"No jobs. Low pay." Can somebody confirm? - Page 2

jillduffy · 04-25-2008, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by man000

...would any of you happen to know what sort of programming requirements or previous programming background I should know or learn if I were to make a switch into the finance and securities industry programming?

Piggy-backing on Yaustar, I hear SQL the most.

man000 · 04-25-2008, 09:12 AM

thanks for the answers all

________
NEXIUM ATTORNEY

TimEdwards · 05-04-2008, 08:40 PM

From all that I've heard, programmers are more sought after than artists. I could be wrong though, but as with all jobs it's all about location.

You want to make more, move to where they pay more.

Just my .02 cents.

Tim Edwards (Poster At Large)

estoyer · 06-04-2008, 07:13 AM

Is there any data about programmer salaries relative to cost of living? $45k in Houston goes much, much further than $60k in the bay area, so it surprises me to see such a narrow range.

Duckman · 06-04-2008, 08:39 AM

Games programming deals with database accessing too? Maybe my current job can go on the resume haha.

Gshonk · 06-05-2008, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckman

Games programming deals with database accessing too? Maybe my current job can go on the resume haha.

Especially MMOs. I would put it on your resume no matter what the job is, if it is your current job put it on there .

jillduffy · 06-05-2008, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estoyer

Is there any data about programmer salaries relative to cost of living? $45k in Houston goes much, much further than $60k in the bay area, so it surprises me to see such a narrow range.

Game Developer magazine does a break down of salaries by U.S. region: West, East, South, Midwest.

Generally, the salaries are highest in the West, which includes cities like L.A., San Francisco, and Seattle.

The magazine also included information (I don't have the numbers in front of me, unfortunately) on home ownership, so I recall that people in Washington state were more likely to own a home, which sort of suggests a better quality of life for the money earned. Austin also tends to have a higher quality of life against cost of living.

You can buy a web version of the magazine (it's the April 2008 edition) online for about $4 USD.
http://store.cmpgame.com/category.php?cat=18

estoyer · 06-05-2008, 06:03 AM

Thanks for the link, should make some interesting lunchbreak reading.

I made the mistake of getting a job in a different industry first, so I'm going through a bit of sticker shock right now.

But then, the money is the only way my industry can convince people to stick around.

ShadoFrost · 06-05-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimEdwards

From all that I've heard, programmers are more sought after than artists. I could be wrong though, but as with all jobs it's all about location.

You want to make more, move to where they pay more.

Just my .02 cents.

Tim Edwards (Poster At Large)

Yeah that's true and is one of my fears.
The programming part not moving (I'll move anywhere for the job). I'm an artist so i'm planning on learning some programming to enhance my resume but I don't think I'll be that great at it as I dislike dealing with numbers and data on a daily basis.

TimEdwards · 06-06-2008, 08:42 AM

That is the trade off I went for.

I began a 4 year Computer Science Undergraduate, got 2 and half years in and decided that if I looked at another piece of code, I'd lose my mind. Also, discrete mathematics had it's fun way with me and my GPA. I set out to look into other things.

I can easily copy any picture to a very close resemblence however my actual imaginative drawing skills are a variety of stick figure. My attention to detail FAR exceeds my ability to draw from my imagination. So I took a degree in 3D Animation and was surprised to find I was in love with it (I loved making lamps... LAMPS!!!).

So I suppose my suggestion to you isn't to dive into programming... but enhance the abilities you know and love. Programmers are indeed much more sought after, but you may find yourself stuck in the role for a few years depending on where you go. So if you don't like numbers, don't do it. I'm no educational or career advisor, but if you focus on your artistic skills and build a powerful portfolio I think you have a better shot than adding programming as well. Just my opinion. Take it with a grain of salt as I am still not in the industry myself! (Hopefully soon enough!)

Tim Edwards