Getting a job in the videogames industry

Get a job in the games industry

Research
Be clear about what job you would like and who you would ideally work for.
SWOT your future
Research likely companies.
Identify useful people inside target companies.
Read trade publications, both online and print, such as GIGnews.com, Gamasutra, Gamedev.net, GameDaily, and Game Developer
Professional associations such as the Games Developers Association Australia (GDAA), International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences are also very useful resources.

Networking
Networking efforts is to position yourself to interview and, even better, get hired for these unadvertised jobs. You never know who can help you, so talk to as many people as you can. The most important information you want to get from people when your networking is the names of other people you can contact.
As you get ready to network, keep in mind the purposes you want to accomplish:
Gather insider information and opinions
Make connections
Get your name circulating
Find mentors who will help you
Gather information to help tailor your resume and presentation to the target companies.
1-minute pitch-a 1-minute summary of who you are, what you have accomplished, and what you wish to accomplish.
http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/290/the_first_step__getting_a_game_.php?page=6

Foot in the door
Apply to big developers and publishers, not small studios.
Be as flexible on location as possible. Once you have gained industry experience, you will gain more control of where you end up working.
Work as a tester (QA).
Everyone wants experience -- get it however you can

Portfolio
Portfolio
20 pieces
Be prepared to leave it and not get it back
Demo Game
“ If you are trying to get into the industry and don't have previous employment experience, you somehow need to demonstrate your ability, or prove that you can actually implement your ideas. … The best way, hands down, to prove your ability is to create a video game… it doesn't have to be a releasable commercial blockbuster, just a complete game, however simple, with a front end, a game, an end-of-game sequence, hi score table etc.” http://www.zee-3.com/pickfordbros/articles/getting_into_the_industry.php
Showreel
Short is better
Only your best work
Website
Professional -- keep it simple, clear navigation, legible design, spellchecked
No dead links, no silly widgets
Forefront your best work but don’t include work you’re not proud of
BE READY TO TALK INTELLIGENTLY ABOUT ANY OF YOUR WORK BUT BE SURE YOU HAVE ONE THAT YOU CAN SPECIFY AS ‘YOUR FAVORITE’

Curriculum Vitae
1 page unless you’re famous
Follow local CV conventions
Keep it serious, be confident but realistic
Too many jobs in too short a time can signal problems.
If it isn’t clear which is your given name and which is your surname, underline the latter.
Referees should be relevant, objective and professional

Build online presence
Lodge your CV with
www.gamesindustry.biz/jobs/
www.gamasutra.com/jobsearch/
http://www.thegamesindustry.net/
http://www.linkedin.com/

Cover letter
A good cover letter is
Tailored to the company you’re applying to
Short – about half a page – or 200-300 words
Neatly typed and laid-out
Grammatical,
Properly spelt.
It is polite to write the salutation (“Dear Ms. Manager,”) and the sign-off (“Yours sincerely”) by hand.
Double-check who you are applying to – telephone if you have to – and put their name, title and address correctly at the top of the page.
Show that you know something about the company and the industry. This is where your research comes in. Don't go overboard--just make it clear that you didn't pick this company out of the phone book. You know who they are, what they do and you have chosen them!
Use terms and phrases that are meaningful to the employer. (This is where your industry research and networking come in.)

Interviews
Clean
Punctual (let them know if you’re going to be late)
Studied up on the organisation
Enthusiastic but never pushy, friendly but not sycophantic, focused but not aggressive, and keen but never desperate.
Always shake hands.
Based on Debrett’s “Modern Etiquette”
After an interview a short, polite letter to the main person who interviewed you can be a good idea. You should say ‘thank you’ and highlight anything you felt you might have missed in the interview (e.g. ‘I think that I may have forgotten to mention that although I dropped out of Harvard without graduating, I do run the world’s largest software corporation’) or anything you want to emphasise (e.g. ‘I feel my experience with 3D graphics in my last job would be very relevant to your project’). Very, very few people do this and it is a good way to make a strong, positive impression.
http://www.gamedev.net/reference/articles/article599.asp
How to approach an interview

Interview technique
You should come prepared with questions.
How do you organise training?
How will my work be assessed? (this is better than saying how often do I get a pay rise)
How do you ensure projects come in on time?
How are games designed? Who does the design?
Describe a typical team?
If a job offer is made – can I meet some prospective team members and my manager?
As with the cover letter, this is also a good opportunity for you to show some interest in the company. Look at their website before the interview and think of a couple of company-specific questions.
In the first interview you may not get a lot of time for questions, but you should make sure that all your questions are answered before you accept a job offer. You are interviewing them at this stage.
Also, be prepared to talk intelligently about the game development process and your favourite games as well as the usual kinds of interview questions.

Resources
Useful reads
http: //blogs . smh .com.au/screenplay/archives//018174.html
http://kotaku.com/gaming/comic-con-07/how-to-get-a-job-in-the-games-industry-283073.php
http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/392/how_to_really_get_your_first_job_in_the_game_industry.php
http://sloperama.com/advice.html
http://www.patrickcurry.com/thoughts/creating-the-ultimate-game-design-portfolio/
Industry organisations
http://www.gdaa.com.au

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Getting a job in the videogames industry

by Incognita Nom de Plume on Sep 09, 2008

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Getting a job in the videogames industry — Presentation Transcript