How can you find the right gaming company to work for?

Clearly defining what you want out of a job (or anything in your life, really) is the best way to begin. You should rank all major aspects of a job in order of priority to you: - Company Culture - Salary - Benefits - Remote/Hybrid flexibility - Your enthusiasm for the product - Travel requirements - Hours / Work-Life Balance - Growth opportunity The games industry is huge and there are a wide variety of ways that one might get involved. Once you know what you want, it becomes much easier to look for it.

Ask yourself why you're unhappy in your current role. What workplace environment/ culture would you like the company to have? Check if the contract type is one you're happy with. Look beyond salary; consider the overall compensation package. Establish a list of non-negotiables in terms of compensation. Explore previous employees in the desired role on Linkedin. Examine their tenure for insights into the workplace and promotion timelines and if this aligns with your expectations. Values and Work-Life Balance: Prioritize finding a company that aligns with your values. Consider preferences such as hybrid, fully onsite, or remote options. Would you be willing to relocate for this role?

It is important to also consider own priorities in life to determine the key aspects of the company that works for you. Company culture, distance, flexibility can all be important factors aside from compensation and aspirations.

Jot down things you like, such as the kind of tasks, and question yourself about what makes you like them. Consider your dislikes as well to determine what you would not want to do. Think about the possible sacrifices you might be willing to make and identify your non-negotiables. Research the company's history, culture, future plans and values to check if they align with anything you have contemplated. The more details you provide, the better you will discover yourself, enabling you to derive long-term aspirations to guide your selections.

I would ask myself, what part of the gaming industry are you interested working in? Having an understanding of how the gaming business works would put you miles ahead of the competition. Do you want to work at a Studio? Publisher? Platform? Media/Content? Creators? What unique perspective do you bring? You don't need to be an active gamer, but understand that similar to traditional sports, gaming has its own sub-cultures. Each game, type of game, and region have their own communities, and understanding will again, put you ahead of others who raise their hand to work in gaming.

Researching potential companies becomes a fundamental step in my pursuit. I delve into a spectrum of gaming companies, from indie studios to larger corporations. By exploring their game portfolio, company culture, values, and work environment, platforms like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and company websites become invaluable resources. These platforms offer insights into employee reviews, company missions, and available job openings, aiding me in assessing the company's ethos and fit for my aspirations.

A good exercise, is asking for feedback: Pick some people that know you very well and people that are not really familiar with your profile and ask them "where do you thing I should work next?" or even: "If you were me, what companies you would apply for?" and always add "why did you chose that?". This can help you to refine your research :) You will be surprised on how different are the variables that everyone consider for that decision, you can pick some ideas from there! I fully recommend starting your research from there. Every time someone recommends you a studio, ask them why and you might be able to find similar ones on google, linkedin, twitter or even slack/discord groups.

LinkedIn is excellent for networking with game industry professionals. If you look up a game company you’re interested in, I recommend viewing their company page on LinkedIn then looking at the “people” tab. You can see a list of people who work there, then reach out! Another networking tactic for games I’ve used is going to relevant conventions and events. TwitchCon, GDC, and PAX are great events to go to to meet others in the industry.

Leveraging networking opportunities within the gaming industry becomes a proactive step. Engaging with professionals through industry events, conferences, and online forums provides valuable insights and potential job leads, enhancing my understanding of the industry landscape.

For roles outside of the creative and design side of gaming, people often forget that their online presence acts as your portfolio. Are your social channels public? Instagram posts, Tweets you've liked, and posts you've replied to, LinkedIn activity etc. are all a reflection of your professionalism, which is a hurdle in the gaming industry.

This is more "How to get in" rather than "How you can find the right gaming company", however, if you've found the right company, remember to: - Keep your portfolio short and sweet - Keep it relevant to the role/company you're applying for - Use an easily accessible site (E.g. Artstation for Artists) - Make sure you have a link to your portfolio in your CV, application and on your LinkedIn (Display it everywhere so we can find it easily!) - Avoid adding NDA'd projects unless you have explicit permission from your employer or whoever it was agreed with. - Highlight your contribution if it's a group project. - Ask for feedback on your portfolio if rejected

Let's talk about the importance of a well-curated portfolio. It's more than just a collection of work: It's a testament to our skills, creativity, and passion. In my portfolio (which showcases a range of UI/UX designs) I tried not only to display past projects but also to narrate my journey in the gaming industry. I regularly update it to reflect new skills and projects, both by adding and removing content. Tailoring it to specific roles and companies is key, as it highlights relevant skills and demonstrates my adaptability. tl;dr: A portfolio is our story, make it compelling. Make it yours.

The best thing you can do before an interview is preparation. Do at least the bare minimum: 1) Check the company website and be curious a little. Check their games, news section, and about us page. Google them. 2) Find out with whom you'd be speaking and what we'll be the nature of the interview. Will it be focused on technical stuff already with team lead or it's an intro chat with HR/recruiter? 3) Check if you have received all the relevant info. In case of online interviews - links to meetings, proper time (in your timezone!), participants. Chat is in the office? Make sure you know the address, check out the route, ask about parking spot (why stress yourself with parking in already stressful situation).

Probably the most underrated mistake: Not researching or not doing it well enough. You have no idea how punished are candidates because of this. Not knowing about the studio will get you almost 100% out of the process. Many recruiters agree on hiring the "second" best option (in term of skills) if the first didn't seems to be interested on their studio at all. It is a huge red flag for them. But there is something worse. No one want to work with a****les. Be kind and respectful.

Some of the worst experiences I’ve had, happened when a candidate comes with your company info to show you he did his homework and start using phrases to make extra points. For an interview just be your self, don’t try to over-sale your self, ask for details, that will make a real and authentic interview.

Build your name on LinkedIn by showing who you are and sharing your expertise for free. I've been doing that for years on LinkedIn and LinkedIn is where I got all my clients and jobs over the last 6-7 years. We're usually afraid that if we share our knowledge people will just use it and not need us, but the truth is the complete opposite. The more you share, the more you learn. The more you share, the more people think you're an expert. And sometimes they even hire you to do exactly what you've already explained even though they have seen you explain it. Share every day at least once. Don't be afraid to repost after a month. And realize that it takes time to build your reputation.

Try and error. You will fail some process with some studios, even if you prepare yourself. But that's absolutely normal. Try to set up the right mindset. Failing a process only means there is some bits you need to improve. Your focus should be there, not in the results. Always remember to track what are you doing, it will help you to get away the focus on specific processes and have a wider vision of what is going on.