers official certified courses in specialized web development - the kind of material that university students study at.
I'm quite pleased at this recent discovery, because now I can aim for something higher, and go further by applying for a certified diploma instead. I've already narrowed the path down to a few choices, and it's just a simple matter of either gunning for a specialized area already (since I already have two unrelated diplomas, thus having a small amount of experience), or delay whatever long-term plans I have in mind and take the first baby steps in this kind of course with a foundational degree. Either way, I've already passed one major hurdle, and already on the way to building a better future for myself.
I just hope I don't spend another two years in limbo struggling over a single assignment I couldn't do.
Well, I got my certificate in the post this morning while I was out. I wish I could say that I'm done and dusted with further education, but upon further inspection, these do not mean much in the grand scheme of things, and are simply not enough for long-term employment in the web development market. At best, they're simply high school qualifications for a hobbyist.
So it's not the Happily Ever After I've been looking for, but it's not the end either - upon further inspection, the e-learning site I got my course from also offers official certified courses in specialized web development - the kind of material that university students study at.
I'm quite pleased at this recent discovery, because now I can aim for something higher, and go further by applying for a certified diploma instead. I've already narrowed the path down to a few choices, and it's just a simple matter of either gunning for a specialized area already (since I already have two unrelated diplomas, thus having a small amount of experience), or delay whatever long-term plans I have in mind and take the first baby steps in this kind of course with a foundational degree. Either way, I've already passed one major hurdle, and already on the way to building a better future for myself.
I just hope I don't spend another two years in limbo struggling over a single assignment I couldn't do.