Company: Orbit Commerce, a Chicago-based application service provider
Salary range for this job: $25,000 to $60,000
Time on this job: 5 months
Previous jobs: I taught piano.
Age: 25
Education: BA in music from Utah State University
How I got this job: I found it on an on-line job board.
Why I took this job: The company was interested in my ideas, and I would learn a lot from the company.
Main responsibilities: I design companies’ e-commerce marketplaces. Clients, ranging from manufacturers to financial institutions, usually have established Web sites, but want to build e-commerce sites. I study the company’s site, figure out how to construct a storefront that will fit the company’s brand identity and create the site with e-commerce features, such as shopping baskets and credit-card machines. Creating the appropriate design is like a brain teaser: You have an image in mind, but have numeric limitations in code to create it. I spend a lot of time conceptualizing the product–the e-commerce site has to be seamless and feel like you never left the company’s main Web site. I use Orbit’s proprietary code, Java script, HTML and multimedia software to design the storefront.
Best thing about the job: I work with the best team of people– everyone’s an expert, and we’re always helping each other. Also, it’s meaningful to have my designs on global Web sites.
Worst thing about the job: Dealing with this global medium; the Internet never sleeps, so work has to be done on Internet time.
My ideal next job: Owner of an Orbit Commerce
Advice to job seekers in this field: Learn everything across the spectrum of Web-site construction. You’ll be working with a team to produce the product, so it’s important to understand what’s involved. I taught myself all my computer skills. The only way you’re going to learn is by doing it yourself. Pull down `Menu’ on a program, click on something you don’t know, then learn it.
