How fast do you lose your worth?
As in any business you gotta keep working to stay attractive in the game development industry. It doesn't matter if you did what was considered awesome graphics back in '95, if you can't work with today's tools and standards, just like you have to show your passion for what you do.
About a year ago Avalanche Studios had a massive layoff and earlier this year GRIN shut down, together resulting in hundreds of people in little Sweden to be without a job in the biz.
People get laid off and there's nothing strange with that. There are other companies out there that gladly would employ you instead as long as their budget allows it.
But here's the thing that's bothering. Not everyone looked for a new job.
If you look for a job but have the bad luck of not getting any, that's fine. But a lot of people aren't searching and I just can't wrap my head around it. Especially if you're still new to the biz like me (1.5 years of working and 3 years of game development studies). Unless you have a really good reason for not being able to relocate, that is. Or some other extremely good excuse (which people don't have).
"I'm gonna wait until the financial crisis is over."
"I don't feel like moving right now."
"I'll just wait 'till the gaming industry has stabilized."
Fuck that!
Every day people aren't trying, they lose their worth and become less attractive for companies to hire. The people that aren't looking for a new related job nor does any spare time projects or something similar, how long does it take before they're back to zero? Once again, especially newcomers.
If you're a veteran and well known amongst the companies you might be worth that break a year or two. Nobody will care or blame you for it. Go right ahead. If you're not, you'd damn better keep trying!
I guess, the "bigger" you are, the slower you lose you worth, but I'm wondering, how long does it take?
If me, a junior developer, where to just stop with all my projects and just say; "I'll get back to it later.", I wonder how long it would take before I'd be back to where I was when I'd just finished the University in the eyes of the employing companies.
My intention is not to step on any toes now, and I'm sorry if I do. But as mentioned, I just can't wrap my head around why some people aren't even trying. Didn't we all get into the industry because of our love and passion for what we do?
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November 15th, 2009 - 00:58
I think your reasoning around “loosing you worth” is sound, and is a good thing to think about if you are trying to get back into the biz. But who are you to say if a reason for not looking for a job is good or bad? I understand that you are not trying to step on anybody’s toes. But thinking you understand peoples mindsets and their life situation by summing it up to “I don’t feel like moving right now.” is very pretentious.
There are far many more personal aspects in a persons decision than meets the eye. And not being able to “wrap my head around” it, does not equal it being wrong.
People might have love and passion for what they do, but the again, who, but themselves, should say what is worth sacrificing to reach that goal?
Once again, I understand you have no intentions of stepping on any toes. I was merely making a point about tolerance and respect for peoples decisions.
November 15th, 2009 - 02:00
@Arshak
Yes, of course I have to respect it and I do, even if it didn’t come out like that. And yes, I’m putting my own values on the reasons, and really, just as you say, it’s up for everyone to decide on that by themself, but by putting my own values on it, I can’t wrap my head around “bad excuses”.
Maybe I overdid it, I don’t know.