After Graduation Job Advice
by Stephen Clark · in General Discussion · 08/16/2004 (7:11 pm) · 3 replies
Hola fellow GGers...
Spring 2005 I will be graduating from college w/ a CS degree and 2+ years of dev experience under my belt, along w/ 3+ years of graphic design and web design. I used to be a software engineer for a medium sized software company that made commercial printing software, but I was laid off and decided to go back to school w/ my gf and finish my CS degree. My debate now is this: what kind of job should I take?? I would like to stay in the Seattle area, but its not a requirement. Northern CA would be nice as well, but I dont know of many tech jobs there.
I can almost definitely get a decent job at MS doing tools w/ a buddy of mine that would pay well, etc. I've always wanted to do tools, as the life cycle is potentially shorter and the QA isnt as strict.
Alternately, I can go for a game dev job, as I know a few people in Seattle/Bellevue area who work for decent studios. I am a bit concerned that I might get burnt out on games though and not want to make my own.
As yet two other alternatives I can prob. teach as an adjunct here at CWU, but I'm not so sure I want to do that... They need help, but... The other one is that I know a dude who could help me to get into NSA or FBI, which I feel would be a good thing for me to donate some time/brains to the good old uncle sam.
My considerations are this: paying back school loans, NOT being burnt out games, general happiness, etc. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
-s
Spring 2005 I will be graduating from college w/ a CS degree and 2+ years of dev experience under my belt, along w/ 3+ years of graphic design and web design. I used to be a software engineer for a medium sized software company that made commercial printing software, but I was laid off and decided to go back to school w/ my gf and finish my CS degree. My debate now is this: what kind of job should I take?? I would like to stay in the Seattle area, but its not a requirement. Northern CA would be nice as well, but I dont know of many tech jobs there.
I can almost definitely get a decent job at MS doing tools w/ a buddy of mine that would pay well, etc. I've always wanted to do tools, as the life cycle is potentially shorter and the QA isnt as strict.
Alternately, I can go for a game dev job, as I know a few people in Seattle/Bellevue area who work for decent studios. I am a bit concerned that I might get burnt out on games though and not want to make my own.
As yet two other alternatives I can prob. teach as an adjunct here at CWU, but I'm not so sure I want to do that... They need help, but... The other one is that I know a dude who could help me to get into NSA or FBI, which I feel would be a good thing for me to donate some time/brains to the good old uncle sam.
My considerations are this: paying back school loans, NOT being burnt out games, general happiness, etc. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
-s
#2
The thing is, that I dont really care that much about making money as I've been rich, I've been very poor (again now), and I've always been happy, partially because I always live inside of my means (like the GG folks say, 'right size your life'). I'm just not entirely sure what route to take.
Does anybody have suggestions on the best game studios and software houses to work for in the Seattle area? What I'm looking for is: NOT stupid management, (means way less crunch time) and a laid back work atmosphere. Frankly, I was spoiled by my last software job.
-s
08/16/2004 (9:10 pm)
Oh, I already experienced the WORST job market in Seattle history when I was laid off in 2002. Its bad now, but not as bad, and besides I now have a few folks on the inside (one a lead programmer) that I can use. One of the reasons I've been working on a game for the last year was to put together a demo, but the game has taken a life of its own, and demands to be finished to the point of public release. The thing is, that I dont really care that much about making money as I've been rich, I've been very poor (again now), and I've always been happy, partially because I always live inside of my means (like the GG folks say, 'right size your life'). I'm just not entirely sure what route to take.
Does anybody have suggestions on the best game studios and software houses to work for in the Seattle area? What I'm looking for is: NOT stupid management, (means way less crunch time) and a laid back work atmosphere. Frankly, I was spoiled by my last software job.
-s
#3
I'm afraid I can't agree with Steven Fletcher with regard to the teaching, I don't know if he has ever taught anything or is just going on personal preference. I never had any interest in teaching, but I now teach game development at college in the L.A. area and think it's one of the best choices I've ever made. I wouldn't want to do it full-time, but as a part-time income generator (also good for hiring students in to my company) it's very satisfying. However, I will agree with Steven Fletcher with regard to applying for the jobs you really want, first of all.
08/17/2004 (2:20 am)
For game studios that I can reccomend in the Seattle area, there's Monolith (now owned by WB), Gas Powered Games (now owned by Microsoft) and Amaze (probably the only studio I know never to have had a layoff, they just don't pay real well).I'm afraid I can't agree with Steven Fletcher with regard to the teaching, I don't know if he has ever taught anything or is just going on personal preference. I never had any interest in teaching, but I now teach game development at college in the L.A. area and think it's one of the best choices I've ever made. I wouldn't want to do it full-time, but as a part-time income generator (also good for hiring students in to my company) it's very satisfying. However, I will agree with Steven Fletcher with regard to applying for the jobs you really want, first of all.
Steven Fletcher
Given the current state of the job market, you will probably find your options more limitted than you expect, though you're obviously a better prospect than alot of people (unfortunately, this includes me).
My advice to you is to first apply for the jobs you really want (whatever those may be) but then apply for others as well if you don't get hired right away.
If you're interested in a game dev job, you should probably have a bunch of simple example games made first to show them that you already know what's going on.
Other than that, I don't know what to tell you. I'm going to be one of the last people hired for a programming job, assuming that I ever am, since my grades in college were less than exemplary, I only MINORED in computer science (majored in math), and I have no professional programming experience.
So don't let my post scare you too much about the job market. I'm more an authority on NOT getting hired than upon doing successful job searches.