Gaming Industry Careers

Stop being the gaming industry’s "best-kept secret." I talk to incredibly accomplished pros every day. 15+ years at AAA studios, those sorts of guys. And they are invisible. Even though they’re grinding, they’re shipping, and they’re saving projects from certain death. They get bypassed for promotions or caught in a layoff wave. And Recruiters don't call them back either. Why? Because they are stuck in the Cinderella Trap. They think if they just do great work, the "Prince Charming" recruiter/manager will find them and hand them a Lead role. SPOILER ALERT. Prince Charming won't. In this market, your work does not speak for itself. It stays silent while louder, less qualified people take your spot. If you want the job you actually want, you have to start shouting from the rooftops about what you're good at. To become Unstoppable, you must embrace being LOUD. 1. Visibility is Survival In the modern gaming industry, being "good" is the baseline. It is not the differentiator. If hiring managers and studio heads don't know you exist, they cannot hire you. Period. You aren't being "humble" by staying quiet, you're actually throwing away opportunities. 2. Narrative Control If you don't tell people what you're good at, they will decide for you. They’ll put you in a box based on your last job title, not your actual potential. By explicitly stating your "War Stories" and your wins, you're building a professional gravity that pulls the right opportunities toward you. 3. Leaders Share Generously Real authority is created through teaching. When you tell people how you solved a "nightmare" pipeline issue or how you managed a team through a crunch, you aren't "bragging." You're providing value. You’re signaling to the industry that you are an authority, not just another pair of hands. 4. The "Social Network" Effect 80% of the best roles never hit a job board. They are filled through networks, just people talking to people. When you tell your network exactly what problems you solve, you're equipping them to be your sales force. You're making it easy for them to say, "I know the perfect person for that Lead Engineer spot." The funny/sad/weird thing is, almost no one needs to be "better" at their craft. You’re already good. And 80% of what you need to know for a job can be learned on the job anyways. You just need to stop being your own worst enemy by hiding in the shadows. The industry is noisy. It’s time to get loud.

WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO GETTING YOUR FIRST GAME JOB? When you start out in the gaming industry it can be very overwhelming & confusing, as each job application requires different skills & too many shipped games credits. The fundamental keys are: 1) Reputation – This is built by your online presence, your personality, the quality of work & speed you deliver it, the way you communicate, collaborate,  treat others online, & recommendations from coworkers & industry peers. Nobody wants to work with negative or complaining people. How you interact with game industry professionals in their posts, your comments, & in your DMs is the first way you establish your reputation. 2) Studio XP – Junior roles are going away, so in order to get Junior Role XP, you should be applying to Indie Studios, A Level Studios, Apply for Internships (which are rare & location based), or volunteering to studios are the easiest ways to get Studio XP. The great thing about volunteer studios is they are remote, you determine how many hours you can offer, & you meet new people in the industry, but only volunteer if you can afford the time & lack of salary. Why is studio XP so important? Because there is a huge jump from A – AAA & you need to show XP working with Processes, Deadlines, Teams, workflows, pipelines, collaboration, budgets, marketing campaigns, approval processes, contracts, NDAs, etc. 3) Game Credits –  Having game writing XP is a must, & it has never been easier to get it! You can use Arcweave, Twine, Itch.io, EarReality, & Game Jams (there is at least one a month - Google it). This XP is vital when applying to Game Studios & each one of these counts as "shipped games", as a "shipped game" is any game you have completed that you can share as a link. Now, these "shipped games" when compared to any studio shipped games don't measure up, but they are a start & can help you get Indie or A studio jobs. 4) Portfolio Site & Solid Work Examples - Having a place where you can showcase your writing & design skills is important. Have a portfolio that is easy to follow, itemized by theme & gameplay (ex: Horror game writing examples are connected, Sci-Fi game writing examples are connected), & also have a PDF example you can share. 💡PRO TIP: Don't store these in Google Drives or a drive folder as most HR staff aren't allowed to open these links or download your work samples, & if it is buried in files & not direct visual examples they won't go through them all. 🧠 Here's an article I wrote on what to include in your portfolio: https://lnkd.in/gY42txuf In summary you hold the keys to your success and you also are the one who determines what success means to you. 🧠 Here's another article I wrote about: 10 Tips To Becoming A Narrative Designer/Game Writer https://lnkd.in/gfNSc6SM #NarrativeDesign #NarrativeDesignTip #GameWriter #GameWriting

