| User |
Message |
Jorden_Yen
Posts: 13
Joined: 07/26/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
I realize this is a little different, but I really need some advice and I thought of you guys :D
I have a Master's Degree in Computer Science and I've been doing secure systems design work for a three-letter agency in the DC area for the last 2 years (I could tell you who, but then I'd have to kill you).
I'm making good money, but I grew up in the Northwest and all my family is there. More importantly, I can make a good living doing system design for the feds, but it's just not what I want to do.
If you will bear with me, here is a short rundown of me:
I have strong communication skills (oddly so for a technical person such as myself). I used to work in sales and I've honed the ability to explain complicated things to people in simple terms. On that note, I have spent many years in school, at work, and at home gathering information about things and compiling it into reports, papers, and documents for other people to read. In other words, I am a good "research then report"-er.
I love to design and express myself creatively though my true skills lie in improving ideas of others. For example, I play a game and can see many different creative ways to improve it or just vary it enough that it doesn't get boring. I can often be found lurking in the game forums of my favorite MMO making suggestions that I hope someone is listening to.
I have artistic skills and can draw and do graphic design work. I currently have a tiny, rarely-updated web comic, but have used graphic design skills for years in over 10 years of personal web design. I guess I forgot to mention all the web systems I've developed (including one for NASA, but I was just an intern so it's not as impressive as it sounds).
I am a strong proponent of "normal people". I don't like to see marketers, advertisers, and the government manipulate and cheat ordinary people (which is why I could never really make it big in the sales career). I work hard to keep people informed about current technology and laws that affect their privacy and security (on one of my websites for example).
In summary...
I'm torn between a few paths and on each path, I'm at a loss how to proceed.
Option 1: Work at becoming a creative director (or whatever the title is) for a game studio, a movie studio, or something similar where I can apply my "improvement creativity" to help other people refine ideas and try new directions without having to create everything from scratch myself (which I can do, but I'm not as good at).
Option 2: Work for a company or organization as someone who's job it is to make sure the products are consumer friendly, easy to use, and not manipulative or evil in some way. I thought of working for Microsoft so I could show them how dumb it is to make products that people can't even use, but I abandoned that because I'm sure they'll read my website and blog when I apply there.
Option 3: Find someone who'll pay me to research information that helps consumers and help them report it through the web and other means. In other words, I'd find out about ways to prevent ID theft or other stuff like that and help educate the public in general about it.
Option 4: Work with a company who does seminars, lectures or holds classes in consumer proctection (in relations to technology). For example, someone who specializes in protecting kids online or how to secure your home system in 10 easy steps or whatever.
My question:
What kind of companies in Washington State or Oregon would I be able to work for? What kinds of job titles am I looking for? What sites or resources can you point me to that would help me out? Where can I go that I can really make a difference?
I swear I would die if I could get on the design team for City of Heores 2 because I have so many ideas that would make this game rock the planet! But I digress...
Thanks in advance.
|
| 05/18/07 11:54 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Nasali
GameAmp Staff
Posts: 0
Joined: 07/01/2006
Credibility: 0 pts
|
I'll give you what my 31 years have shown me... Business IS evil, as you said before anything bought, sold, or processed is spun to make it appealing to the masses. I work as a kitchen designer and can tell you that honesty in sales does make a poor salesperson.
If it's feasable, consider starting your own business, even internet based to help people the way YOU want, keep it honest & pure because if you go to work for someone else, you're going to have to sell a piece of the old soul somewhere down the line.
Family is important, the signature on a big paycheck is not going to be there when you need a friend, not going to be there to help you up if you stumble or fall, but your family and friends (ampers included) will be.
