Thanks. I one day plan to create my own company and free self learning time is going to be encouraged.
It is slightly cliché but this was recently posted on our internal "social network"... CFO asks "what if we spend our money training our staff and they leave?", CTO replies "what if we don't and they stay?".
So many jobs, especially technical, require constant education, an employer who wants the best employees know and encourage that.
A good employer should allow you the freedom to read the articles and do actives that will enhance your skill set (e.g. The Google 20% time).
I have never asked if I can, but every job I have always read articles I have found. Some companies I have openly told my boss that is what I do and sometimes those articles have not been directly related to my job, yet still this has been thought of as ok.
So my advice is, do it at work, your employer should be pleased that you want to broaden your skill set, it can only benefit them in the end. Just don't do it to a capacity that has a negative impact on your deliverables.
Would be better with Levels, once you finish a game, the next level should start, even if it is the same it could be timed with a scoreboard for each team.
Two not mentioned here that I use daily:
- DevIsland (for cheap sandbox hosting) http://www.devisland.net/
- Freedcamp (for all project management, like basecamp, but free and excellent) http://freedcamp.com/
I think geographical location makes no difference, because If it were me I would ask them for what I was currently on. Not take a pay cut, but not expect an increase either.
With the lack of security in a start up I might also ask for something in my contract which meant if the product/company were successful I would get recognition (financial or otherwise) in relation to my contribution.
It is only hitting the U.S. now because, like many companies, they built a following in a smaller area first. They then used that to get record companies hooked as a small start up. The more they grew the more back catalogues and even indie artists got on board with them.
So now they have a proven platform, architecture and refined client and importantly a tested price model (like I said it has changed frequently to find the right form). So they felt ready to move to the US where there is a much larger audience. I believe they also secured a big investment to help too.
Add into that, the EU and UK do not have software patents, so it is much easier to make software over here than in the US. So of course as soon as Spotify go to the US they are under litigation from the software patent trolls.
As for unlimited music streaming, it used to be Naptsters legal business model a few years ago, but the internet just wasn't fast enough back then and they were blocked as there was only iPod and it had no apps.
Oh and what separates it from Grooveshark, Pandora or We7 you ask? It is their software client, it caches music, for fast access and less streaming, it can be used offline, and they have mobile versions for the $10 subs. HTH
I have "found" jobs on web sites, but all the jobs I have ever been offered were as a result of me being contacted directly, mostly because an "agent" has found my CV on a recruitment web site.
I don't know for sure, but I am fairly confident that the creators had the right contacts in the industry, and they started in the EU, so might have been an easier place to gain ground slow but steady (although I believe they made a massive loss last year).
I was one of the early beta users of Spotify and I recall at the time their collection was sparse for modern popular music, but they constantly added more labels and built up their collection slow but steady.
Finally, they added a tie in with Facebook so it had a social side right away, and most importantly, originally it was unlimited and free which brought in masses of users, and big advertisers like Burger King.
Then eventually they cycled back to a free limited free and added another subscription level which was half the full €10 a month.
Having had it free for over a year, instead of complaining I signed up and am now a full subscriber.
It is slightly cliché but this was recently posted on our internal "social network"... CFO asks "what if we spend our money training our staff and they leave?", CTO replies "what if we don't and they stay?".
So many jobs, especially technical, require constant education, an employer who wants the best employees know and encourage that.