I am 22 years old and just graduated from college with a degree in Computer Science. It is now that point of my life where I need to choose a career that is right for me. Right now I am interning at a company where I am doing computer work which includes computer programming. Unfortunately, I find the job very boring at times, either being very taxing or very mundane.
I abide by the philosophy that you should enjoy what you do and where it's not only about the paycheck. Over the past few months, I've been trying to figure out what it is that I would enjoy most and also be able to make a career out of. One thing I do know, is that I love Starcraft. The game is my perfect match. Everything that I love and am good at is Starcraft – multitasking, thinking fast, strategy, hand precision, self improving, and knowing how to organize and optimize different things etc etc.
Although I love Starcraft, I know that I can't make a living off of it. So instead, I've been trying to think of jobs similar to Starcraft, where I can take the skills that Starcraft calls for and apply them to a real life occupation. Does anyone know of any job that is either A) similar to Starcraft or B) takes some of the same skills as Starcraft?
The the funny thing is that the only job I could think of is a Chef. It's funny the amount of similarities...I'll list a few. - Requires multitasking (cooking multiple dishes) - Must be quick and good with your hands - Recipes are sort of like build orders of the cooking world - trying out new recipes is like trying out a new build order (could end up being terrible and embarrassing, but might end up being the best idea you've ever had) - Organization (need to set up your cooking area in an efficient manner) - Overseeing other chefs (macromanagement -> similar to commanding an army)
Related to SC2: any progamer, software developer, game designer (pretty much anything in the tech industry, and your degree should open many doors)
Using the same skills as SC2 in terms of micromanagement and hand-eye coordination? That's really tough haha. Only thing that comes to the top of my mind is a CEO, but that's not exactly an entry level position. An entrepreneur I suppose, but that's a really vague title. Maybe construction foreman? I'd personally suggest finding a field you're interested in, going for it, and finding out how SC2 applies as you work.
On July 12 2011 10:42 henreiman wrote: Using the same skills as SC2 in terms of micromanagement and hand-eye coordination? That's really tough haha. Only thing that comes to the top of my mind is a CEO, but that's not exactly an entry level position. An entrepreneur I suppose, but that's a really vague title. Maybe construction foreman? I'd personally suggest finding a field you're interested in, going for it, and finding out how SC2 applies as you work.
I'm a bartender and I find some similiarities with that. You have to know a lot of drinks - build orders. You have to be quick and agile with your hands. When I'm busy, multitasking is essential and it reminds me of a lot of late game decision making. Its much more effective to take multiple orders at once while grabbing waitresses tickets then taking one persons order at a time. Then it improves speed to make all the drinks from all those orders that don't require me to move away from the well. Just like starcraft if someone knows all the drinks in the world (build orders) but has shitty mechanics, (slow hand speed poor multitasking) they are a shitty bartender. It is funny to watch some of the new ppl at work take one persons order, get them a beer then come back to see the ticket the waitress had up also had a beer on it. So they have to go back to the cooler and do something they could have already done. BRONZE LEAGUERS
On July 12 2011 10:42 henreiman wrote: Using the same skills as SC2 in terms of micromanagement and hand-eye coordination? That's really tough haha. Only thing that comes to the top of my mind is a CEO, but that's not exactly an entry level position. An entrepreneur I suppose, but that's a really vague title. Maybe construction foreman? I'd personally suggest finding a field you're interested in, going for it, and finding out how SC2 applies as you work.
Air traffic controller imo.
Yes. I was going to suggest exactly this. I'm actually in the application process :p
wow the requirements on the site for the air trafficking seems pretty simple =O
i thought you would need a degree or something for that kind of thing maybe
@Monk
And you also have to "micro" your customers by keeping them happy and come back again (micro well so your units don't die, so they can live another day!)
At first I thought this was a troll website, then after a double take at the site name, it confused me. it seems like they are hating on their own job
Not really. They do extensive training on their own (hence they want someone with no experience). They also want younger people because they have a forced retirement age of 55 (or so) and want to get as many years out of employees as possible.
Canada is widely known as having one of the best air traffic systems in the world (it's actually privatized here). They preferentially hire people in their mid 20s and don't care how much/little experience you have. They just do a bunch of aptitude tests and extensive training to make sure you're suitable.
You can even apply right out of high school. Literally the only requirement is a high school diploma.
And they don't give anyone with experience any preferential treatment. Even fi you were a controller in the states for 15 years, if you come to Canada you have to go through the same process (of testing/training) as a 19 year old right out of high school.
On July 12 2011 12:17 Yoshi Kirishima wrote: wow the requirements on the site for the air trafficking seems pretty simple =O
i thought you would need a degree or something for that kind of thing maybe
@Monk
And you also have to "micro" your customers by keeping them happy and come back again (micro well so your units don't die, so they can live another day!)
I'm not sure about the FAA... but in Canada the application process is rigorous.
It starts with an online math test. If you are one of the few that scores high enough... they then do an in-person assessment that contains a ton of crap (math, personality tests, vocabulary, iq tests etc. etc.... takes like 3 hours).
From there you go to the interview phase (2 stages here).