The other hand... suck it up, get all you can grab from Uncle Sam and retire early to the state of your choice and watch your kids/grandkids grow & run without having to go to work and miss it :)
I was going the Anna Nicole route when my search for that 108 year old rich guy was derailed by a handsome devil that roped me into marrying him... We may have to work till the day we die, but happiness IS in the family, so look for me in another 30some years hanging out at the door to a local Wal Mart greeting you as you wander in :)
Nas... poor but happy :P
"A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought." -- Peter Wimsey
|
| 05/18/07 18:27 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Jorden_Yen
Posts: 13
Joined: 07/26/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
| QUOTE | I'll give you what my 31 years have shown me... Business IS evil, as you said before anything bought, sold, or processed is spun to make it appealing to the masses. I work as a kitchen designer and can tell you that honesty in sales does make a poor salesperson.
If it's feasable, consider starting your own business, even internet based to help people the way YOU want, keep it honest & pure because if you go to work for someone else, you're going to have to sell a piece of the old soul somewhere down the line.
Family is important, the signature on a big paycheck is not going to be there when you need a friend, not going to be there to help you up if you stumble or fall, but your family and friends (ampers included) will be.
The other hand... suck it up, get all you can grab from Uncle Sam and retire early to the state of your choice and watch your kids/grandkids grow & run without having to go to work and miss it :)
I was going the Anna Nicole route when my search for that 108 year old rich guy was derailed by a handsome devil that roped me into marrying him... We may have to work till the day we die, but happiness IS in the family, so look for me in another 30some years hanging out at the door to a local Wal Mart greeting you as you wander in :)
Nas... poor but happy :P |
Thank you for your well though out response. I knew the people here would take me seriously. I technically already have a website, but I won't sell ads on it because I can't control them. I do link to some books and videos though, but I actually recommend each of them.
:) Well my 30 years has netted me a great family with three kids and a great marriage too. I think I've been doing well with keeping the family first, but now it's time to plan ahead. My real dilema is finding the career that will really use my skills and also be something I really enjoy. Perhaps being a teacher? (college level though. I don't ihink I'd want to hang around high school kids :D)
I actually have had my own business before and if I can just find something to pay the bills in the NW, I will again. I don't want to start a business here on the East Coast knowing that, somehow, someway, I'm going back to the NW soon.
I wish I could say that I could be happy if I was poor, but I know it's not true. I need a certain amount of money to feel safe.
***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***
Jordan's Town
My lousy name for the comic that I did which can be found here CoH @ JeremyDuffy.com
My favorite guide - Advanced Costuming. How to work your costume into your character's theme, story, and playstyle.
Jordan Yen 50 Dark/Dark/Dark Defender
Shazel 35 Fire/fire/fire blaster
Screaming Gale 35 Storm/Sonic Defender
Jordan Yin 36 Warshade, Jordan Yang 33 Peacebringer
Mudnuke 38 Earth/Rad Controller
Doctor Kev 38 Necro/Dark Mastermind
|
| 05/18/07 19:02 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
marinex
Posts: 9
Joined: 09/04/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
Imortant things to consider Jordan, and you're putting the right emphasis on family that many people don't and regret it later in life.
Good Luck in your quest.
Marine
PS ( Check these guys out, cool company, very new and one of a kind product. Little south of your goal being based in CA, but it may be a non-issue if they have web based positions )
|
| 05/19/07 04:08 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Cold_Zone_II
Posts: 6
Joined: 07/19/2006
Credibility: 0 pts
|
Jorden, it seems that we have a bit in common, as I've sept a long time trying to find who or what I wanted to be.
I've been around for 31 yrs now, almost 3 years into a very good marriage, but no babies yet, (soon enough tho).
I migrated from a third world country, Guyana, South America to be precise. The whole process of getting here was exhausing and resource intensive. It took 8 years for my Visa application for Legal Permanent Resident, to be processed and all my meager life savings from my homeland. My last job there was as the IT Coordinator for an offshore American call center, setup to make use of reduced labor costs.
I started there are a telemarketer, selling Cell Phones for cingular wireless on Cellular One, before becoming a Speech and Diction Trainer/QC Specialist and then finally being promoted to a position just below the IT manager. My starting salary as a telemarketer was $125 monthly, as QC I made $250 and in my final position I made $625 Monthly (this was very high by our standards).
