[Since GDC is coming up this week, and with it the Career Pavilion, this guide -- originally published in Game Developer magazine -- compiles advice from hiring companies on what they're looking for, plus important do's and don'ts if you do want to get a job in the mainstream game biz.]
2009 has been tough for the games industry. Layoffs, consolidations and reorganizations mean that not only have talented staff found themselves without jobs, but fresh graduates have found themselves entering into an uncertain future.
Game Developers Conference 2010's Career Pavilion (Thursday, March 11th—Saturday March 13th in Moscone South Hall, accessible with all GDC passes, including Expo or Student passes) presents an opportunity to receive face time with recruiting studios and publishers, and with only three days to make an impression it’s important to not waste any time.
We’ve talked to some of the top recruiters from companies including Blizzard, Ubisoft, and Sony to ask them what they’re looking for, and with that knowledge at hand, you can ensure that every impression you make can be positive.
Really! Be Prepared!
Not only the motto of the Boy Scouts, “Be prepared!” is also overwhelmingly the advice of every recruiter we talked to. Before even beginning to research the Career Pavilion, recruiters strongly advised that all job seekers have a specific position in mind, and organize their preparation toward getting it.
“Too many times folks come to a booth and say they want [work as] an artist, programmer, or a designer,” said Maggie Bohlen for High Voltage Software (a multiplatform developer that recently developed The Conduit for Sega). “Don’t expect to leave your choice of career in our hands—know where your strengths lie and focus on that specific direction.”
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