Swapping Careers:

[Romules]

Hello All,

I'll try to not make this look like a narrative version of a resume, but I can't promise anything.

I recently arrived at the decision most professionals in their career come upon at some point in time. "Should I proceed with what I know how to do, or should I pursue what I want to do?" I chose the latter.

I was in the military as an avionics mechanic for 8 years (got out last Oct). While serving I obtained my BS in Management/Computer Information Systems. After I got out I got a job as a Logistics Analyst for the DoD analyzing reliability and maintainability data for new aircraft technology, I am still working this job today.

After I made my decision to pursue my passions, I decided the best way would be to go back to school and get my Masters in Game Production Management. I start classes in Sep. Also, I've decided to create a mod using the Dragon Age toolset as a start to my portfolio.

Now my questions are:

Would I be able to break into the gaming industry with my current skill set? (IE: technical writing, analysis, product improvement, test strategy, etc.)

Is shelling out 30 grand for a Masters degree really going to help me much?

Thanks for any received replies and I appologize for the length of the post.

[tsloper]

To answer your 3 questions (one implied by your subject line, and 2 explicitly asked):
0. Swapping Careers: read http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson41.htm
1. Nobody has a crystal ball.
2. You don't need a Masters degree. But if you want to get one, then go for it.

[Romules]

Thanks for the quick response. I've been perusing your website for another answer to a question I have and I haven't found it so I'll ask here.

Is having a DoD security clearance a selling point on a resume in this type of industry? I can see a correlation because of the NDA type of work that goes on. Just wondering if I should throw that little tid bit of info in my resume somewhere.

Thanks again!

[Gshonk]

It would be very useful in the Simulation industry, often used by people to break into the games industry (or used by old game programmers to go make real money :P ). But not so much in the games industry.

[tsloper]

Originally Posted by Romules

1. Is having a DoD security clearance a selling point on a resume in this type of industry?
2. I can see a correlation because of the NDA type of work that goes on.
3. Just wondering if I should throw that little tid bit of info in my resume somewhere.

1. It depends. Are you applying to a company that makes games for the government to use for training purposes? Or a company working on a game about spies? If not, then it's a nonsequitur.
2. You can, huh? Weird. "I know how to keep a secret." Yeah, well: "You'd darned well better."
3. It depends. See #1 above. This tidbit is more of a conversation starter than a jobseeking plus.

[Romules]

Thanks for all the input and support. I decided I would just start applying for a few jobs in my area while obtaining my graduate degree. Incidently a couple actually called out military experience as a "Plus". Hopefully I can crack the outter shell of that egg. Thanks Tom!

[tsloper]

Originally Posted by Romules

a couple actually called out military experience as a "Plus".

"It depends."