Jason W. Bay at the GDC Expo in San Francisco, CA
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is my personal favorite industry event each year.

In the early days of video games — back in the 1970s — the game industry wasn’t really an “industry” at all. It was just a few companies with a few employees, and everybody seemed to know everybody else. But the popularity of games quickly grew, first through the “arcade boom,” and then driven by the rise of home computers and game consoles.

Now, video games are a $100 billion industry that employs tens of thousands of workers in diverse fields like art, programming, design, production, and audio. With all those people and all that technology, it’s far more difficult for game developers to keep up with each other — let alone keep up with the latest industry developments.

That’s why, each year, various industry groups host special events to bring game developers together from across the world. Some events are general-purpose for any and all game developers, while others focus on specific sub-fields within game development. What they have in common is that each offers a chance for attendees to collaborate, network, hunt for jobs, and share knowledge — all while having fun with their peers and celebrating an amazing industry. Read more »

Tagged with: , ,

Two people at a professional networking coffee meeting
Can you talk to other humans? Then you already have the skills to do career networking.

Would you like to apply for game jobs before they’re posted to the general public? Do you wish you had an “in” at your favorite game company? Do you wish you knew employees and hiring managers in the game industry who could help you get a job?

All of that is possible, through the magic of career networking.

If you’re like most people, the thought of doing “networking” seems awkward at best, and the stuff of nightmares at worst. But the fact remains, professional networking is an important part of your job search strategy that offers a huge advantage finding your first game job. And it’s really not that hard, once you learn how to do it. In fact, if you know how to talk to other humans and take notes, then you already have most of the skills you need. Let’s learn how to apply those skills to landing a job in the game industry, through professional networking.

Read more »

Tagged with: , ,

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Indigo, who asks “I have a question about taking a job in a position you don’t want just to get your foot in the door. I’ve had many teachers and other people tell me that taking a QA job or a 2D art job is a good idea just to get in. But I know that I really wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much as a 3D art position. But it’s pretty hard to find a 3D position. So I’m not sure what to do. Any advice would be great.”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • What happens if you don’t have the skills you need to get the job you really want
  • 3 reasons why starting in a different job can boost your career
  • The 1 major drawback of starting in a different job

Read more »

Tagged with: , , ,

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Ramo, who asks, “I am currently an airman in the navy, but when I get out I would like to fulfill my dream of becoming a sound producer for a video game company. I would like to know what schools could I attend, and what people I should I connect with?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Various educational options for audio engineering and production
  • Why career networking is critical to your future audio career
  • The best way to grow your career network rapidly, so it will be there when you need it

Read more »

Tagged with: , , ,

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Matthew who asks, “Hey Jason, I was looking into trying to get a job as a QA tester but all companies require years of previous experience. How do I get experience if no one will hire me unless I have it?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why the “chicken and egg” problem affects every game job
  • How your career can take off once you get your foot in the door at a video game studio
  • Three of the top, proven strategies for breaking into your first game job

Read more »

Tagged with: , , , , ,

How can you get your foot in the door, if the door won't open?

Does the video game industry seem like a black box, with no way to break inside? All you need is a foot in the door, but how do you get it to open in the first place?

You can get into game development. All you need is a solid strategy.

But it’s time to stop searching for “the right way,” because there’s no one “right way.” Instead, there are many ways to get your first job at a game studio. To discover the best strategies, it takes an understanding of how the current batch of professional game developers started out.

Here are 10 strategies you can use to break into your first job at a video game studio, along with examples of pro developers that have done it. It worked for them, and it can work for you. Read more »

Tagged with: , , , ,

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from John, his son is wondering if he should drop out of college and learn to make video games on his own?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How to push your boundaries in ways you never dreamed
  • The best way to convince employers that you know how to “GSD”
  • How to build deep, lasting connections with game industry insiders

Read more »

Tagged with: , , ,

The Internet is full of info about the game industry. But only a handful of resources cut through the noise to offer current, practical information to help you get a job and grow your career in games. And they’ll save you a lot of time and effort along the way.

The resources below are the cream of the crop, and come recommended by top game schools and industry professionals. And – bonus! – most of them are absolutely free. Enjoy!

Read more »

Tagged with: , , , , , ,

nan palmero / flickr
LinkedIn is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get.

When you’re searching for a job in the video game industry, LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building your network. With over 450 million users, it’s by far the largest and most active professional social network on the planet. But there are some “unwritten rules” of LinkedIn etiquette, and you can end up embarrassing yourself if you aren’t thoughtful when you invite people to Connect. Stick to these 3 simple rules and you can’t go wrong.

Read more »

Tagged with: , ,

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.
Job interviewer judging you from across the desk
Are you prepared for all 3 stages of interviewing?

If you’re like most people, interviewing for a job is a lot like visiting the dentist: You don’t look forward to it, it’s no fun while you’re there, and if things don’t go well, you’ll be feeling the pain long after you leave.

Job interviews may not be as physically painful as getting your teeth drilled, but let’s be honest — the emotional discomfort is real. After all, who in their right mind enjoys having a bunch of strangers grilling you on your skills and talents, while holding all the power to decide the fate of your career?

Fortunately, all the stress and heartburn will be totally worth it in the end, because interviewing is the very last hurdle before landing your dream job! That’s why it’s critical to understand the process — so you can plan, prepare, and perform your very best in every stage of interviewing. Read more »

Tagged with: , , ,