[thelist] Interview Questions

[Janet Green]

>>>Do most shops that produce dynamic web content through the use of
database data employ 2 people to create a dynamic web site<<<

My point really was just that writing HTML and writing, say, VBScript for ASP are two very different things, and anyone who can do both well would be quite valuable as an employee. HTML is a display/layout tool, while VBScript is considered programming - and to get it done you have to learn not only the syntax peculiar to the language you're programming in, but all the basic programming concepts as well such as loops, variables, arrays, if/then/else's, etc. Someone who can keep all that detail-oriented stuff properly in line, AND have a designer's eye AND the ability to make appealing and optimized graphics, AND have the marketing expertise to make a website function as a marketing tool, is a rare bird

Part of my concern, too, has to do with the degree to which HTML and website creation have been "Dummified". Naive clients think that because their nephew made a homepage, creating a functional e-commerce website should be a snap. And frankly, freelancers who undervalue their work (and businesses who underpay their web development people) contribute to that overall atmosphere of "anyone can do this." Personally, I consider VBScript to be an advanced skill that fortunately hasn't been completely dummified yet - clients still understand that database interaction is a different animal.

If you are a professional web design firm, or a company who takes its website seriously and wants it to contribute to the bottom line, don't short-shrift yourself. Research the value of the skillsets you're seeking and pay what they're worth.