EMPLOYMENT | BETA
Jason Smith has worked at numerous games developers such as Criterion, where he contributed to Burnout Paradise, Electronic Arts and Bullfrog, and says it’s crucial for job seekers to build up an industry network of contacts
set up your career for years to come. Unfortunately visuals are often reduced to their lowest common denominator; if you hack together a low quality, badly edited reel with no explanation or thought for the work it will devalue the content. Don’t worry about coding your own
website in HTML when you could use a better looking template (unless you’re looking for an HTML job), and don’t hesitate to ask an editor to help with your reel (unless you’re applying to be an editor). There’s a difference to being dishonest and being resourceful; presentation is important.
Tell us about you I recently had a student compare interviewing with dating, and it was a good simile. Consider embedding your reel into a blog, it gives you a huge opportunity to sell yourself in addition to what’s on your reel. Rather than looking at adverts surrounding a YouTube reel your interviewer could be eyeing your blog articles on recent conventions attended, technical papers read, galleries visited, photographs taken and games critiqued. It’s an opportunity to share your life experiences, and importantly, passion for what you want to do. Getting a job is like dating, it’s all about connecting with someone; job-relevant interests that connect with a potential interviewer in support of a strong reel will give you a boost.
Resumé space is invaluable I’ve noticed there is a secret rule in the US that resumés can only be a single page. Whether you stick to this guideline or not, using your resumé real estate wisely is crucial. Compare yours to others; does it stand out? Is there information irrelevant to the job you are applying for? Is there information missing that would help show your passion for what you want to do? All recruiters and portfolio reviewers see many resumés. Generic is bad; be specific, include the
company you are applying to in your career goals; make them feel special and show you’ve done your homework. Always ensure there is a clear URL to your blog and folio online as this is often one of the first things we look for.
DEVELOP-ONLINE.NET
Follow the industry Arm yourself with an understanding of where the industry is headed. For example, trends in development processes, console cycles, hardware capabilities and key game releases. This gives you inside information for selecting companies to begin with, and then great ammunition for thought- provoking and informed conversation before and during an interview.
Know your company Before your interview do your homework – it will become apparent very quickly and have a positive impact; everything you need is online. Know the key milestones in the company’s history, what their most successful titles have been, which products make them money, who their competition is and whether they are the leader or a follower within the genre. Play their games and have an opinion, especially in your discipline.
Be flexible, buy a suitcase You’ve spent years honing your craft and you’re wanting to enter a specialist industry. It’s unlikely there are a plethora of hiring games studios within a few blocks. Additionally the games industry changes over time globally. The bottom line is, if you want to spend a career in a job you love you may need to be open to some geographic flexibility. The good news is the games industry usually hires full-time (on-going contracts) rather than per-project (which is the film and visualFX industry preference) meaning you may not be required to pack your suitcase again for many years.
It’s a small industry; really small Don’t piss people off, and if you think you have, make amends. You’ll see the exact same recruiters and developers year after year at GDC, Siggraph, MIGS, E3, etcetera. It’s
a recruiter’s job never to forget a face; and burning bridges is a sure-fire way of crippling your career before you’ve started. Even once you’ve landed your first job stay in contact with recruiters and your contacts in the other studios, as it’s almost guaranteed you’ll cross paths again. Make friends and keep them – next week they may be your boss.
LinkedIn is your friend I’m not alone in being much more open to unsolicited connections on LinkedIn than I am on Facebook. The latter is personal; the former is business. Ensure your LinkedIn page represents your professional side. Use this site, track your visitors and follow-up when someone of interest has been looking at your profile; it’s an amazing tool for introductions, and by far the best way to build and manage an industry network.
GDC and Siggraph are where it’s at Both shows have volunteers programs and from my experience at Siggraph, many program chairs started as student volunteers. These opportunities not only make it affordable to experience the show and its content; they are an incredible way of meeting influential people in the business and building your network. If you get – or can make – the opportunity, attending these conferences should be high on your to-do list.
Hassle, politely There’s a fine line between being persistent and being annoying; provided you stay on the right side of this you’re in a good place. Ask for comments on areas of improvement. Pre-empting that your work may not yet be perfect makes you accessible and genuine. Checking back when you’ve updated your work is good. Stay relevant and ensure recruiters know you’re looking – it’s as much about timing as it is about skill set.
In 18 years in games development Jason Smith has worked for a number of iconic UK studios including Argonaut Software, Bullfrog, EA and Criterion Games. After a fortuitous road-trip led to the San Francisco-based Lucasfilm HQ, he couldn’t resist the opportunity to join the force. By day, Jason is a production supervisor at LucasArts; by night, he is the director of real-time graphics at Siggraph. Follow @jasonrmsmith for industry related musings (and more importantly, tickets to Lucasfilm parties) – and read past and future ramblings at
jasonrmsmith.com
MAY 2012 | 37
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