GCG Feature: 'How to Really Get Your First Job in the Game Industry'

Author: by Staff

In the latest feature for Game Career Guide, Flashpoint Academy department chair of game development Simeon Peebler breaks down what he sees as core requirements for landing your first job in the growing industry of video games. In this excerpt, Peebler says that even without professional work experience, it's both possible and highly recommended that you create your own: "Just because you haven't had an internship doesn't mean you can't get real experience out there. If you are a student and you are in a program with no curriculum to support team or group projects which result in valuable demonstrated results that you can share in your portfolio, get together with some other passionate people and make your own work experience. Create your own game dev team with like-minded people; join the modding community; do some highly creative indie work that demonstrates your passion and makes a great addition to a compelling portfolio; work in teams; and work with other people in diverse settings. Today's games are made sometimes in teams comprising of over a hundred people!" Peebler also notes one other priority, an online portfolio to show off to potential employers: “Use the tools of the information age to tell your story; all you need to start is a weblink. Every potential employer can more effectively promote your "credentials" and what you have to offer decision makers by forwarding simple links to various staff members, HR departments, managers, business owners and so on. Create this website yourself, and make sure it is simple to navigate. Test it out! Present only your very best work. Leave your learning exercises off of the site. Favor quality over quantity. Buy your own URL too, since that is easy enough to do and cheap enough these days. You are worth it! And keep your site up to date when you are working with material that you can share even from work. This is your digital life story. At a moment's notice you never know when a new opportunity can come to you through the web.” You can now read the entire feature, with more from Peebler on landing your first job in the games industry (no registration required, please feel free to link to this feature from external websites).