That was as little over 2 years ago, as I arrived in the US on Feb 28, 2005.
It was a struggle to find a good IT job in Florida, so I spent time doing some accounting and other temp jobs, like PC deployment for IBM. I finally had a break when I landed a job at a webhosting company where I trained for 6 weeks in Unix and Windows webhosting, it was a temp job, but it turned out to be just what I needed.
The trainer there was very impressed with me, and a few months after the job ended, he recommended me for a position in the company where I now work as Software support Engineer for a file replication company. I consider myself lucky to have found a job I really enjoy, in under 2 years and I don't have to sell my soul as I did in sales. I still have a few days to go before I'm hired permanently, June 5th I think, but I know they like me here already and that I won't have any issues. The clear incicator to me was when I was given an increase after my first 2 months.
So what does this have to do with you, you ask? Nothing really. Just me baring my soul, and sharing my journey so far. Jorden, no one knows what your future holds, but there is one quotation I would like to share with you, because I think it changed my life:
"I am the Master of my Destiny and the Captain of my Fate."
I think its brilliant, because the meaning is wrapped into the quote itself.
A master is the sole controller of something and a captain is a navigator; this implies two things
-Destiny is something we can have absolute control of,
-But Fate is not.
What life throws at us, the circumstances, people we meet, places we go, family we have, weather we encounter, when we were born and ultimately when we will die... that is our Fate (whether good, bad or neutral).
We must all choose a destination, a goal, something or someone we want to become, like Mortal Kombat told us: "Choose your Destiny!"
Then we must be the best Captain that we can be, to weather the storm, to fight our battles and make good use of knowledge, experiences and resources to navigate our way to our destination.
Give it some thought Jorden, you will see how much sense it makes, and please share any thoughts you may have with us. I for one would like to hear what you have to share.
Good luck and bon voyage, you are the master of your destiny.
CoH Rocks
Blasters kill everything, usually before they get killed themselves. When it comes to dealing pain, a blaster has no equal. We just have a hard time taking our own medicine! So we love Tanks and 'fenders!
|
| 05/21/07 12:59 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
marinex
Posts: 9
Joined: 09/04/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
Great story and good advice Cold Zone, well told.
Marine
|
| 05/22/07 18:03 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Jorden_Yen
Posts: 13
Joined: 07/26/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
| QUOTE |
Good luck and bon voyage, you are the master of your destiny. |
Out of everything you said, I was most amused by the reference to Mortal Kombat in such an otherwise heartfelt post :D (lol!). The best part is that it works considering the audience.
Anyway, you are very right. I really feel as if I have a destiny and I've been very fortunate in my life until now. I have a great family, I have a good education, I have a good job (and most of those are in spite of me, not because of me).
I know I can do great things and I'm impatient to try. Part of the challenge was the belief that by the time I was 30, I'd be rich and influential.
Even though I know that I'm still young, it's hard to let go of such a deep seated belief that I've lived so long and done so little.
It's a challenge to be grateful for the things I have and it's something I'm working on. Either way, I still feel a stong passion to change the world for the better and know I have the power (He-man reference there :D)
I will do great things, but I'm frustrated when I can't see the right path in front of me. I feel like the underwear gnomes in South Park.
Step 1: Collect Underpants
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Make lots of money
"What about step 2?"
"We haven't figured that part out yet"
***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***
Jordan's Town
My lousy name for the comic that I did which can be found here CoH @ JeremyDuffy.com
My favorite guide - Advanced Costuming. How to work your costume into your character's theme, story, and playstyle.
Jordan Yen 50 Dark/Dark/Dark Defender
Shazel 35 Fire/fire/fire blaster
Screaming Gale 35 Storm/Sonic Defender
Jordan Yin 36 Warshade, Jordan Yang 33 Peacebringer
Mudnuke 38 Earth/Rad Controller
Doctor Kev 38 Necro/Dark Mastermind
|
| 05/23/07 06:30 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
knickknack
Posts: 0
Joined: 12/18/2006
Credibility: 0 pts
|
I won't get as heartfelt and deep as others have on here, because let's face it, that's just not me. I know how you feel when you talk about feeling that you've done so little with your life, but think about this. You have a wife and family that love and support you.
