> I got the chance to interview for a local android dev shop (this is in Santa Cruz, CA)
> There is so much opportunity and demand in the consumer web and electronics space right now
Very true - but your location is a huge benefit to someone who's in say, the middle of Iowa or Kentucky.
Yes there's no denying that there's much more opportunity in the San Francisco Bay Area than most anywhere else in the nation but that doesn't change how much opportuniy is also available everywhere else currently. And as telecommuting gets easier opportunity is more afforded to everyone with a web connection.
Each morning I tell myself 'There is more opportunity today than there was yesterday' and this is why:
Every day there are over 1 million Android devices activated. There are also over 1 million iOS devices activated. Each of these devices is activated by people who are potentially new to the digital experience. They are going to need new apps to get the maximum value out of their device. They are actively looking for new experiences and services.
Open source hardware like the Arduino as well as wearable computers like Google Glass are beginning to point to a future of smart everything. The Arduino hall of the Maker Fair makes me feel like what it must have been like to be at the Homebrew Computer Club. You just get a sense that once again Moore's Law has made a host of new things possible.
Crowdsourcing sites like KickStarter and IndieGogo allow markets to form, signal purchasing intent, and even shell out the cash for projects before the entrepreneur has even begun production.
Incubators like YCombinator are in place to find and cultivate the best and brightest entreprenuers as well as being there to add rocket fuel to the spacecraft and participate in the countdown to launch.
Even in small towns every company that is serious needs a web and/or mobile presence. They need someone to design it and create the assets. They need someonde to build and maintain it. They need someone to scale it out and add new features. They need someone to keep it secure.
The gamut of opportunity in the consumer mobile, web, and electronics space is so wide and varied that it's only limited by your imagination, passion, and focus.
Very true - but your location is a huge benefit to someone who's in say, the middle of Iowa or Kentucky.