Forum Moderators: phranque

Message Too Old, No Replies

Hard Experience or New Media Diploma

Which counts for more in the job market?

         

Maynard

4:56 pm on Jan 12, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Hi there,

I work for a medium-sized charity as a web officer in the UK. I am basically the only web person here and my job is to manage various website projects, our main site, work on programming, strategy, SEO, working with designers on a web redesign and more. I also have to supervise/manage other staff members on web projects. I have only been doing this since January 2003. (Before that I was in an unrelated career).

I have recently seen an advert for a part-time postgraduate diploma course in New Media Management where we will learn about all the ins and outs of web management, new media project management etc. Basically things I do, but with expert advice and knowledge sharing.

Is it worth doing this course? Would such a qualification matter to future employers? I have a PhD in a non-techy subject but no IT qualifications (I'm self-taught).

Any advice much appreciated. Thanks.

Maynard.

hannamyluv

5:25 pm on Jan 12, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Right now, I would say hard experience is more likly to get you a job.

Maynard

9:44 pm on Jan 12, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Is a mixture of hard experience and relevant qualifications the best mix then? I'm building the hard experience pretty quickly. Next year I want to start applying for more management web jobs. Wouldn't the postgraduate diploma in web management give me an edge?

Maynard.

hannamyluv

11:06 pm on Jan 12, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Wouldn't the postgraduate diploma in web management give me an edge?

I doubt it. You see, on the web, it's very easy to show hard experience. Here is the site I worked on, here is the traffic, here is the PR (if they care). Many companies are afraid of the web and are afraid of getting ripped off or screwing it up. Showing your work (just like grade school) counts for alot.

And frankly, anything you learn in school will be a waste of money. The theory of web marketing changes far too quickly for any program to keep up.

pleeker

11:32 pm on Jan 12, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Wouldn't the postgraduate diploma in web management give me an edge?

Not with me. I'd be afraid that the educators taught you "wrong" and that we'd have a hard time breaking you of the bad habits / "knowledge" you got in school. Hard experience would always win here.