| Being diverse, and able to do something besides just | | | | quality, vertical market, applications. True, it takes some |
| write code, is a key to success in the computer | | | | work, some good analysis up front, and some savvy |
| industry. Especially in this current phase of the industry. | | | | with marketing, but the potential market is huge. The |
| With many of the programming projects being handled | | | | Job? Entrepreneur/CEO of your own software |
| by offshore developers, those of us in the U.S. have to | | | | company.Another huge market for software |
| be more creative when it comes to seeking projects | | | | developers is in entertainment. The console and |
| and staying employed in the industry. So, how can a | | | | handheld gaming market is HUGE! Got a good game |
| industry professional stay busy? Well, first you have to | | | | idea? Spec it out and then write the code. You'll either |
| keep in mind what type of jobs are being done | | | | have a good game or a demo for showing off your |
| offshore. It's mostly the programming jobs. Hard core | | | | skills. A lot of companies are looking for game |
| bit twiddling! So what does that leave? Lots! In order to | | | | developers for the Sony Playstation and the Microsoft |
| write good code, you have to have good | | | | XBox platforms. And if you're not into working on 10 to |
| specifications. In order to have good specifications, you | | | | 30 person development teams, then go for the PDA |
| have to have good analysis skills. There is a lot of | | | | and/or smartphone market. The smartphone industry is |
| demand for folks that have the ability to wrap their | | | | still growing and there's a huge demand for |
| arms around a projects, spec it out, and then manage | | | | entertainment products on these devices. And it's one |
| the process. This takes a special talent. You can't just | | | | of the last areas of the industry where a solo game |
| sit in a cube all day and crank out code. You have to | | | | developer can make a big impact. The Job? Game |
| go out and face people. Find out how they do their | | | | developer!Is there a product or industry that you're a |
| jobs. Analyze what tools they are utilizing to get the | | | | big fan of? Say for example that there's a new |
| work done. Ask questions. Determine the areas where | | | | massive multiplayer online game coming out and you're |
| the tools are lacking. Then "design" a way to either | | | | just chomping at the bit to get involved with it. Then |
| make the tools better or replace the tools with better | | | | why not set up a web based fan site? Get some ad |
| tools. The job? Project and/or Product Manager!I'm | | | | art from the publisher, add a good discussion forum, |
| constantly amazed at the number of poorly written | | | | and presto! You've got a cool fan site! If it turns out to |
| applications on the market. I'm not talking about the | | | | be hugely successful, you could be looking at a very |
| generic productivity products like Microsoft Office, or | | | | nice advertising revenue stream by signing up with |
| cool utilities (virus protection, etc.). But I'm talking about | | | | AdWords. The more traffic you bring to your site, the |
| the market where 80% of the work gets done. Small | | | | more advertising income. And this doesn't have to be |
| businesses. I'm always getting calls from friends who | | | | the brash, flash animation, popups that everyone is |
| are involved with some type of a small business. Pool | | | | learning to hate. Just a little sidebar space with a link. |
| cleaning, pest control (pardon the puns about chasing | | | | You'll be amazed at what you can make if you've got |
| down bugs), computer repairs, and the list goes on. In | | | | a hot web site running. The Job? Web Wizard!And |
| all these cases, my friends are complaining about the | | | | then if you're like me, and have to find a way to get |
| products they are using. And when I take a look at | | | | your opinions, ideas, and commentary out to the world, |
| these products, it becomes obvious that the | | | | then just be a writer. Write about things that you know. |
| individual(s) behind those products don't have a clue | | | | Like Star Wars? Cool, then write some stories. Are |
| about software development. Most of these product | | | | you a great C# programmer? Then put together a |
| were done by folks with industry expertise, but no | | | | proposal for a book that you think is needed. Or just |
| software experience.For example: Someone who | | | | write some articles and content for any of the many |
| provides termite control services has been struggling | | | | web sites on the topic of your choice.Just because a |
| with customer data, worker data, and financials. Then | | | | lot of the programming jobs are being done elsewhere, |
| this person finds out about Microsoft Access. After | | | | is no reason to give up on the computer industry. |
| purchasing a couple books, they decide to "automate" | | | | There's still a lot of exciting things taking place and |
| their business. Then they decide that they would rather | | | | there's a lot of room for those of us with a creative |
| be in the software business instead of the termite | | | | streak to make an impact. Find your specialty and go |
| business. Then you end up with a bunch of termite | | | | for it!Timothy Trimble is a award winning, freelance |
| businesses with poorly written software. The point I'm | | | | writer, and software developer. He has written a book |
| trying to make? There's a lot of opportunity for | | | | for Microsoft Press and over 35 articles for significant |
| experienced programmers to create and market high | | | | computer industry trade magazines. |