Digital roles

The world of digital is diverse and maybe we could be so bold to say there's an exciting and rewarding career (in digital) for everyone.

Below is a list of starting positions that illustrate this diversity. We'll be adding extra career information as this site develops.

Digital designer

You need to be creative with good visual and layout skills. A lot of Photoshop work and even some sketching. Some digital designers are more all-rounders but the bigger the agency the more specialist you'll get. Expect a starting salary of £20K+.

Web developer/engineer

Websites and applications are quite complex these days so developers are very skilled people. They work in different languages such as PHP, Java and/or .NET and may use specialist software to allow website owners to update images and text (known as content management systems). They are also good at integrating other bits of the web including payment systems, maps and social media sites. If you can code and can demonstrate good practice expect a high demand for your skills. Graduates and those that can will start on £25K+

Database Engineer

If you know about databases then you're very much in demand. Probably a degree needed for this one. DB people make the big sites run quickly and smoothly through optimising and fine tuning the backend. A job for the perfectionists. Expect a starting salary of £25K+.

UX architect

How often do you go to a site that's hard to use? How come everyone can use Facebook? UX or User Experience is about making things easy and making everyone's online experience simple. It can also be used to make you spend! UX architects are in demand as ecommerce sites compete for those extra sales. Expect a starting salary of £25K+.

Account Executive

This is mainly an agency role. All agencies need clients and account teams keep them happy and make sure their needs are met and money is spent effectively! An executive is a starting position but there has never been a good AE who didn't become an Account Manager before long. If you're a duck (calm on the surface) and like fire fighting this is a role for you! Expect a starting salary of £18K+.

SEO Executive/Editor

We all use Google; but have you ever realised there are numerous people working to help businesses get to the top of the listings. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is big business and if you've a logical brain, love data and are willing to learn there is plenty of opportunity. Expect a starting salary of £20K+ and lots of training.

Data analyst

Websites & online traffic create loads of data. Whether it's how people behave online, what they buy, where they go, it's all recorded. Data analysts make sense of all the figures and tell us if our websites and mobile sites are doing what we want. They also give insight into what needs to be looked at. Again this job will suit logical people, good at maths and science and a passion for problem solving. Expect a starting salary of £28K+.

Project Manager

All big digital projects need lots of people to work on them. They need to be delivered on time and ideally for the money originally agreed. The client needs to be happy and the end result must be perfect. If you find yourself the organiser and the person who plans things then project management in digital is a great career. Good PM's are vital and in demand. Expect a starting salary of £20K+.

Animator

Animation can be used for fun or to explain something really serious. As more video and multimedia is used on the web, people with animation skills are hot property There are courses at Uni but give yourself the edge by producing some work yourself. Expect a starting salary of £22K+.

ActionScript programmer

Flash is universal across the web as a medium for creating multimedia experiences. Flash developers/ActionScript programmers can create and program a host of online needs including interactive websites for the film and music industry, e-learning, games and kids sites such as Moshi Monsters and Club Penguin. Expect a starting salary of £25K+.

Mobile/App Developer

Whether it's iPhone, Android, Windows or HTML5 we live in a world of apps and mobile sites. This is a discipline that is growing at a rapid speed and needs new people. So if you love your phone then how cool is it to be able to create the next generation of apps and tools. Expect a starting salary of £25K+.

UI Developer

UI stands for User Interface and it's about designing the screens and online journeys of computer programs, websites and apps. When Facebook changed its appearance it was world news. It was UI designers who helped shape the new look and feel. Blame them for the timeline! Expect a starting salary of £25K+.

Information Architect

Information architecture is a posh term for arranging all the information on a website into the correct places. Their IA work helps people find things easily. They use their expertise and test with real people to make sure everything is spot on. Expect a starting salary of £23K+.

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help the client (big corporate or retailer etc) work out what they want to do and achieve online. If they need more sales how do they get them? Business Analysts can earn a lot but if you've a business brain there is always room at the bottom for ambitious types. Expect a starting salary of £25K+.

QA/Test analyst

Why do all the websites and mobile apps work? The reason is that they've been tested by Quality Assurance (QA) people. It's all very clever with automated software and strategies. Expect a starting salary of £18K+.

Social media manager

Who thinks social media is for people only? Big brands are in on it, hence they need social media people to help them be seen in a good light) and to deal with it when someone slates them on Twitter or YouTube. Social is big business and there are many careers both offering advice and actually taking over a company's Facebook and Twitter communications. Expect a starting salary of £25K+.

Planner

A digital planner deals with online campaigns such as banner ads and websites relating to adverts etc. They plan the online campaign, the placement of ads and the costs. Once the campaign is live they make sure that the targets are being met. You'll need to be organised and good under pressure. Expect a starting salary of £20K+.