#18842 - tepples - Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:23 am
I have been offered an interview by the VP of a GBA game development studio, but I have been instructed to turn down the interview if I cannot relocate to the area. However, I've never been employed before, let alone relocated. How does relocation work?
How much would it cost to relocate a person from Indiana to Washington? How would one finance this cost?
How will a GBA programmer's typical pay compare to the cost of living?
How can one learn how to survive on one's own without the support of family?
Without a job, how can one learn to drive?
Are employers willing to wait a year while I gain experience in a work environment in order to become comfortable enough to live on my own without family support?
Some claim that opportunity knocks but once. If I cannot solve this problem, then I fear that I will never again be offered a job in the video game industry, and the sixteen years I have spent in school and the tens of thousands of dollars I have spent on tuition will have been wasted.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.
#18847 - niltsair - Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:51 am
You certainely have the skills for it, you seem the most talented on this forum :)
I doubt they're willing to wait a year, the game industry is fast paced and they probably need someone now for a particular project.
You'll need some money to start of, but you don't need everything at once, you can go gradually.
If you are selected for the position you can :
1- Find a fully furnished place that you can rent on a monthly basis. (There are websites for finding rommate too, might be an interesting avenue.)
2- Make sure you can carpool or use public transportation from that place.
3- Start taking driving classes.
4- Put some money aside
5- Look into a loan for furniture and shop for furnitures.
6- Look for a used car if you NEED a car (those are real money drain). The best cars to buy are 1-2 years old, since they're still in good shape and under they brand warranty. New car are not really worth the price, they drop value by 20% just after getting out of the car dealership. With gaz price, be careful to go for fuel efficient too.
7- Once you know the region more, find a nice new appartement in a neighborhood that you know you will like, take you time since you already have a temporaly place, and this one will be more permanent.
8- Now that you have your new place, buy the furniture you shopped for.
You'll learn the rest by experience.
A game programmer should have a decent salary, even if just starting. I'm trying myself topurdue a career in it, but have yet to land a job. I think in Canada, I can hope to start at around 40,000-45,000$can while the average salary is about 30,000$. A good cost of living indication is that a rent should be about 1/4th of your salary.
With your level of qualifications, I think that even if you were to pass that offer, you'll be able to find something else. But will probably require to move to a gaming hub region.
_________________
-Inside every large program is a small program struggling to get out. (Hoare's Law of Large Programs)
-The man who can smile when things go wrong has thought of someone he can blame it on. (Nixon's Theorem)
#18848 - poslundc - Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:16 am
It would be expected for the company to provide you with some kind of relocation assistance. This would typically consist of a reasonable allowance for moving expenses, and perhaps an advance on salary if needed for renting purposes.
Good luck with it, tepples. You've earned this.
Dan (just got offered a job in NYC... it's not doing games programming unfortunately - mostly Internet and database stuff in C++ - but with any luck it'll be a shot in my career's arm).
Dan.
#18851 - niltsair - Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:25 am
Yeah, I'm currently a programmer, but still pursuing a career in gaming. It's hard to land a job in it without major projects to back oneself up.
poslundc : I'd say you are amongts the top too, your RPG Engine/Mode7 is truly impressive.
Yes, asking the company for relocation support is certainely a good idea, but if it's a small one, their means will be limited.
_________________
-Inside every large program is a small program struggling to get out. (Hoare's Law of Large Programs)
-The man who can smile when things go wrong has thought of someone he can blame it on. (Nixon's Theorem)
#18858 - Sweex - Wed Apr 07, 2004 9:18 am
Can't provide all the answers as I'm not a US citizen and therefore not aware of the way things go over there. But I have moved from the Netherlands (living with my folks) to the UK, so I think I can say something...
If the company wants you, they should help out with your relocation. If they only offer minimal support then I'd say don't go there.
It'll be tough living without your family's support the first months, but if you want this job (badly) then you'll make it. Takes a while to find new friends inside and/or outside the company.
As it will be your first job, the employer should realise this and help you getting up to speed in the production process.
Last thing; I doubt that someone like you will only get one chance of getting into the industry!
If you like the challenge; go for it!
Good luck!
_________________
If everything fails, read the manual: If even that fails, post on forum!
#18864 - FluBBa - Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:21 am
I'm not sure I can offer any practical help as I'm not from the US either.
But just consider the options, what have you got to lose to try the job?
I don't know everything that can go bad because you have to relocate, but if you have more to win then to lose if you take the job, I say go for it.
I don't know how binding the contracts are, but if it doesn't work out you can probably move back again right?
I worked 1 year in spain and then got tired of it, moved back to sweden and had gained a lot of experience =)
Good luck!
_________________
I probably suck, my not is a programmer.
#18911 - Miked0801 - Thu Apr 08, 2004 2:05 am
:)