Non-Design Skill Set For a Successful Web Design Career

So, what does it take to be a laudable web designer? Qualification in the web designing field, the experience of a couple of years, successfully accomplished projects, and a well-paying job/well-established business. Don't you think you're still missing out a lot? Continuously learning about the domain is crucial for growth. It isn't restrained to the technical skills but includes soft skills as well. The more you expand your horizon, the more benefit you'll get. Let's spill some beans for you. When a website designing company posts vacancies, in the current scenario, they just don't look for the hard skills.

Today, the company wants their website designers to be fluent in soft skills as well. Termed as non-designing skills, the arbitrary skills like being a team player, meeting deadlines, and blah blah blah are essential but overlooked. The serious fact is that when you have the real soft skills, you'd be able to perform better when working for a hired pool in a company or running your own business. Below, we'll be discussing some essential non-designing skills for designers. If you got half of these, you're already on the right path. If you don't have one, do not worry. Work on the skills and boost your market worth.

The Art of Persuasion

Website designers working as freelancers should be excellent self-marketers. Now, they don't require those professional marketing skills but persuading someone isn't a cakewalk, especially when you're bound to lock a deal. Web designers shouldn't just conceive website design ideas, but they should be able to market them as well. They should know a few marketing skills. If you're self-employed, you should be persuasive. If working for a web designing firm, you still need to have presentation skills while pitching to the manager/client.

Effective Communication

Let's understand it in 2 different scenarios.

• A approached Mr. B to get a website designed. Mr. B designed the website using his skills and keeping in mind the latest trends. No communication between both after the project was accomplished. However, the website became outdated in a couple of years.

• A approached Mr. B to get a website designed. Using the skills and considering all the latest trends, he designed a website. Being a responsible web designer, he remained in touch with Mr. A and reminded him about fresh plug-ins and anti-malware for website protection. Now, the website of Mr. A remains up to date and works fine.

You can clearly make out the difference and benefits that happen with effective communication. Though the work of a website designer speaks up, it is essential for them to stay in touch with the client. Instead of creating fluster, one should be agile and remain connected. This is a common scenario in companies offering mobile website design services. They remain connected with clients to ensure flawless website operations.

Planning Expertise

Once, a great personality said, failing to plan is planning to fail. As being a web designer, you get exposure in this huge sector but success can only be embraced when you have planning skills. In order to sustain in this realm, dominant planning skills are essential apart from technical knowledge. Since a designer has to manage multiple projects simultaneously, breaking through for different tasks demands presentable work management on the roster. In simpler terms, as a website developer, you should set deadlines that are realistic. Here's how to dominate it:-

• Create process timelines
• Document timelines
• Use online tools to streamline them
• Set milestones for delivering on time
• Stay calm and focus on the work

Managing Finances & Negotiation

If you're a well-established web designer or own a designing firm, this point is certainly not for you. Freelance web designers and self-employed web designers should read this. Time is valuable and hence, web designers should know how to manage their finances because it is essential while negotiating for a project. There's a probability where the client will not pay the sum proposed. The rule of the market says a buyer chooses the place where he gets the best offer. However, it doesn't mean to keep the market value low. Your negotiation skills should be laudable so that the deals you finalize do not prick your resources and efforts. This is how you can manage your finances:

• Set competitive prices and then negotiate
• Convey the talk confidentially and in a manner so that no question is raised on it
• Always create business proposals that include cru of the matter like details, fees, surplus charges,
• Never hesitate in confronting those clients that hoodwink and besmirch on trivial matters

Ability to Solve Problems

• Here's a secret for all mobile website designers in the world. Your client is a mean guy and wouldn't bear with you even if the project is delayed by a day as promised. He'll shout at you o the top of his voice just to suppress your issue, even if it is grave. So, a non-design skill for website designers is to be a problem solver. You should be quick in taking decisions while maintaining politeness in case the project gets delayed. But remember, your client will still be a mean guy.
• And you just scrolled past the underrated non-design skills that are essential for all web designers. Although web designers are judged based on their technical expertise, work ethics, and professionalism, other soft skills are equally essential for them. After all, these soft skills will occupy some white space on the resume.

What we shared was just a glimpse of some soft skills, but there exist umpteen such qualities that the corporate world is hunting for. As the times will advance, the soft skills list will keep on adding more names. This would ultimately help in carving the right thing for web designers working independently or in association with a development firm. If you think you have these skills and they need to be worked on, do not delay and strike now!