I had a conversation with a 26-year-old who had been given the advice not to build relationships with coworkers or others in his industry that could be competitors. The advice he received from a mentor was that you are in competition with people … And you can’t trust them. I disagree with that suggestion and believe the opposite is true for young professional professionals (actually my advice goes for people of all ages)… if you’re thinking about the long-term, you need to need to network, network, network…. but let’s go a layer deeper. Building relationships in your industry and your community isn’t about collecting business cards or followers. It’s about investing in yourself for the long game. Here are three reasons to start early: 1. All opportunities come from people – always. Jobs, clients, introductions, mentors, partnerships… they rarely come from cold applications or online likes, links, shares, or follows. They come from trust. And trust takes time. If you want doors to open in your 30s, 40s, and beyond, the time to build meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships is right from the start. 2. Reputation grows while you’re not looking. How people talk about you when you’re not in the room matters (and yes, people in your company and your industry. Do talk about you behind your back). Get involved. Show up. Volunteer. Help others succeed. The compound interest of your reputation starts accruing the moment you engage. 3. Community anchors you when things get hard. Careers aren’t straight lines. There will be pivots, setbacks, and reinventions. There will be recessions and layoffs that happen. Having a network of trusted peers, colleagues, and mentors makes the tough times survivable…. and the good times even better. When I speak to organizations that have young professionals… I am very clear that they need to think about how and why they” choose . Show up. Be curious. Give more than you take. It all adds up. #HumanInteraction #NetworkingMatters #CareerGrowth #UncommonConnections

One persons “vanity” is another person’s visability. When people know what you stand for, what you’re great at, and what kind of impact you make, you become memorable. Sure, oddly you also become subject to more scrutiny but at least your name is being brought up in the room. When you have a well developed personal brand, your employer benefits too. When you share insights, support others, represent your craft, and balance authenticity with competency, you amplify the company’s credibility just by being yourself. Sure, there’s always some risk, no one can control what you say and that could cause some issues if you don’t have any PR awareness, but if your professional reputation reflects positively, your personal brand becomes an invaluable asset to any organization. A strong personal brand says: 💙 You’re confident enough to be seen and handle public scrutiny. 💙 You’re growing, deeply rooted, and invested in your field. Remember brands aren’t built overnight but rather they’re long-term investments. 💙 You know how to build community and foster genuine connections. Those are leadership traits, regardless of your job title. And the best part? Your personal brand follows you wherever you go. Companies change, restructure, team members leave, but your reputation, your voice, and your network move with you. I would know. I grew from 5K to 20K at a major AAA studio, and now sit close to 65K. You can do it too. Spend some time figuring out what you care about, how you want to show up. Share your work, your failures and your successes. Build your name. Because the truth is, you are a business of 1 providing a service to another business by way of employment and your brand matters.

Do you want to work in the gaming industry, but are struggling to find a job? You are not alone! Breaking into the gaming industry has never been easy, and it has become even more competitive lately. I see lots of people focusing entirely on job applications, sending CV after CV and waiting for a response that may never come. This approach alone is no longer enough. If you want to stand out, you need to demonstrate your skills. Start with a portfolio. Rather than a document that says what you could do, it should be a collection that shows what you have already done. Even small projects matter. In fact, small, well-executed projects are often more valuable than large-scale, unfinished ideas. Make games. Play them alone or with friends. Keep them simple but complete. Publish them on platforms like Itch.io. This achieves two things: it demonstrates your ability to finish what you start, and it provides you with something tangible to discuss. Participate in game jams. They force you to think quickly, plan effectively, and work well under pressure. These are valuable industry skills. Game jams are also one of the fastest ways to meet like-minded people and potential collaborators. Attend events. Don't just go to listen; go to connect. The industry runs on relationships as much as it runs on skills. A good conversation can open more doors than a hundred cold applications. Most importantly, keep improving. Learn new tools, understand systems and analyse games in depth. Don't just play games; break them down in your mind. Ask yourself why they work, why they fail, and what you would do differently. Sending applications is passive. Building, sharing and connecting is active. Those who advance in this industry are usually the ones who persist in creating, even when no one is watching. So, if you’re trying to break into the gaming industry, don’t wait for permission. Build something. Share it. Repeat. #videogames #gamedev #job #gamingindustry

