Is it Easy to Get a Job as a Web Designer on Long Island?
By Ken Key • Posted on September 14th, 2020
Is it Easy to Get a Job as a Web Designer on Long Island?
I’ve been a software engineer in Long Island for decades. I’ve taken on all sorts of projects with great results, and most importantly, I gained lots of experience and lessons learnt in the process.
Now all through the years, one of the questions I’ve been confronted with more than any other is this – is it easy to get a job as a web designer on Long Island?
Well, first of all, like most fascinating questions worth asking, the answer isn’t as simple as blurting out a yes or no. Because, again, the question is so fascinating and so subjective, that the answer to this can be a yes or no, or even both at the same time.
To put it more succinctly, it can be a yes for some, while being a no for some. It used to be a yes for me, too, back in the early days. But as time goes on, you start to understand the nuances involved, study the market more, and hopefully attain some knowledge and experience that make the task easier.
Getting through all of these steps took a significant amount of time in my case. It doesn’t have to be so for you. This post was written to make sure that you don’t have to go through it the hard way like I did.
Keep reading below to find out how getting a job as a web designer on Long Island can be a smooth task for you, instead of a tough one.
The Difference Between Yes and No
The difference between the answer to the question being a yes or a no for you comes down to a handful of factors, the most significant of them being experience, tenacity, proper planning and research.
It is all too easy to make the mistake of banking on your abilities alone as a Long Island freelance web designer. I mean, don’t get me wrong, abilities do matter. But sadly, nowadays, abilities alone won’t get you jobs on a consistent basis.
Believe it or not, there are thousands of software developers in Long Island that are just as good, and a lot that are even better. To set yourself apart, you have to go the extra mile.
And how exactly do you do this? Here are 6 steps through which you can separate yourself from the pack and ensure that you experience huge success as a software developer in Long Island.
6 Steps to Ensure You Get a Job as a Long Island Web Designer
1. Create a Comprehensive Portfolio
Your portfolio is your special weapon. It is what you display to prospective clients to show them what you’re made of. You have to make a portfolio of your most amazing projects.
Now this doesn’t signify that they have to be absolutely perfect or out of this world. I mean if they can, sure, go for it. Truth is, though, nobody’s perfect and I wouldn’t like you to take the implication from this that you have to be.
Perfection is not the aim. Meticulousness is. It has to showcase YOUR best. In your best area, and you should be good to move on to the next step.
2. Market Yourself
As mentioned earlier, marketing is just essential to a web designer as the actual designing itself. To make it in the highly competitive market, you must learn and understand how to promote yourself the way most can.
And how do you successfully stand out in practically any field? You brand yourself of course. Take my situation, for example. You’re here reading the Ken Key blog on a Ken Key website with a Ken Key brand. Automatically, I’m no longer just a website designer or software developer. The name speaks for itself.
You also have to make your name mean something. Over time you will build trust and consistency, but first you have to set your name apart.
3. Think About Specializing
As a Long Island web developer, there is already a degree of specialization in your approach, which is great. Sometimes, though, to stand out you have to consider specialization even further.
Now, specialization as a web designer doesn’t have to mean restricting yourself to one design method or one language. No. On the other hand, by specialization I mean considering targeting a particular niche.
For instance, you may choose to specialize in E-commerce, mobile applications, or building websites for particular kinds of organizations and businesses.
All of these go a long way in carving out a niche for yourself, where you can further build trust and consistency.
4. Stay Updated
Just like any other field in the 21st century, or perhaps with even more frequency, the field of web design is a constantly evolving one. As a web designer, you have to stay on top of this constantly changing field.
You have to familiarize yourself with new design methods, learn and practice your own skills, confirm to see if there have been any updates, and so on.
The reason for this is still the same as I’ve been talking about earlier – to stand out. Learning new skills and staying more updated than your peers allow you to add skills to your arsenal that haven’t been saturated yet.
5. Make Use of Available Resources
There are numerous resources and platforms out there where you can secure gigs as a freelance Long Island web designer. Apart from websites such as Upwork and Peopleperhour, you can also make use of lesser known ones such as Glassdoor and Simplyhired, that are just as easy to find with a quick Google search.
Some web designers from Long Island set out with six figures in mind. This isn’t unachievable, but you should also learn to start small. It is a mistake to close your mind freelancing. Here you just might make the proper connections that help you secure that six figure deal.
6. Outreach and Networking
Speaking of connections, another important step that will help you find success as a Long Island web developer is developing an adept networking and outreach skill. Sure, you’ve done the difficult part – attain proficiency in numerous languages and become an expert at it. Sadly, this doesn’t guarantee anything.
Again, people don’t usually throw money at you for a task they can get numerous options for. You have to be willing to carry out outreaches to brands, and form a network.
Join forums, speak with people who have come before. Do these, and you just might be through to setting yourself up for success as a Long Island web designer.