In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Gabor G. who asks, “I found a lot of useful information about game testing in this post. And now all I need is a CV or Resume. And that is the part where I need a little help. I have almost no experience in CV writing and I don’t find any useable example or template on the Web.”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The best way to get past the hardest part of writing your resume or CV
  • How to write your personal Summary (not an Objective!)
  • The #1 mistake most people make when writing their work history, and how to avoid it

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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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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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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.
Graduation hat in a grassy field
Do you need the hat and tassel, or is talent enough?

Art student Jessica Parker wrote in to ask: “How important is a degree vs a portfolio when applying for an art position? I’ve heard very polarizing opinions on that front.”

I’ve heard this discussed many times between artists as they plan out their careers in the game industry. It’s important because school is time-intensive and expensive, so the idea that you could skip the education and get a job just by building a kick-ass portfolio is an attractive option.

But the answer is more complicated than it might appear. As it turns out, “degree vs. portfolio” is a trick question – with an even trickier answer.Read more »

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Big and Small Goldfish
There are advantages to being a small fish in a big pond.

Without a doubt, this is a tough time to look for a new job in the game industry. Dozens of studios have have been hit by layoffs or have been shut down. Many others are barely treading water. From smaller shops like Harmonix and OMGPOP all the way up to big industry fixtures like EA, LucasArts, and SEGA, nobody has been immune to cuts. As a result, the job market is flooded with veteran game developers, and they’re fighting against fresh-out-of-school newcomers for many of the same jobs.

If you’re a recent graduate, you might be thinking: How can I get hired when I’m just a guppy going up against so many sharks? Is the pond big enough for everybody? How can I compete with established developers that have years of experience?Read more »

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Rock Star Pointing At Viewer
Who’s the rock star in the room? You are!

For many graduating students, their biggest fear is not being able to get a job. Not only are you competing for jobs with established industry insiders, you’re also competing against your entire graduating class!

There aren’t enough jobs for everybody. If you don’t stand out from the crowd, you’ll be left behind. Here’s how you can differentiate yourself and be somebody those hiring managers can’t pass up.

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