All you really need now is to find the path that takes you where you want to go. Start with making a list of the types of jobs that you would be happy doing then balance that list with the kind of income that would allow you to feel safe as you put it. Take what's left on the list and start looking at the jobs in the area you want to go. Somewhere along the way, you will find the course Fate has for you. You just have to get the game started in the right direction.
Signature courtesy of Big
|
| 05/23/07 20:55 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Jorden_Yen
Posts: 13
Joined: 07/26/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
| QUOTE | I won't get as heartfelt and deep as others have on here, because let's face it, that's just not me. I know how you feel when you talk about feeling that you've done so little with your life, but think about this. You have a wife and family that love and support you.
All you really need now is to find the path that takes you where you want to go. Start with making a list of the types of jobs that you would be happy doing then balance that list with the kind of income that would allow you to feel safe as you put it. Take what's left on the list and start looking at the jobs in the area you want to go. Somewhere along the way, you will find the course Fate has for you. You just have to get the game started in the right direction. |
Thanks! :D
I remind myself that the family is an accomplishment too and that helps.
So far, I've been focusing very hard on the things that inspire me because I've realized that it's those that will lead to the kind of job I'll really love.
The part about searching the area is part of the reason I posted this here. I'm working my "network" :)
I am working on a new website post that's a type of expandable resume. It will look like a normal resume, but it will be online. Every category can be opened to reveal as much detail as a recruiter will want to know.
For example, if they want to know about my graduate school, but more than just the name of it and which degree I had, they can open it to see these subcategories:
Accomplishments
Relevant Coursework
Graduate project
Each of which can be opened for full details.
This way they see what they want to see and not anything more than they don't want to see.
The point of this site is that I've found that I don't have the knowledge of what kinds of jobs a company may have that fit me. The best thing to do is let them know all about me and let them (who DO know about the jobs in their company) fit me to the best position.
Jordan's Town
My lousy name for the comic that I did which can be found here CoH @ JeremyDuffy.com
My favorite guide - Advanced Costuming. How to work your costume into your character's theme, story, and playstyle.
Jordan Yen 50 Dark/Dark/Dark Defender
Shazel 35 Fire/fire/fire blaster
Screaming Gale 35 Storm/Sonic Defender
Jordan Yin 36 Warshade, Jordan Yang 33 Peacebringer
Mudnuke 38 Earth/Rad Controller
Doctor Kev 38 Necro/Dark Mastermind
|
| 05/24/07 06:11 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
bigspeer
Posts: 3
Joined: 02/22/2006
Credibility: 0 pts
|
Jordan, just remember that while looking for a job, a month of job searching is worth about $10k, i.e. to find a job that pays $60k, you have to search for ~6 months.
My New House - Almost Done Moving In...
|
| 05/24/07 09:01 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Jorden_Yen
Posts: 13
Joined: 07/26/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
| QUOTE | | Jordan, just remember that while looking for a job, a month of job searching is worth about $10k, i.e. to find a job that pays $60k, you have to search for ~6 months. |
Good point. Finding a real winner will take a lot of time and I expect that. (sigh).
And you guys wonder why I don't active my account except once every 5 months or so.
Jordan's Town
My lousy name for the comic that I did which can be found here CoH @ JeremyDuffy.com
My favorite guide - Advanced Costuming. How to work your costume into your character's theme, story, and playstyle.
Jordan Yen 50 Dark/Dark/Dark Defender
Shazel 35 Fire/fire/fire blaster
Screaming Gale 35 Storm/Sonic Defender
Jordan Yin 36 Warshade, Jordan Yang 33 Peacebringer
Mudnuke 38 Earth/Rad Controller
Doctor Kev 38 Necro/Dark Mastermind
|
| 05/24/07 09:55 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
|
|
