Top 10 Tips for Getting A Job in the Video Game Industry

Top 10 Tips for Getting A Job in the Video Game Industry
By Best-Selling author Joshua Brown

1. Research
Conduct research for your job role, the industry structure, your portfolio, your CV, your interview -- everything.
Pipeline and the day-to-day basis routine of that role.
Always research each company you apply for.

2. Have a passion for games
You MUST love games.
Many job adverts will list a passion for games as a requirement.
Pick games apart -- How were they made?
It is a demanding industry -- your passion will be needed!

3. Get inspiration from everywhere
Books, history and museums are some great places to look.
Take a look at other games and other peoples work but never plagiarise! Ever.

4. Make Contacts / Networking
Whatever your career stage -- network.
Socialise and show you work hard -- at school, university and at work.
Use social media -- Self promote on LinkedIn
Tell people you are looking for work

5. Have a portfolio you're confident in
Your portfolio will only be as good as your worst bit of work in it.
If your online work takes a long time to load then you will lose a potential employer's interest immediately.
Don't make your work tie you down to specific games.

6. Get Feedback
Criticism is needed to grow.
Post your work to online forums - you'll often find the industry's best developers online posting on forums and even on your own posts providing expert advice and best of all it's free advice!

7. Learn from your mistakes.
Do not be afraid of making mistakes -- everyone makes them!
Your career will be one big learning process.
Be positive and actively want to learn.
A publisher or developer doesn't want to hear "that can't be done".

8. Preparation is key
Good preparation is essential for getting a job, especially interviews.
Practice example questions and repeat them aloud.
Remember you are being interviewed by a professional game designer not a professional interviewer!

9. Don't Give Up
Be persistent and every second you are unemployed work on your portfolio and improving your skills.
Your break will come but you will have to work for it and present yourself in an employable manner.

10. Make Games
In your spare time make games.
Either as a personal project or a group one.
Adobe Flash, Unity, CryEngine 3 and UDK are great for this.
You'll gain lots of valuable experience from doing it.
Plus it's great for your CV!

For more top tips view my book:
How to Become a Game Designer: The ULTIMATE Guide to Breaking into the Game Industry

[dharmangsolanki]

Hey! I really liked the advice,
But doing Computer Engineering( 4 years degree) will help me to get into gaming industry?

[QdamasterAnimations]

thanks! I'm 14 and I want to become a game designer, what kind of college do u have to go to?