I'm applying for work placement opportunites and was just wondering if anybody who has been in my position before could give any advice.

Would it be better to work at a small indie games company where i could possibly do some more hands on programming and some good experience. Or would it be better to go work for a large company where i would probably be doing some type of testing maybe or graphical programming, but i would get some good contacts in the industry.

Any and all replies appreciated. Thanks!

Given the market, I would say don't be picky!

Either way you're going to get some great experience. I personally started out at a smaller developer, which allowed me to get hands into more pieces of the pie. It gave me more opportunity to advance quickly, since my work was more visible to the team as a whole.

If they are anything like they were when I was a student in industry coops/internships are usually really competitive and rely a lot on you living in the right spot to minimize their costs. It's not a horrible idea to just apply everywhere, because the experience you get in this industry or any other software development industry will be invaluable regardless, and is better than none at all. If you are still a student, the experience you gain from both will probably be equal because you'll still be soaking up the atmosphere and general development cycle.

Many times out of the industry coops/internships will pay A LOT better because other places aren't as competitive. I got paid pretty much what my salary is now in the industry with 0 work experience in my internship, which was not in the industry. I didn't realize that till I pulled out the calculator while writing this; now I am sad.

Don't be discouraged if you don't get one either. You might not get good work experience, but you can always find something that will give you good life experience. You'd be surprised how much the jobs you'd think would mean nothing to you might change your outlook on life.

Thanks for the reply guys.
Anybody else got any other info?

When I was a student, only a very small number of my game-dev classmates managed to find internships. The only companies that were willing to accept interns were small/start-up companies who were desperate for free labor.

None of the large companies I've worked for since then have accepted interns -- it's too much of a drain on resources and an IP risk.

I'd take whatever you can find.

Thanks for the reply guys.
Anybody else got any other info?

lol good luck finding a job ANYWHERE. Let alone being picky about it.

I'm currently in my own smaller company, it has some advantages - like doing whatever we wish to do (or choosing which work will we accept, although we often accept every work in our area, that comes to us); although also more disadvantages - sometimes you just have to work on saturdays and sundays (if you need due to time frame); communicating a lot with customers (sometimes it is good, sometimes perfect, and sometimes it is very hard); having nobody to help you with the job (if you're in some team, you can always ask somebody for help, we're just three atm, we can ask each other, or think of some solution), etc.

Being a boss is definitely not win (and yes, I do have to write programs also, not just some administration work); it is quite hard and definitely time-consuming.

EDIT: Also note, that making your own company really eats most of your time, you also need some money to start and you will have to work, work, work and work to have enough money. It is definitely simplier and more comfortable to work in a company, than to make one. Although I'm just kind of person that needs to have own company, I like the "freedom".

E.g. making your own company can also be a solution to find-a-job ... although it is definitely not the easy way, more like the hardest way.

E.g. making your own company can also be a solution to find-a-job ... although it is definitely not the easy way, more like the hardest way.

It's the easiest way to find a job, but the hardest way to keep a job or make money at a job :-p

You wont get the choice, you can apply to small companies first or a bunch and if you get the option, you can choose between what you have.

lol good luck finding a job ANYWHERE. Let alone being picky about it.

Seconded.