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This article is part of our Video Game Job Hunt Guide. Read the full guide to learn how to write a strong resume, build a winning portfolio, ace your job interviews and more.
Man waiting for a phone interview
Do you know the 10 Dos and Don’ts of phone interviewing?

The phone interview could be your first and best chance to make a good impression on a future employer. But phone interviews are alarmingly short — often just 30 minutes — so if you make a mistake, there’s no time to recover.

Use these phone interview Dos and Don’ts to nail your phone interview and convince any employer that you’d be perfect for the job.Read more »

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By Posted in Applying, Interviewing No Comments

A few weeks ago, I spoke with a group of students at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, a game and film school here in Seattle. They were kind enough to make a video and share it with the world, I thought you might like it.

It was super fun, because I did an open Q&A with the students. They’re graduating soon, so they asked about everything: interviewing, resumes, portfolios, and whether good digital hygiene means you should “scrub” your social media before employers find those pics of that thing you kinda wish you hadn’t done last summer. Here’s the video. Read more »

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By Posted in Applying, Podcast 4 Comments

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Taylor, who asks “I am incredibly committed to my craft and improving at it, yet I am under the impression that when I apply for jobs, along with my application there may be 30+ talented artists who have been in the industry before. Do hiring managers occasionally consider candidates that have potential, despite not having the experience? Or do they only seriously consider ones that have industry experience?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How your entry-level salary fits into the game team’s hiring strategy
  • Why your passion and enthusiasm could be worth years of experience
  • The top 4 ways that a newbie can be even more valuable than a seasoned veteran

Read more »

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By Posted in Interviewing, Podcast No Comments

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Eziel D. who asks, “I had to take a test to get a job as a game tester for one of the famous game developers. Currently, I’m waiting for a call for an interview. I want to ask you, what should I do to prepare for the interview call?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why the phone interview is critical to your success in getting the job
  • The top 3 things you should do to prepare for a successful phone interview
  • Why your cell phone is actually your worst enemy when interviewing

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In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Paul N. who asks, “I was working full time for a small game company, but they closed and I was laid off. I’ve been looking for a new job ever since, but it’s been 18 months and it’s really starting to take an emotional toll. I’m smart, personable, creative and have numerous credits to my name, yet I always seem to come in second. So my question is, what the heck am I doing wrong?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • What are the key steps in your job hunt?
  • How can you target and improve each step to improve your success?
  • Why could you still be overlooked for jobs, even if you’re doing everything right?

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By Posted in Careers No Comments
This is one of more than 30 interviews with professional game developers. For more, visit Which game job is right for you?.
Eric Jordan, video game advocate and game studio CEO
Eric Jordan believes that “young people are the future of our industry,” and is working hard to turn that vision into reality.

Eric Jordan is the CEO of Codename Entertainment, an independent game studio in Victoria, B.C., Canada. He’s a vocal advocate in support of video games and the video game industry as a whole, and even delivered an official TEDx talk titled “Video games are f**king awesome.”

You heard that right: F**king awesome.

We’re speaking with Eric today about what it’s like to run a game studio, why he thinks a career in video games is a great option for young people, and how you can get started with your own career making games.Read more »

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By Posted in Applying, Careers, Interviewing, Networking 3 Comments

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Contents

So you’ve worked hard for months – maybe years – learning how to make games. You’ve got serious game dev skills under your belt, and whether you went to school or you’re self-taught, it’s finally time to start looking for a full-time job making games.

Congratulations, because all that hard work is about to pay off. You’re soooo close to becoming a professional game developer. (That’s got a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? “Professional game developer.”)

The only thing standing between you and a job making games, is writing a good resume. And building a portfolio. And applying for jobs… and doing all those interviews… Well, okay, I guess you’ve still got some work to do.

But you’re in luck, because what you see before you is the Internet’s most comprehensive guide to mastering your video game industry job search. The opportunities are out there, and I’m here to help you find them and make them yours.

You can thank me later, once you’ve been hired and your dream has become a reality at long last. Until then, check out the articles below to help you on your way.

Note: Also be sure to bookmark the Game Development Terms Glossary.
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In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Gena, who wants to know whether the work life balance in the video game industry is as bad as she’s heard it is?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why video game dev teams often have to do “crunch time”
  • What the industry is doing to achieve a better work/life balance
  • How you can avoid working for game companies that don’t value a healthy work/life balance

Read more »

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How much are Game Developers paid? There are many jobs on a video game development team, and “game developer” can refer to any of them: programmers, artists, designers, audio engineers, and more. Game developers are paid well above national average income levels, but some are paid more than others. It depends on job title, years of experience, region, and other job-specific factors discussed below.

The following graphs show average game developer pay, and each section includes links to learn more. The data is pulled from several authoritative sources (see endnote for references), and is updated every 6 months.
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By Posted in Interviewing 5 Comments
This article is part of our Video Game Job Hunt Guide. Read the full guide to learn how to write a strong resume, build a winning portfolio, ace your job interviews and more.
JC Connors, Senior Video Game Manager
JC Connors has interviewed hundreds of up-and-coming video game developers. Do you have what it takes to make the cut?

J.C. Connors has been running large game studios for many years. He’s interviewed and hired literally hundreds of people, so we’ve invited him to share his best advice on how to ace your interview. His guest post below is full of high-value tips and insights, so if you’re interviewing for game jobs, keep reading!

J.C. Connors: Interviewing for game companies can be daunting. It’s a bit like being a guest star on a long-running sitcom: Everyone you are about to meet has worked together for the past five years, knows each other’s quirks and passions, cares deeply about their team and creative process – and you’re the newbie who only has an hour to impress everyone.

In the last few years, the game industry has become more competitive than ever. Big studios are shutting down, developers are focusing more on quality, and schools are graduating more talented engineers, artists, and designers than at any time in the history of video games.Read more »

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