Getting into web design with the wrong degree.

Have you thought about getting into Marketing? Get a job working for a web-based company (or at least one with a very strong web presence) and go from there.

A Physc degree works (or at least worked) well in Marketing, and if you get your foot in the door, you could take night classes to build up your programming skills then transition into that role at a later date.

I've got a cousin who makes a decent living in web design/marketing, and really .. he doesn't know much programming. Spends most of his time researching local music talent, then setting up basic websites. There are so many GUI based tools (Adobe CS, Dreamweaver, etc.) that you can at least get started without much programming skills.

That's the wrong attitude to have. Degrees are not everything. People switch careers 4-6 times throughout their lives so that means that they deviate from what they learned in college eventually.

A lot of the stuff I learned in undergrad, or even grad were not utilized in my job...and my job is in the same field I went to school for.

I know people with Engineering degree in marketing, business degree in Human Resources, etc.

If you want to go back to school to further educate yourself, by all means...do it. I'm all for education. However, if you're not sitting on piles of money, you may want to run a cost/benefit break down first.

I'm about your age, I turned 27 years old in November. I just completed my 2nd master's degree. I will probably switch careers sooner or later. I don't know how that will go, but I will be an optimist about it. I would think internships are out there for you as well, even if it's unpaid. All firms would like free help. Hands on experience is something a lot of employers want because real life problems don't involve scantrons.

Good luck.

First thing is to get a job, really just anything that isn't flipping patties.

Second thing, is to see if you can do Web Design. At the lowest level you will be dealing with clients and from experience, its the shittiest job in the world. Clients expect you to be able to create things to the effect of Apple.com or Yahoo.com within days. Reality is it can take quite a while. They also expect to pay you next to nothing for it.

With a degree in Psychology, i have seen people do everything from being a Financial Analyst to a Medical Professional. Your degree is not much to help you, get your foot in the door somewhere, make some connections, talk to people and share your interests, but take care to listen to their interests as well. Manage that well and you'll be able to find tight openings as they open up and eventually move into them.

Its much much easier to find a job while in a job, than while you are out of a job. I didn't believe this at first, but after I started working, I started getting offers 1.4-1.5x my current salary just about every 6-8 weeks, just through a simple phone interview, I never had the intention of taking these jobs, mainly because the money isn't what interests me, its the work experience. Although, it does help me to be able to develop my interview skills.

The main point is this: Solo client based Web Design, avoid it, unless you are working with a firm that does marketing and web design for business/corporate clients. Get a job, internship, volunteer, something. Build a network of connections, join LinkedIn. Find out what job you want in 25 years position yourself into a track that gets you there. Here's mine: I want to be the VP of Polo Ralph Lauren operations.

I was a Tax Analyst for a F500, and I am currently an FA at a F500, my next role I want is a Managerial Consulting role. I would like to take that experience and obtain a MBA. I want to get into the industry either through a different company or a lower role in RL. I want to transform myself through that role and portray my value. Henceforth, I am working towards that career goal in a direct approach.

Its okay to have several interests that may snag you on the way, but its important to have one clear cut goal in mind and an idea of how to achieve it, this is where LinkedIn will help you a lot. Find people who do work at jobs you want, and see what they accomplished to get there.

I know this is long, but I hope it helps, or gives you an angle to view this in that you haven't already.

if you are really having trouble try http://www.americorps.gov/ I've heard they are decent experiences and is a better starting point that no starting point.