1 Survey Looks Good - But Has Broken Input Labels

The labels for the checkbox/radio inputs have broken IDs.

E.g. in Question 10, there’s input id=”244-3684”, with label for=”244-”.

posted at 05:57 am on April 24, 2007 by Paul Annesley

2 Salary Range Typo (#24)

Question 24 has a typo in the second answer: $10,000-$19,9999 That’s one too many nines.

posted at 06:18 am on April 24, 2007 by Kevin P

3 Untitled

On questions 29-32, I would have liked to be able to explain my answers.

Question 34 could have used an answer along the lines of “I did not have the appropriate skills” answer.

posted at 06:24 am on April 24, 2007 by Kevin P

4 Social Aspects

One of the things I would have liked the survey to investigate is the social aspects of our profession. Perhaps I can illustrate with some comments:

Living and working on-line means that it is rare that I see my clients face-to-face, let alone any peers. Being mobile and having travelled around my country for the past four years likely doesn’t help.

If I make something really exciting, it’s hard to share that or ask for feedback from anyone who understands the question, let alone what they’re looking at.

I find myself regularly needing to teach the client in their understanding of the underlying technology because they are ill-equipped to ask relevant questions and make informed decisions.

I took a break over Easter and I didn’t check my email for three whole days. It was like I was suffering withdrawal. I suspect it’s a side-effect of being self-employed and responding promptly to a client when they contact me.

While this may sound like a cry for help, it’s not. I wonder how many other like-minded professionals find themselves in the same position.

A final point, likely not under the heading of Social Aspects, is that of professional recognition.

There is a joke that goes something like this: “The difference between a used-car salesman and a web-developer is that the used-car salesman knows when they’re lying.”

I see people claim 20 years web development skills, and clients not even noticing that this is physically impossible. There does not appear to be a recognised international standard for our profession.

Perhaps we should begin to take ourselves more seriously. Perhaps this survey is the first step of that process.

posted at 07:03 am on April 24, 2007 by Onno Benschop

5 Untitled

I don’t get the difference between 21. How long is your annual paid vacation? and 22. How many paid holidays do you have per year?

Aren’t they asking the same thing? Or is there some distinction between holidays and vacation that isn’t obvious to non-US folks? Or is one of them supposed to be public holidays (what we call bank holidays in the UK)?

Also there’s a gap in the answers for 22 – no choice for 7-8 days.

Also, is there a password reminder form anywhere on ALA? I had to re-register because I couldn’t find one.

posted at 08:20 am on April 24, 2007 by Steve Pugh

6 And for those who don't have a job?

I’ve recently been offered my first job in the web design industry, and so a large portion of the survey isn’t applicable to me (Salary, etc). However, there isn’t an option for me to say ‘N/A’.

Along similar lines, one of the last questions is ‘What is your next career move’, to which I answered ‘Just joined the industry’ (or whatever that answer is). Shouldn’t that question be at the beginning, and if answered as I did, blank out all the other job questions, as they’re not relevant?

posted at 08:28 am on April 24, 2007 by Guy Leech

7 Too Employee Focused

This survey seems to be focused on the employed web industry, not the vast number of people that operate on their own business or operate as consultants (not freelancers). These people have direct to client exposure that freelancers often don’t have.

Also there is no provision for the employed designer that also runs their own business part time as well. There are a lot of people doing this. But this seems to have been missed.

The last few questions 29-30 could have done with explanation fields so I could explain my answers too.

Salary would have be handy if you at least point us at a converter (we are not all in the US).

The survey touched on discrimination, but didn’t ask why we felt discriminated against.

The question on career moves, There was a distinct lack of choices, What do you expect self employed directors to say other than “I’m staying here”. Provision for answers relating to skill enhancement, role alteration would have been welcomed on this question.

Question is will you really bother shipping anything to anyone who wins that is outside of the US. With the giveaway consideration should be given to a global audience not a US centric one.

posted at 12:09 pm on April 24, 2007 by Gary Barber

9 Agree that survey is to employee focused

I came here specifically to make the comment that the survey didn’t seem to acknowledge the small business person who isn’t a freelancer. I run a virtual studio, as in I don’t have employees but easily could.

Some of the self reporting for the skill sets worry me. Some people will claim to understand usability/IA/CSS but really don’t get it at the same level as represented by A List Apart.

posted at 12:23 pm on April 24, 2007 by Hendrik-Jan Francke

10 Clarification Needed

@Eric So what happens if a person outside of the US wins the Event Apart tickets etc. What happens if they really just can’t get the airfares together (its not cheap from out here in the Never-Never) would you credit the value.

posted at 12:39 pm on April 24, 2007 by Gary Barber