Instructions for this weeks Journal post are to put ourselves in the place of the interviewer, list questions they would ask and why they would ask them. This should prepare me for the interview process in the future and learn what I could be asked.
Why did you apply for this job role?
You would expect the interviewer to ask this question and could possibly be the most popular/expected. I assume it would be asked to find out the persons reasons and seriousness for applying for the role.
How would your friends describe you?
This would be a good question to ask from the interviewers point of view. It can be asked to find out what that person is like and how they would fit in the job role, as well as the team they will be joining.
What do you do in your spare time?
This is a useful question to find out how much they do in their spare time in relation to the job role they are applying for. It can also be used to find out what sort of person they are and how they would fit in the team.
Do you keep up to date with the design world?
This is a good question to ask to see if web design is a hobbie to the person or if it is purely a job position for them. Also, keeping up to date can be crucial at times in the design world.
What is your opinion of web standards and accessibilty?
I believe this is an important question to ask as it will show what the person knows about standards and accessibility. It is important that they are up to date with this and know exactly what they are talking about and desgining for.
How well do you work in a group or team situation?
A good question to ask to find out how reserved the individual is. If the job role they are applying for is in a team and they prefer to work individually then it could be a problem. It can also be asked to find out how they would fit in with the work place.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
This, I believe, is a very common question to be asked at an interview but is still a useful question to ask. It can show whether the individual intends to stay and progress through the company or plans on staying for a short amount of time. It can also show the persons maturity and how they have thought about their own future.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Friday, 23 October 2009
A8, iMe Grade/Mark
1. Research and investigate into PHP & MySQL.
I met this LO by doing some basic and also some more thorough research. I completed this by using a few books and some online resources.
2. Research & Develop skills in confidently using PHP & MySQL.
I have met this LO by writing a short essay with my research notes from what I have learnt, and a short tutorial on how to inplement PHP into a website.
3. Create a simple website with features.
I met this LO by creating a fully functioning website with example features such as a 'Feedback Form' and a 'Guestbook'. You can view the website here.
4. Evaluate and reflect on the SMLP and what I have learnt.
I have met this LO by writing a short essay (670 words), both evaluating and reflecting on what I have learnt and the website I have created.
I have looked through the other criteria and decided my grade will be a Pass.
I met this LO by doing some basic and also some more thorough research. I completed this by using a few books and some online resources.
2. Research & Develop skills in confidently using PHP & MySQL.
I have met this LO by writing a short essay with my research notes from what I have learnt, and a short tutorial on how to inplement PHP into a website.
3. Create a simple website with features.
I met this LO by creating a fully functioning website with example features such as a 'Feedback Form' and a 'Guestbook'. You can view the website here.
4. Evaluate and reflect on the SMLP and what I have learnt.
I have met this LO by writing a short essay (670 words), both evaluating and reflecting on what I have learnt and the website I have created.
I have looked through the other criteria and decided my grade will be a Pass.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
A8, SMLP Learning PHP & MySQL
Learning PHP turned out to be a little more difficult than I first thought, although very useful. One of the first things I learnt was a PHP 'Include', basically what this means is you pull information from another document. For example:
If you have a navigation list, you could use an include to pull it on every page of your site. So, you could have 1 nav.php file which would look something like this example below.
Then you would have your normal page (e.g. index.php). You would then on this page put an include which looks like this:
By doing this simple step you can simply edit the nav.php file once and it would change on every page instantly. This can be very useful for lots of things, e.g. it would work great for a footer or a header.
Another useful thing I have learnt is a simple feedback form with required fields using only PHP. This was very complicated to look at first, it went straight over my heard and I even now sometimes get lost while looking through it.
The required forms are quite clever, for example in the email input field it the user has to type an @ and a . (period) before it will let them submit the form. You can also have an drop down menu to use as a subject which can be quite useful in picking out certain emails if you were to have many. You can also write customised messages depending on what the outcome is with the form:
(Click to enlarge)
I have also managed to set up a guestbook on my A8 Website. It has 3 files which are, guestbook.php (the main page), add.php (the php and input form) and data.php (this file is blank, add.php puts data into it when the guestbook is signed and submitted). guestbook.php has an 'Include' on it to pull in data.php so the signed posts will display on the page. As complicated as it may sound, it is infact very simple - I was quite surprised.
Simple diagram of how it works below:
If you have a navigation list, you could use an include to pull it on every page of your site. So, you could have 1 nav.php file which would look something like this example below.
<ul>
<li>Link #1</li>
<li>Link #2</li>
<li>Link #3</li>
</ul>
Then you would have your normal page (e.g. index.php). You would then on this page put an include which looks like this:
<?php include "nav.php"; ?>
By doing this simple step you can simply edit the nav.php file once and it would change on every page instantly. This can be very useful for lots of things, e.g. it would work great for a footer or a header.
Another useful thing I have learnt is a simple feedback form with required fields using only PHP. This was very complicated to look at first, it went straight over my heard and I even now sometimes get lost while looking through it.
