It’s tough in a bottomed out economy to stay afloat Even if you’re job has been safe this long, you’ve probably noticed a down turn in the industry you work in. Many industries are failing or at least downsizing in the deflated economy and layoffs are happening everywhere. But any recession offers a wealth of hidden opportunity and can be the absolute best time to initiate a career change of your own. Not only does the economy give you a good idea of what industries are recession proof and more stable, it also might be a blessing in disguise to experience a layoff because it gives you a fresh start on a more fulfilling career.
If you’re good with computers or programming, think about a game designer career. Software engineers get paid well above the national average. According to the US Department of Labor, the average weekly income of all industries combined in 2008 was about $600 dollars. Among software engineers, it was $1,400 dollars. Though many software engineers toted above a 50-hour workweek, who wouldn’t love making a great salary like that while doing what they really enjoyed?
Another great element to a game designer career is that there really aren’t any special schooling requirements stamped out for the industry. A person seeking a game designer career has just as good a shot in getting a job if they learned programming like C++ from a quick vocational school or through a 4-year software engineering degree program at a major university.
Game Designer Training Programs
There are tons of online institutions and classroom vocational schools that teach curriculum and special skills needed for programmers looking to get into a game designer career. Some of these courses can take as little as 6 months time to obtain certification.
There are tons of industries looking for software engineers to work for them as game designers as well. In addition to traditional video game platform and computer gaming systems, tons of internet sites use java programming to host game applications related to everything from casino games on sports books to action adventure games or even two-dimensional games incorporated into advertising pop-ups. New smart phones and hand held computer platforms are using mini applications that game designers have a field day with both independently and within large companies.
Though many people in the world of smart phone or hand held platforms might start up their own business to just come up with one or two simple money-making applications, the Department of Labor reports that over 77 percent of software engineers work for companies that employ 50 or more workers, suggesting that a game designer career can be very stable compared to the common perceptions. And the typical game designer salary is high.
A game designer career can be cutting edge, fun and very profitable. It can also be fulfilling and mentally challenging as most software engineers spend more time coming up with solutions to problems and algorithms than they do programming.