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

I have spent the past five years learning as much as I can about Web development, getting involved in design, programming, marketing, information architecture, content development and project management. No special degree was required to get where I am today, other than a college degree. I'm new to the production manager role, having been moved from project management due to company downsizing. Skills needed for production management include having a good understanding of all aspects of Web development and being able to budget time and prioritize.

How did you get started in this field?

I started out teaching myself online marketing and HTML while working for an international non-profit organization. I landed a part-time job doing online marketing for Netique.com, an online gift boutique. From there, I was able to gain some real world experience that I was able to use in getting a full-time Web development/online marketing position with an interactive agency. Once I moved into full-time employment, I got involved in as many aspects of the company as possible (it was a small company when I started), and quickly moved into project management.

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

I graduated from a liberal arts college in 1993. Computer courses weren't 'hot' and the only 'email' we had was through VAX. I didn't know anything about the Internet at that time.

What are your specific responsibilities?

I manage our company's Web site, making sure that updates are made daily and that internal departments are aware of procedures for getting information online. I also work on company-related Web sites, such as the Web site for our annual tradeshow, and hope to focus on globalization issues when we start creating Web sites for our international offices.

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

I check email quite a bit, and respond to requests from various company departments. I also spend quite a bit of time doing Web site updates, and managing other internal projects.

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

1. Understanding of Web development - coding (HTML, JavaScript, ColdFusion, etc), graphics production, content management, etc.
2. Ability to prioritize requests
3. Communication skills -- need to be able to talk with non-technical peers
4. Marketing/business skills -- need to be able to judge if something is relevant to the mission of the company, whether or not it should go up on the Web site
5. Ability to work well as a team and independently.
6. Organization skills
7. Attention to detail/quality

Are you in a team-oriented position?

Yes. If you want to learn as much as you can in the field, it's necessary to exchange ideas and work with others.

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

We get three weeks of vacation after 1 year of service. I occasionally work from home -- probably more so now that my new boss and half my department is based in another state, which means I can conduct meetings via conference calls.

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

In my new position, I have been told 40-50 hours is the norm, however in my career, I have worked upwards of 75 hours a week or more.

Are many evenings or weekends required for your job?

Not for my new position -- I'm working for an internal corporate department now, instead of consulting. When I worked in consulting, I found more often than not, I would work a few evenings each week, and a few hours or more on weekends.

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

I expect to travel out-of-state a few times a year maximum to meet with my team members in our other office.

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

I'm currently working on the corporate Web site, a European version of the corporate Web site and a Web site for our annual company tradeshow. This requires working with various departments to generate content, get consensus on designs and site architecture, etc.

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

I work in a cubicle in a rather nice office environment (not stale like some corporate settings). I have a nice Herman-Miller chair, and a view (if I turn around) of a man-made lake. I have a Toshiba laptop that I hook up to a monitor and keyboard while in the office. I have also been given a mobile phone to be on-call as needed. The company provides free sodas and coffee, fruit, cereal and other snacks.

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

It's absolutely necessary to be passionate about this industry, with a desire to learn and continue to develop skills. Successful individuals aren't afraid to jump into areas that aren't familiar to them, and aren't afraid to ask for help when necessary. Attention to detail is also very important.

What is the major challenge you face at work?

My biggest issue I face moving into this new position from a consulting background is to make sure I continually look for ways to be challenged by my job. Whereas in consulting where you would have a new project every few months, within an internal corporate atmosphere, the projects remain pretty consistent.

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

The most rewarding aspects are getting to be involved in something that can make a difference within the company if done right. I enjoy working with a variety of individuals - some technical, others not. The least rewarding aspects are the hours and the potential for bodily damage (i.e. getting carpal tunnel syndrome) if not mindful of posture and time spent on computer.

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

Not yet. In my last position, I often dealt with difficult clients. I would use these situations as an opportunity to learn how to deal with all types of personalities and in the end, would usually find ways to make difficult situations tolerable.

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

I now have a lot of interaction with our marketing, media and events teams.

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

In my immediate department, I'm the only female (there are four of us - a designer, developer, information architect and production manager). In my entire department, there are 10 employees, and half are women, but only two of us have technical skills that I am aware of.

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

With the downturned economy, I am seeing more companies bring their Web development in-house instead of outsourcing it to consulting agencies. Often the role of updating the company Web site is put on the shoulders of a marketing person with little technical knowledge. I have a feeling that more companies will find it more cost-effective to have a small, in-house team to keep their sites updated.

What is the turnover rate like in your field?

With the changes in the economy, most people are staying put in their jobs right now.

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?

I wish I knew 10 years ago what I know now. If I had known that technical careers aren't as difficult as they appear, I'd have taken as many computer courses as possible in college, although I'm not sure how outdated those skills would be now. I've surrounded myself with technical women, so it's rare for me to talk with women who are afraid of tech careers. But I know there are people out there who take one look at code and believe it's too challenging for them. It's a shame. I head up a local chapter of an organization for women in technology (DigitalEve Dallas), and we currently do outreach programs to try to encourage girls to explore careers in technology. Reaching girls early in their education, showing them how much fun and how rewarding technology can be, is very important in trying to encourage more females to pursue careers in technology. With DigitalEve, we also hope to reach women who are considering a career change into a tech field. It was my involvement with a women's technical organization in Washington, DC, that helped me meet others in the industry and eventually switch careers.

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

I hope so. As organizations like DigitalEve reach out to girls and women, providing them with opportunities to see that technology careers can be rewarding, I hope to see an increase in women in tech jobs in the future. Parents of daughters who show signs of interest in technology should encourage it and make sure their child's guidance counselor is aware of the interest, and that the school provides the necessary programs to help these girls become proficient in various tech skills.

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

I would not consider myself a technical person (I have a liberal arts degree with a major in French), however I am now in a technical career. Even if you don't have a technical background, it's never too late to starting learning some technical skills. We're moving into an era where everyone will need some technical skills, so be an early adopter -- get in now, and start exploring the various areas to find something that you enjoy.