The required forms are quite clever, for example in the email input field it the user has to type an @ and a . (period) before it will let them submit the form. You can also have an drop down menu to use as a subject which can be quite useful in picking out certain emails if you were to have many. You can also write customised messages depending on what the outcome is with the form:
(Click to enlarge)
I have also managed to set up a guestbook on my A8 Website. It has 3 files which are, guestbook.php (the main page), add.php (the php and input form) and data.php (this file is blank, add.php puts data into it when the guestbook is signed and submitted). guestbook.php has an 'Include' on it to pull in data.php so the signed posts will display on the page. As complicated as it may sound, it is infact very simple - I was quite surprised.
Simple diagram of how it works below:
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Web Designer Job Role
Web Designer
About the Job
We have an opportunity for a Web Designer to work within a fast paced in-house marketing team. Responsibilities include the maintenance and updating of current group websites. Identify and resolve issues relating to group online marketing. Plan, design and develop new online projects for group and to interpret and develop design briefs received from Marketing department.
Essential skills include CSS & (X)HTML (preferably hand-coded), JavaScript, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash and excellent communication and organisational skills. Knowledge of Quark would be an advantage as there may be a requirement to get involved in the print design process.
For more information on this vacancy email Jonny Duke at info@thebook.uk.com
To receive up to the minute job tweets, just follow us on twitter at creativejobs09
The Book is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
The Book, Pure Creative Recruitment, is an Equal Opportunities and Age Positive Employer.
Link to the chosen job here.
Essential skills include CSS & (X)HTML (preferably hand-coded), JavaScript, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash and excellent communication and organisational skills. Knowledge of Quark would be an advantage as there may be a requirement to get involved in the print design process.
For more information on this vacancy email Jonny Duke at info@thebook.uk.com
To receive up to the minute job tweets, just follow us on twitter at creativejobs09
The Book is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
The Book, Pure Creative Recruitment, is an Equal Opportunities and Age Positive Employer.
Link to the chosen job here.
My Breakdown
After researching and browsing for jobs on a few different websites I came across this one above, which would really appeal to me if I were to apply for a web designer job at the moment. I am very comfortable with both XHTML and CSS and can hand-code them from scratch, although I'm not as comfortable with Javascript, I feel I have good enough knowledge in it to understand the ins and outs and believe I'd still be confident enough to apply for this role as I stand now.
I'm also comfortable with using Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash (frontend). Infact I quite enjoy using all four programs and do so in my own time away from college.
All though I seem to be quite confident in all of the above there are some things I need to work on, I need to get myself upto date with Actionscript (AS) in order to use Flash to it's full potential, there are alot of things to be done in AS that can't be done from the frontend.
Another thing I would have to look at is getting some experience using Quark. Although this is a program that has never really interested me and quite frankly haven't had a need to learn it, but for this role it's an advantage to have.
A couple of other things I need to work on is my communication and organisational skills. My communication skills need work but I'm confident they will improve quite fast with the course and upcoming assignments. Whereas my organisational skills are, well.. Non-existent! I definitely need to work on this as for all jobs it will be required, definitely not something I'm used to doing but I'm sure I'll improve on it in the near future.
To sum up where I think I am and what I need to do:
- Good knowledge of XHTML.
- Good Knowledge of CSS.
- Basic knowledge of Javascript (could be improved alot).
- Good knowledge of Dreamweaver.
- Good Knowledge of Photoshop.
- Good knowledge of Illustrator.
- Good knowledge of Flash (frontend) / Average for Actionscript.
- No knowledge of Quark (Need to learn this from scratch).
- Basic communication skills. (Alot of improvement needed).
- Bad organisational skills. (Alot of improvement needed).
I hope that I will be able to look back on this and have achieved what I hope to on this course. Time will tell, watch this space!
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
50% done?
It's strange to think that the first year is over and the second year is starting. Where does time go? The months we had off seemed like a long time off and I was worried that I'd forget half of what I'd learnt in the first year, but the summer went so fast I hardly had time to gather my thoughts before being thrown back into the second year! Wow.
Over the summer there are quite a few websites I have created and maintained for small businesses and individuals. It's kept everything quite fresh in my mind which I hope is going to make the assignments to come a lot easier than if I had done nothing. I also had a little dabble in PHP and although I do understand how some of it works with MySQL I still wouldn't be confident enough to call myself at intermediate level.
Looking forward at the second year I'd say I'm excited for what's to come but at the same time a little anxious, which I think could be looked at as a possitive thing. There seem to be a lot of assignments with a lot of variaty so it should get interesting!
The one thing that I'm dreading, which most people who know me before even reading on know what I'm going to say.. The dreaded presentation at the end of the course! Although I've not been looking forward to it even since the start of the course, I feel a lot more at ease thinking about it now than I once did - Which for me is strange.
So, here the rollercoaster starts again.
