Logging on to your digital career – what are the options?

You don't have to be a computer scientist to work for a website. Amy Edwards looks at career options in the digital industry

Coding is just the tip of the iceberg of careers in the digital industries. Photograph: Tom Till/Getty Images

If you went off headlines alone, you'd think that every part the British economy was sinking further and further into the depths of despair. But there is one industry that we all deal with every day, in one way or another, that's going from strength to strength, with new jobs opening up all the time. It's the digital industry.
From reading blogs and searching for jobs, to checking your social media profiles and shopping, almost everyone has a relationship with some kind of digital media or online platform on a daily basis. And the more we use the internet, the more career opportunities we're inadvertently creating.
Websites don't just appear by magic – they're normally built over an extended period of time by a group of dedicated individuals. From design and user interface to the content and architecture, every element of a website has been carefully considered, assessed and strategised. Nothing is there by accident. And the sector is vast: Google alone employees almost 54,000 staff worldwide.
From analysing the journey a user makes when visiting a website, to managing customer interactions and planning for future digital trends, websites need an incredible amount of skill, manpower and resources to run successfully. And this means they need to recruit employees with a range of skills and experiences. So just because you're not a computer scientist, it doesn't mean you can't have a successful digital career.
Here is a selection of the main categories that roles fall into:

Online marketing

This is a blanket term used to cover more niche areas, such as search engine optimisation (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), pay-per-click (PPC) and social media. It includes any process involved in promoting a brand and raising its profile online. From interacting on Twitter to increasing a website's ranking on Google, there are lots of different elements which all require a number of different skills and experience. When it comes to SEO, PPC and SEM, a knowledge of the search industry and best practice is essential, while practical experience is favoured for social media roles.

Online content

The natural choice for anyone who loves writing, online content covers everything you see on a website. From blog writing to video production, creativity is the name of the game. It's about creating compelling material which strikes a chord with the website's target audience.
You can start to pick up the skills you need by creating blogs and other online content yourself. This is easier than ever thanks to free platforms such as WordPress and Blogger. A degree in a related discipline, such as journalism or creative writing, can also help.

Ecommerce

Jobs in ecommerce can be anything to do with buying and selling online. It could be digital sales and account management or more niche areas related to online advertising. The skills required depend on the role you're interested in. For instance, if you're interested in account and campaign management or sales, you need to have great people skills.

Web and software development

The web development industry is now more diverse than ever, with gaming, mobile and apps all being important areas. In this sector a degree in computer science or a related discipline can go a long way. However, it's a good working knowledge of things like coding and HTML, and experience with iOS, Android and Blackberry development that is really valued by employers.

Analytics and research

It's no good having a website if you don't know how well it's doing or how it can be improved. That's where analytics and research roles come into play. Professionals use tools like Google analytics to monitor traffic coming into the site and conversion rates – data that is used to make improvements and predictions to help brands plan and strategise for the coming months and years. Needless to say these particular roles are all concerned with data and numbers so a strong analytical and numerical mind is essential.

Web and graphic design

The perfect choice for creative types, web and graphic designers are responsible for creating compelling onsite designs, graphics and images which fit with brand values. A strong portfolio is a must, while a good working knowledge of popular programmes like Photoshop, InDesign and Fireworks is also usually essential. Some knowledge of HTML and CSS could also help to secure a web design job.

Location

Despite what you may think, being based in London isn't the be all and end all when it comes to digital jobs. Thanks to things like MediaCity in Manchester and the Cambridge Cluster, other cities all over the UK are becoming digital hubs in their own rights.

The future

The digital industry is growing at incredible rate and, with new platforms, websites and apps being released daily, it shows no signs of slowing down. There are a wealth of niche job boards, specialist recruiters and career sites dedicated to jobs in the sector, most of which weren't around a few years ago. So can you really afford to stand on the sidelines of the digital industry any longer? 2013 might be the year you get involved.
Amy Edwards is a search engine optimisation manager for Bubble Jobs

Social media is lying to you about Burma’s Muslim ‘cleansing’

July 19, 2012

Don't you wonder sometimes, that the information we are being fed on daily basis can be untrue entirely or exaggerated to the point where it loses all its truth? PHOTO: REUTERS

Social networking sites are abuzz with news about Muslims being killed in Burma.You can see the sporadic posting of pictures by different people with captions like ‘Muslims killing in Burma’, ‘Muslims slaughtered by Buddhists in Burma’ and so on.
Thus, I took on the mission to sort the truth out for myself once and for all and researched some pictures that I felt were dubious. Below are a few pictures and their original copies. You can evidently see the gross difference between them and how they are thrown out of context.
This was a picture shared on Facebook.


I have found the original version which reads differently to the the one posted on the social networking site.

This picture was taken in 2010 after an earthquake in China and captures the efforts put in by the Tibetans to help rescue the victims. Now, Islamic political parties and some other elements are sharing this image as Muslim killing and their slaughter in Burma.
Another widely circulated  picture captioned “More then 1,000 people killed in Burma” is also fake.

The original, as you can see below, is taken in Thailand in the year 2004. This picture shows protesters that were tear-gassed outside the Tal Bai police station in Bangkok. This is roughly 1,409.9 km away from Burma! What is grossly negligent about these photos is the factual ignorance of the hate these misleading photos can culminate.

Below, please find another image which was posted online, this time with an imprint of Jamaat-e-Islami on the top left . It reads ‘Terrorists of Budhism of Burma kills 500 Muslims’.
As you can guess, this is also a fabricated picture.

In reality, this image belongs to a Human Rights violation incident by the Thai authorities against the Rohingya ethnic minority of Burma. These refugees were detained for a few weeks and then sent off drifting into the sea.
Here is another instance of such fallacy spreading across the social media sites regarding the massacre of Muslims in Burma.

This picture is extremely misleading considering that the original image was about the riots in Thailand that took place in 2003!
Now, take a look at the image below and observe how it is blown out of context.

Now, view the original.

The original picture is not even remotely close to what the picture above states. In fact, a Tibetan protester had set himself on fire in protest prior to the arrival of Chinese president Hu Jintao and that too in Delhi.
I do not deny the killings of Muslims in Burma – not even for a minute.
I think it is horrific and I am sympathetic towards the immense loss being suffered by my Muslim brothers and sisters abroad.
What I am against is being lied to.
Imagine the amount of lies we are being fed through these pictures. How can one trust any image online if such drastic manipulation and editing is being done to cater to someone’s political or personal agenda?
Social media and networking sites, if used properly, can be an impressive tool in spreading awareness amongst its users, but it can be an equally dangerous median as well if misused.
These images are false and are only igniting hatred and prejudice in our youth.
We need to become more vigilant and aware of the credibility and authenticity of  pictures we browse through. It only takes one wrong image to push us over the edge towards extremism.
Who do you think is more misleading?

http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/12867/social-media-is-lying-to-you-about-burmas-muslim-cleansing/