From there you go into training. Even at the training phase, only ~30% of people successfully complete training (they are very strict about the scores you need to pass tests).
Overall, as a rough estimate... roughly 5000 apply every year in Canada, of that maybe 300-500 will get a chance to write the in-person assessment... of that maybe 150-250 will get an interview... of that maybe 100 will move onto training... and of that about 30 person will be hired.
So yea, the requirements are nonexistent. But their application and training process is rigorous.
Basically all they care about is aptitude for the job. Not about your education or work experience (of course... being a pilot for 20 years will probably help you in the interview process).
I always thought cooking and Starcraft had a lot in common, glad I'm not the only one (yet when I said so, the girls that I invited over for dinner in the past all looked at me like this ಠ_ಠ)
Well, I dont know if this would help but I am actually a musician (drums) and I have to know how to keep tempo and keep different fills in my head ready to and know how to lay down that phat beat! Also requires being very fast, as I am a metal drummer. Being sexy helps too Which I'm sure you are!
On July 12 2011 12:17 Yoshi Kirishima wrote: wow the requirements on the site for the air trafficking seems pretty simple =O
i thought you would need a degree or something for that kind of thing maybe
@Monk
And you also have to "micro" your customers by keeping them happy and come back again (micro well so your units don't die, so they can live another day!)
I'm not sure about the FAA... but in Canada the application process is rigorous.
It starts with an online math test. If you are one of the few that scores high enough... they then do an in-person assessment that contains a ton of crap (math, personality tests, vocabulary, iq tests etc. etc.... takes like 3 hours).
From there you go to the interview phase (2 stages here).
From there you go into training. Even at the training phase, only ~30% of people successfully complete training (they are very strict about the scores you need to pass tests).
Overall, as a rough estimate... roughly 5000 apply every year in Canada, of that maybe 300-500 will get a chance to write the in-person assessment... of that maybe 150-250 will get an interview... of that maybe 100 will move onto training... and of that about 30 person will be hired.
So yea, the requirements are nonexistent. But their application and training process is rigorous.
Basically all they care about is aptitude for the job. Not about your education or work experience (of course... being a pilot for 20 years will probably help you in the interview process).
ahh i see
Well it's still nice it's not like there are super strict requirements like you may need to meet for other agencies
If you have to take the job that you will hate then you can just treat your life like starcraft then. As Day9 states always have a goal. So find what helps you get to that goal and you should be fine. ^^
No matter what industry you are in you have to do bitch work when you are 22. Being a chef at 22 is still bitch work. Stick with programming and later you get to move on to more rewarding aspects of it.
On July 12 2011 10:35 Kryptonite wrote: - Requires multitasking (cooking multiple dishes) - Must be quick and good with your hands - Recipes are sort of like build orders of the cooking world - trying out new recipes is like trying out a new build order (could end up being terrible and embarrassing, but might end up being the best idea you've ever had) - Organization (need to set up your cooking area in an efficient manner) - Overseeing other chefs (similar to commanding an army)
First 2 minutes and covers every point and sure as hell beats working the line.
On July 12 2011 13:20 tooPrime wrote: No matter what industry you are in you have to do bitch work when you are 22. Being a chef at 22 is still bitch work. Stick with programming and later you get to move on to more rewarding aspects of it.
Depends how good you are and the contacts you have. I went straight from the chef school into working as a dessert chef of a major hotel near where i live because i have the right contacts.
Fighter pilots are pretty famous for having to be good multitaskers. There was one aircraft in particular that a majority of pilots couldn't fly, because you had to be able to manage about 25 things at once.
Playing online poker is a very similar skillset. That said, the fucking government banned it (the majority of sites) for the time being.
Trading stocks could also be seen in a similar light. All of these jobs (including professional sc2 playing) require all of the skills you listed in the OP.
- Audio board controller for some place busy (NASL had a bronze league audio tech ) - typically these are live shows - TV director or producer - live broadcasts
Some companies have managed to automate most of this, but for breaking news, emergencies, or live shows, you still have to do things manually.
Also, Surgeons, but good luck with that. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
On July 12 2011 13:21 fearlessparagon wrote: If you guys look at what company FXO is, high frequency trading is very applicable to sc2
lol high frequency trading isnt executed with fast hands unfortunately.
there is no micro involved, only the preparation work in setting up the strategy and infrastructure to support low latency trading. also... where do you get direct interbank access? how do you become a member of the exchange? those are not easy to do unless you are established in the industry.
you can do normal descretionary intraday trading however, but with high spreads and commissions.
- You use your hands a lot, and get rewarded quite nicely by being faster, smoother, or fancier. - You have to keep track of your "macro", how many chips and what color you have, making sure to "color up" (taking a lower denomination to a higher) the chips of the guest, so they don't have too many or too few chips, while making sure you don't have too few of a certain color. - Always multitasking, have to count the total of the cards, while paying attention to everyone else's bets and making sure they aren't cheating (by changing their bets after the cards have been dealt) - You run the show at your table, and if you ever get promoted you have to manage 3-4 games at once - You get a break every hour and a lot of casinos give you free food during your breaks =O
EPT
) - typically these are live shows
