Web Developer here.

Career title is: Instructional Developer, I create eLearning content for a large company. It's a mix of programming, multi-media, graphic design, presentations, interactive learning games, video editing, audio editing etc...etc... I took my Web Development experience toward an instructional learning path. There are soooooo many opportunities in this industry. Lots of contract agencies that have tons of positions available and I've seen some exagerated offers as well....especially in Austin and Dallas.

Terms/languages associated with my career... Javascript, ActionScript, HTML, XML, CSS, GUI, LMS, LCMS, Scorm, Elm...just to give you a few things to google.

I used to be a network engineer....wasn't for me. I had a security clearance too, we installed simulators for the AirForce. The fun part was that I got to be a part of the team that created the live 3D models of the bases and the traveling was cool for maybe the first two years..then I got married. I enjoy creating things that look nice and enhance user experience so I eventually left the network engineering to pursue a more vidual environment.

I'm self taught. I did a lot of FREE work before I was able to start charging. A portfolio is very important to get business as a freelance developer. As you get more in your portfolio you can begin to charge more. Once you have a nice portfolio and some experience under your belt you can start applying to companies to score a career.

I've done web development in both a freelance environment and as a career. I prefer the career over the freelance work. I have done some pretty large projects via freelance but I prefer the steady income.

Explore all the areas of IT and find out what interests you most...then start working towards it. For my career a degree and certuificates were not needed though at some point a degree will help reach the pay cap for my title or to further advance in the company I work for.

Once you know what you want to do...

Find a guru friend in the same field to ask questions....find a forum to ask questions (like you did with MAAST), then get on google and start taking tutorials on everything! I have a google degree...lol

Congrats on your new path Ray...my best to you.