11 Ways to Find Your Dream Job in Game Development
After graduation, most of the students aspire to find their dream job in game development. Some want to set up a business, while the rest want to pursue higher education.
Choose How You Would Like to Land in Your Dream Job in Game Development
Here are eleven ways to help you find that dream gaming job you always wanted. Moreover, this is something you need to work on even as you are studying. Implement a combination of these paths that fit your learning style and work choices.
1. Learning How to Develop Games: Self Study vs. Studying in a College
If you want to opt for a career in gaming or game development, you can choose from a wide range of online resources that teach you different aspects of gaming such as how to create graphics using Unity or Unreal and so on.
However, studying in a college is more beneficial. Apart from the learning, teamwork, the communication skills, the college environment is a great place to nurture networks, both personal and professional. These networks help you choose an internship, get jobs, and even help start your own company in future. They are your safety nets.
The Gaming Industry in India is still in the initial stages of growth, so it is not easy to hire experienced game developers. Therefore, most of the companies hire freshers from gaming institutions as they can save time and costs associated with training new hires.
2. Make the Most of the Facilities Available in College
Backstage Pass encourages student communities by creating the Backstage Pass Gaming Forum. This forum helps in networking with students, mentors, and alumni. You can ask queries, find new jobs, post your progress, inspire and get inspired by all that is happening in the gaming world.
The Gaming Forum is open to all Backstage Pass students, both current and old, mentors and faculty members. It also serves as a job board that lists internship and job opportunities for students of Backstage Pass.
The Gaming Forum helps students to post their work related to games, which could be design, art or game development or programming related, and they can also post games for feedback. You will get quality feedback from Backstage Pass alumni who are experienced game developers themselves.
Backstage Pass also has an incubator called Level2. Located at Backstage Pass’ campus, Level2 provides infrastructure, mentoring, marketing, publishing, and funding support to students who want to build games. These games are also sent to international competitions like Microsoft Imagine Cup, Casual Connect and so on.
You will work with a team consisting of students, mentors and make games from scratch. You will learn teamwork, gain confidence to develop games, get a lot of exposure and make connections within the gaming industry.
3. Game Programming Skill is a Must
Every game developer needs to be well-versed in a programming language. If you know C++, you can adapt to any programming language with ease.
While in college, understand what skills you will be tested in while appearing for campus placements or searching for a job on your own.
4. Catch Up with Seniors
Talk to your seniors to find out the typical interview questions that the recruiter asks. Enquire about how they got placed.
Ask for tips and find out what went right and wrong during their interview. Your seniors are a good source of information that will help you in your interview preparation.
5. How Do You Find the Skill Set
Go to job boards, register as a game developer who is in school, and subscribe to their email list. The job board emails detail what skills are very educative.
Chart a course based on what you are taught and what the job boards point to. Make every effort to fill the gaps in your skills. At the same time, note that you cannot become a master of all skills. So, focus on what you would like to do.
6. Concept Artists are in Demand
If you are a concept artist, it is a very competitive field, and you need to customise your work to specific studios. It is easier to get a job if your style is reflective of the studio’s style. Adopting different art styles will make you stand out from the crowd.
7. Build Your Portfolio
Working on simple games can help you build a good portfolio. Get feedback from friends and mentors and improve your skills.
8. Create an Online Presence
It also helps to create an online presence like a website and participate in gaming forums and industry events. Your online presence is your website and your LinkedIn profile. You can showcase your portfolio and creations on your website and LinkedIn. Most prospective employers find it easier to shortlist candidates who have an online presence.
9. Research Prospective Employers
Make a list of the top companies you want to work for. Research the employers to find out what opportunities they offer, their clients and owners, what games they make, their HR policies, how well do they treat employees, whether they are profitable, and so on. You can find answers to some questions on online job boards such as Glassdoor and PayScale. You can get the other details from friends, networks, company websites, industry market bodies, Quora, and so on. Take your time to do this research. It will help you to make an informed decision.
10. Apply for Jobs that Ask for Experience
Most of the jobs ask for experienced hires. Even if you do not have the experience, you should apply for positions that need 1-3 years of experience. The recruiters will shortlist you if they find your application meeting most of the other skills that they need.
An impressive online presence coupled with the required skill set can quickly propel you into your dream job.
11. Send Customised Applications
Always remember to tailor your application to the company you are applying for.
Conclusion
Dream jobs are created to attract the best minds in the industry. Make yourself one, and you have not one, but many jobs waiting for you when you graduate.