Pastures anew...

[Fuggan]

Hello team.

Let me set the scene a bit... I currently work in the content dept. of a big online gambling/gaming firm and feel like I have 'stalled' a bit in my career recently. The work is OK but I feel like I can do more. I'm looking at trying to land a web design job for the same firm so am thinking about building some sort of website which I can use as a portfolio, to demonstrate my skills. The content on there doesn't really matter, as long as it displays my flare as a web designer. I want to land a job at my current workplace, bit of a sideways move.

I am learning HTML/CSS and JavaScript, have been since January and am getting to grips with it, feel like I am becoming quite confident. I'm not really rushing this as I'm thankfully in quite a secure position now, but long-term I don't see myself doing this same job.

I basically want to build something which I can plonk on the design desk and say, I built this shiz, can I come and work with you guys? Struggling to come up with ideas with what I can make. I've built a portfolio website but it's pretty basic and there is very little JavaScript.

Can anyone give me some advice? Any help appreciated as ever.

 

[Hyburnate]

A good demonstration would be to build a site which is based around JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS, perhaps a one page site, like this: http://boy-coy.com

It will be hard landing a job with those guys, they will have had years of experience in the field, you would be best landing a Junior job with them, the problem is you will probably take a pay hit, but on the plus side you can then learn whilst getting paid and also be surrounded by people that will help you if you do get stuck.

 

[Fuggan]

That site looks insane! Nice, I do think being surrounded by people who can help out would be a massive plus, but at the same time I don't want to be asking too many questions.

Yeah, I understand I'd probably have to start off in a junior role. Something I was thinking of was sticking with what I'm doing at the moment for another year or so then trying to arrange a secondment within the design department and try and get in that way. That way I'd keep my salary etc and get a real feel for how things work there. Boatload of experience too I'd imagine.