...of an HTML associate.


BinaryGirl Spotlight: Shifra

Name:Shifra
Occupation:HTML Associate
Interview Date:November 10, 2000
What is your occupation/job title?

HTML Associate (web development, junior level)

Are you self-employed?

No, I could be a freelancer if I wanted in the Bay Area but choose not to.

What is your background? What types of degrees, skills, experiences are necessary for this field?

I have an English degree but I got into this field by self-teaching and online courses.

How did you get started in this field?

I took a bunch of courses, especially at digitalthink.com and mindleaders.com, in HTML, Javascript, CSS, and Perl, and then I designed a website for a friend of mine (www.washrocks.com) and started administering it on a FreeBSD server. I also got some experience by suggesting to my current employer that I be on a team that was making a website. Basically, when I got my current job I had no experience.

What college (if any) courses have been most helpful for your career?

Zero, but see above. I also recommend www.irt.org, cnet's builder buzz www.cnet.com, and www.webmonkey.com. Check all the O'Reilly books you can find out of the library. View source on any page that looks cool. Look at developer info on sites like Netscape www.netscape.com and Java www.java.sun.com. There's unbelievable free info out there. HTML and Perl, etc., are just languages. Don't be intimidated!

What are your specific responsibilities?

Web production, junior web developer

Describe a typical workday and workweek. What do you do during a typical day?

About half time front end: meet with project teams to develop technical side of projects, then code pages in HTML and Javascript, and CSS1, as designer has specified. Test on many platforms and browsers. Upload and push live. About half time back end: Perl development of CGI.

Name 5-7 job skills that are needed for your job.

  • HTML
  • CSS
  • Javascript
  • Communication skills
  • Perl
  • some XML

    Are you in a team-oriented position?

    Yes and no -- we coordinate but we don't work together

    Do you have flextime? Vacation time? Work at home? Telecommute?

    20 vacation days a year, no to all others.

    How many hours per week are expected or warranted for peak performance?

    About 55.

    Are many evenings or weekends required for your job?

    2-3 evenings, no weekends so far!

    How much travel is involved with a job in your field?

    none.

    Could you give me examples of projects that you are working on?

    I built front and back end of http://thriveonline.oxygen.com/fitness/planner I built front end of http://thriveonline.oxygen.com/eats/joans/creations/.

    Could you describe your work settings? Offices, machinery, resources etc.

    I sit in front of a big ol' monitor and type all day. Must be comfortable with Unix as well as NT in my job.

    What personal qualities do you think are necessary for someone to be successful in this occupation?

    Curiosity, patience, and a sense of magic.

    What is the major challenge you face at work?

    Irritating browser differences.

    What aspects of your job do you find most rewarding? (Pros) Least rewarding? (Cons)

    Cons: too much solitary typing.

    Pros: you make beautiful things that help people.

    Are you confronted with difficult decisions or situations in your position?

    Just challenging teams.

    Do you have a lot of interaction with a certain occupation? I.E. media, engineers, etc.

    Producers, and other coders.

    What is the Female to Male Ratio in your position/field?

    I'm the only woman in a 7-person dept, but lots of the content people are coders.

    Describe the changes taking place in your field. Project future trends?

    Learn XML and Java now. But know something besides Java. I think Perl is staying because it's open source.

    Turnover rate?

    Low.

    Do you think women avoid technical careers? What do you think can be done to encourage girls to get more involved in the technology field?

    Definitely, and it's sad. Mentor the ones you know. Spread the word: IT'S NOT THAT HARD.

    Do you believe that women will be in more technical jobs in the future?

    You bet your booty!

    Do you have any advice for women and girls that are interested in going into the field?

    You can do it! It's fun! Just keep in mind that you are smart and you can do anything.