Over the summer there are quite a few websites I have created and maintained for small businesses and individuals. It's kept everything quite fresh in my mind which I hope is going to make the assignments to come a lot easier than if I had done nothing. I also had a little dabble in PHP and although I do understand how some of it works with MySQL I still wouldn't be confident enough to call myself at intermediate level.
Looking forward at the second year I'd say I'm excited for what's to come but at the same time a little anxious, which I think could be looked at as a possitive thing. There seem to be a lot of assignments with a lot of variaty so it should get interesting!
The one thing that I'm dreading, which most people who know me before even reading on know what I'm going to say.. The dreaded presentation at the end of the course! Although I've not been looking forward to it even since the start of the course, I feel a lot more at ease thinking about it now than I once did - Which for me is strange.
So, here the rollercoaster starts again.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
SMLP Resource List
Below is a written resource list of the sites and books I will be using to help me through my SMLP.
Web-based resources:-
www.php.net - This site is probably the most obvious as it is the definitive source for PHP. I'm certain I will use this site on a regular basis!
www.w3schools.com - This is a good quallity, well known website of which carries a good load of tutoirals and walk throughs of PHP, MySQL and other languages.
www.killerphp.com - This site I actually found by accident once.. It holds a good number of tutorials and video tutorials inwhich I will use to help me along the way.
www.tutorialized.com - This is also a good site for tutorials and walk-throughs. It has a good number of languages including PHP & MySQL, it also has a rating system so you can see what's good and what isn't.
www.phpfreaks.com - This is one of my favourite sources of information on PHP. It's a tidy site that has tutorials, walk-throughs and a user rating system. Well laid out and easy to use.
Paper based sources:-
PHP 5, Mike McGrath - This book is very useful with step by step tutorials and full colour screenshots to help. This is a book I'll keep with me at all times!
PHP and MySQL, Timothy Boronczyk - I have only very briefly had a skim through this book but for what I have seen this looks like it will be a good resource to keep me going.
PHP & MySQL for Dummies, Janet Valade - Now, Although the "For Dummies" books are a well-known series and possibly even underated I think this is a good resource to have and use. I'm sure it will help a lot and keep me plodding on!
Web-based resources:-
www.php.net - This site is probably the most obvious as it is the definitive source for PHP. I'm certain I will use this site on a regular basis!
www.w3schools.com - This is a good quallity, well known website of which carries a good load of tutoirals and walk throughs of PHP, MySQL and other languages.
www.killerphp.com - This site I actually found by accident once.. It holds a good number of tutorials and video tutorials inwhich I will use to help me along the way.
www.tutorialized.com - This is also a good site for tutorials and walk-throughs. It has a good number of languages including PHP & MySQL, it also has a rating system so you can see what's good and what isn't.
www.phpfreaks.com - This is one of my favourite sources of information on PHP. It's a tidy site that has tutorials, walk-throughs and a user rating system. Well laid out and easy to use.
Paper based sources:-
PHP 5, Mike McGrath - This book is very useful with step by step tutorials and full colour screenshots to help. This is a book I'll keep with me at all times!
PHP and MySQL, Timothy Boronczyk - I have only very briefly had a skim through this book but for what I have seen this looks like it will be a good resource to keep me going.
PHP & MySQL for Dummies, Janet Valade - Now, Although the "For Dummies" books are a well-known series and possibly even underated I think this is a good resource to have and use. I'm sure it will help a lot and keep me plodding on!
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
SMLP: PHP & MySQL
I have done some research into 2 different languages that I was interested in study for my SMLP. The first one I looked at was Actionscript 3.0 which appealed to me very much, but after studying further realised that PHP & MySQL would benefit me more in the long run and preferbly point me in the right direction for employment.
PHP is a great language to learn because it is open source, flexible, extenable (as it integrates with MySQL) and is continuously improved by great skilled developers. Another great reason for me personally to learn PHP is because I have used it (very basically) in the past, I'm confident that I would feel comfortable studying it properly.
In addition, PHP/MySQL developers are in high demand in the industry and I think the SMLP would be a great item to add to my portfolio.
As I will researching and studying this language I intend to use a wide range of sources such as; websites, books, written tutorials, video tutorials etc.
Using PHP, MySQL, CSS and XHTML you can create and endless applications of any size using a server-side database e.g. User contact forms.
I will look forward to doing my SMLP and hopefully learn enough to take it further in the future.
PHP is a great language to learn because it is open source, flexible, extenable (as it integrates with MySQL) and is continuously improved by great skilled developers. Another great reason for me personally to learn PHP is because I have used it (very basically) in the past, I'm confident that I would feel comfortable studying it properly.
In addition, PHP/MySQL developers are in high demand in the industry and I think the SMLP would be a great item to add to my portfolio.
As I will researching and studying this language I intend to use a wide range of sources such as; websites, books, written tutorials, video tutorials etc.
Using PHP, MySQL, CSS and XHTML you can create and endless applications of any size using a server-side database e.g. User contact forms.
I will look forward to doing my SMLP and hopefully learn enough to take it further in the future.
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