Secondly we've got a thread
started by NovemberMike asking those in the games programming industry how they landed their first job. He strikes gold almost immediately with various games programmers offering advice and links to resources on how to get into the industry.
From our very own gaming Ghu, Farid, "Good stuff, a thread full of anecdotes from developers about their first job in the industry. It contains as well some tips, for those who nurture the dream of becoming one day, at their turn, under paid and under appreciated modern day stakhanovites, or as we call them around these parts, game programmers". Find it
here.