Networking: First Steps to Getting a Job in the Game Industry

Sometimes a phone conversation is all you need to get in the door.  Photo: tilaneseven

In my previous article on Video Game Internships, I discussed some of the great things that can come out of having a shot at a game internship.  In this article, I’ll discuss some of the first steps you can take to getting noticed by someone, which will often lead to getting a job in the game industry if done well.

Networking is an often overlooked aspect of getting into video game careers, especially by younger employees and students. However, networking is critical in all industries, but perhaps especially in the entertainment industry because it is such a high profile place to be. Everyone wants to be an actor, a TV producer, or a game designer, and yet the actual job openings and opportunities are relatively few. Finding someone who knows someone who knows someone who can get your name mentioned to a recruiter or a game developer can be a critically important step in starting your game career.

When I was younger, I thought it was almost like cheating to get a job because of someone you know. But the truth is that everyone is given different advantages in life, whether it is financial situation, geographic location, natural talent, good upbringing, or good connections; not everyone gets to start out at the same level or from the same starting point. So you’ll have to do the best with what you got, because your competition certainly will. Don’t feel guilty about networking; it’s a common and frankly well-respected practice to help get yourself noticed and at least get a foot in the door. You should also look at it as a skill worth developing for career building and enhancing your life.

Besides, being noticed or mentioned is just the first step in getting a job in the game industry – you can’t network all the way into one of these careers (and if you can, then you should be skeptical of the company!). For that you’ll have to rely on your own skills, talents, and credentials.

Goals of Networking

Capitalizing on an insider contact involves a few simple steps:

1. Find someone and introduce yourself
2. Start a dialogue about their job, the industry, or something related. Get to know them.
3. Mention at an appropriate time that you are interested in job opportunities
4. Offer to give them your resume or see if they can direct you to a recruiter
5. Thank them

Let’s break it down.

Methods of Introduction

There are two main ways to find and utilize a connection that will help get you into the games industry. The first is finding a specific person who is already in the industry and may be able to lend a hand. This is the preferred method with a much higher chance of success, since you will have someone on the inside vouching for you. However, it is more difficult and requires a little more gumption, since you will be speaking with people one on one.

The second method is easier but often provides lower quality leads: job fairs and other events. At universities, in cities, and at conferences or conventions, there are often job fairs where many companies set up booths and attempt to attract job applicants to the video game careers they have open.

Either method is a legitimate way of getting into the industry. Combining both approaches and then following through with what works is the best method overall.

Finding Insiders through Connections

If you can find contact information for an industry insider either in person, through email, or on the phone, ,you have struck gold.  You might be able to do this through your personal network. Odds are that someone you know knows someone who knows someone who is in the games business.

Contact them and let them know that you are interested in their work and have questions you’d like to ask them. At the end of the email or phone call, ask them if it would be alright for you to contact them again if you have more questions, and be sure to thank them for their time. You will find that as a rule, most people are flattered by the attention, by the fact that you went to the trouble of finding and looking them up, and are willing if not eager to help.

If you can’t seem to find anyone through the personal route, check with your school or university’s alumni program. Ask your counselor or advisor where you can go to find out if any alumni from your college or program ended up in video game careers. Ask if any alumni databases are available and what the procedure is to get in contact with useful alumni. Career counselors are often happy to help put you in contact with them.

Professors also typically have extensive connections, so be sure to ask them if they know anyone as well. They usually won’t mind introducing you by email.

Most schools will have job fairs or on campus interviews for a variety of companies. However, unless you go to one of the top tech schools or somewhere where they have game development programs, it’s unlikely that you’ll see many game companies there. Still, you may be able to talk and find connections that aren’t immediately visible.

You found an Insider!…Now what?

When you’ve obtained the contact information for someone who is inside the industry, you are in a good place. Before you drive over to their house to personally deliver your resume, however, there are a few things to remember.

First, don’t be a nuisance. By speaking to you, they are doing you a huge favor, so be sure that your behavior and interactions with them reflect your gratitude. They have their own lives, and you are the one who sought them out. For this reason, always remember to be extremely respectful of their time. Be polite and always make sure you are intruding as little as possible. Don’t send them an email every day, Facebook-friend them, or call them at home.

Second, don’t go fan-crazy. If your contact is someone who worked on a favorite game of yours, don’t launch into something like “OMG I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU WORKED ON MARIO GALAXY!”  You can politely slip in a compliment about their work without sounding like a maniac. “I was told that you worked on Mario Galaxy; I really enjoyed that title.”  That’s better. Remember, you are trying to sell yourself as a potential future colleague, so act like a professional. Complimenting their work can be good in small doses; everyone loves to hear that they have a fan. Just don’t go overboard; it will make you look immature and unprofessional.

Third, don’t jump right in asking for a job. The best approach is to get a simple conversation started and then eventually move to the fact that you are in search of video game careers and tracks that might be open. Your contact likely isn’t the person who will be hiring you, but they may be able to direct you (or your resume) to someone who will. We’ll discuss ways to transition smoothly to  this all-important topic in a moment.

Contacting by Email

Contacting them by email at first is usually best; it’s not terribly intrusive, and they can reply at their leisure. Don’t be discouraged when they don’t get back to you within twenty minutes, or even a couple of days. If it’s been more than two weeks, then try pinging them one more time. If there’s no response after that, move on to someone else. They may never get back to you, or you may be pleasantly surprised later on.

Below is a great example of a first-contact email to your insider:

“Hello Mr. [name of insider],

My name is [your name], a student at [college/university] who is interested in a career in game development. I was given your contact information by [so and so] and wanted to ask if you would be willing to answer just a handful of questions I had.

Thank you for your time,

[Your name]”

If they respond, then you can fire off some questions like, “How did you get into the games industry?” “What were the best courses you took that were most applicable to your job?”  Refrain from any questions about salary, that’s considered rude. Don’t overload your first emails with too many questions.

After you have a good conversation going, see if you can move to either speaking on the phone or in person.

Speaking on the Phone

Don’t be scared!  You’re just talking to another human, no big deal.  Having a nice phone chat is a great way to get to know your industry contact.  Always begin the conversation with something like “Thank you for taking my call; is this a good time to talk?”  You want to be absolutely sure that you aren’t interrupting them or otherwise intruding on their day.

When you’re reaching the end of your conversation, that’s when you can transition to asking about video game careers (Note: NOT directly asking for a job). Mention that you are currently looking around to see what’s out there, and you’re interested in knowing if their company is hiring or if they can point you in the direction of their recruiter. You might try phrasing this something like, “I really appreciate the time you’ve spent to answer my questions. Would you happen to know if your company has any entry level or internship positions open?”

After asking this, your insider will respond with one of the following answers. Worst case scenario, they say that they aren’t hiring right now. If this is the case, ask if it’s alright for you to keep their contact information in case you have any other questions. Also ask if they have anyone who would be interested in holding your resume in case any opportunities open up.

The more likely answer is that they will be able to direct your resume to a recruiter, but they can’t make any promises. If this is the case, fire one off via email right away and thank them.

Meeting in Person

If you have the opportunity to meet in person without too much trouble, you should definitely take it. Don’t underestimate the power of meeting someone and making a good first impression. Managers making hiring decisions are more likely to remember faces than names on a piece of paper. Mention that you’re going to be in the area and you would love to drop by for lunch, or to see their office.

If you follow these simple steps, then you should have yourself a handful of industry insiders in no time.  Putting in the time to find the insiders, contact them, and engage with them will greatly increase your chances of getting a job in the game industry.  Every good company needs great talent, they just have to meet you first.