Originally Posted by blazin

PHP is far from dead...but if you are to learn it... don't just learn PHP... learn OOPHP... learn some OO design patterns.... learn some of the PHP frameworks.. get to know how to use source control... especially Git.... Learn SQL.... learn how to use a PHP ORM... (Doctrine). Learn how to use Linux and run your webservers.

If you don't have a relevant degree then you could gain certification such as Zend PHP certification.. Symfony Framework Certifications... MySQL Developer Certification.... Linux Certification...

Becoming a developer requires a little more than learning the basics of a programming language... you need to understand the whole ecosystem!