If you want to build a long and successful career at a major game studio, these are some of the most important things to keep in mind. First, understand that large studios look for people who are adaptable. You should be comfortable moving from one project to another and be able to adjust to different teams, workflows, and challenges without resistance. Being social and approachable is just as important as having strong technical skills. Constantly isolating yourself from your team can create the wrong impression, even if that isn't your intention. Building good relationships with your coworkers makes collaboration much easier and creates a healthier work environment. Respect the company's reporting structure. Always keep your lead informed and discuss important decisions before moving forward. Following the proper communication channels shows professionalism and helps the entire team stay aligned. Respect the company's policies and always protect confidential information. Trust is one of the most valuable qualities an employee can have, especially in large studios working on unannounced projects. It's also important to understand how the production pipeline works. Know how to receive a task, ask the right questions, estimate your workload, and deliver your work on time while meeting the expected quality. Most importantly, be a team player. Always look for opportunities to help your teammates whenever you can. Great games are built by great teams, and collaboration is one of the qualities that major studios value the most. Finally, be kind and respectful to the people around you. Everyone is dealing with deadlines, pressure, and personal challenges. Showing empathy, being easy to work with, and maintaining a positive attitude will leave a lasting impression. If you consistently follow these principles, you'll give yourself a much better chance of not only getting into a major studio, but also building a long and successful career there.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 1-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 After spending 20 years teaching others how to navigate job searches, I found myself in an unfamiliar and humbling position last year—I was on the job hunt. Despite my experience, the strategies I had relied on in the past weren’t delivering the same results in today’s hyper-competitive market. Over the last year, I’ve learned some valuable lessons about standing out in the game industry. Here are my top takeaways: 1. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞 > 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 I spent countless hours perfecting resumes and cover letters, but it wasn’t until I overhauled my LinkedIn profile that I started seeing traction. In many interviews, I noticed that hiring managers referenced my LinkedIn profile over my resume. Optimize your profile with key accomplishments and an updated portfolio—it’s often the first thing recruiters look at. 2. 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 The game industry is small, and personal connections make a big difference. Attend networking events, game jams, and join resources like Amir Satvat Savat mentorship programs or Kenn White Game Industry Coffee Chat on Discord. Recommendations on LinkedIn are gold—one of my recent interviews came from someone who knew my recommender. Build genuine connections and don’t hesitate to ask for mentorship or introductions. 3. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 When asking for introductions, recommendations, or internal advocacy, make it as simple as possible. Send pre-written templates for them to choose from—like an intro email or candidate summary. Remove all obstacles, and people will be more likely to help you. 4. 𝐁𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞, 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 If someone agrees to advocate for you, ask if it’s okay to follow up monthly. When you do, be concise and try to add value—share a relevant article or offer a quick insight. Consistency is key; if you say you’ll follow up, make sure you follow through. This is a chance to demonstrate your determination and professionalism. 5. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 In my first few interviews, I over-prepared and came off robotic. The better approach? Identify 3-4 success stories you can confidently share using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Practice telling them naturally and adapt them to different questions. If needed, ask a recruiter to help you refine your delivery. These lessons reflect what it takes to navigate one of the most competitive job markets I’ve seen in two decades. The game industry demands more than just qualifications—you need to be proactive, polished, and consistent to stand out among thousands of applicants. #GamingJobs #GameIndustry #GameJobHunt #ActionButtonRecruiting