For most office jobs, a well-presented CV and a personalized cover letter are enough to catch the hiring manager’s attention. However, applying for work in the video game industry is an entirely different beast. The main reason for this is that people working in gaming are programmers, designers, game developers, or even musicians. In other words, they have a practical role with a distinct skill-set.Interviewers of gaming companies love when an applicant has a solid portfolio. In fact, the portfolio is the number one promotional tool when looking for a job in the video game industry as it showcases previously created work and skill-sets like coding or programming languages.
Let's dive into some ways you can make your portfolio stand out from the crowd!
To create the perfect portfolio, you need an introduction that is both dynamic and brief. In a few words, you should express who you are, what you do, and what are your past work experiences. Think of the introduction as your opening statement. At the same time, do also try to be convincing and confident in your skills. And make sure to emphasize key information related to the job position that you're applying for too.
The video game industry is huge, and as such, people with different skill-sets are looking for vastly different jobs. For example, aspiring video game designers need to create a portfolio website. They have to show off their skills and make project subsections with pictures and gameplay videos of games they have designed. Likewise, artists must include images and art, while music composers could present incredible musical scores. As a piece of general advice, remember to include only your best work examples. Display them as high-quality images and link them to a live version. Don't forget to include a brief description of every work you've done and highlight all the technical details associated with each project. Finally, a client testimonial or a testimonial from a video game player can seriously skyrocket your portfolio. It shows to game studios that you're confident in yourself and skills and have enough experience to produce quality work that is widely appreciated.
So, you finally made your super portfolio and you're ready to submit it for evaluation? Wait! Make sure first that you didn't forget to include the most important information of all—details about yourself. So, include your telephone number in order potential employers to reach out to you, Skype name (for video interviews), and email for receiving that precious job offer letter.You could also potentially include details about yourself that are not work-related. If you do so, try to include them in an About Me section.Do make a habit also of including links to your LinkedIn or an Upwork profile. Both are professional networks and help interviewers judge you on a broader scale than just by reading your CV, cover letter, and portfolio. But in general, strive to make your contact details easily accessible. I mean, you don't want to have created a fantastic portfolio but make it difficult for interviewers to locate you. It’s like digging your own grave.
Once you have collected all the necessary content that will place you a step ahead of the competition, you need to make sure your portfolio easy to read and access. And, to be honest, it would be for the best if your content is scannable, as interviewers don't spend over ninety seconds evaluating a job application or a candidate. Go the extra mile and take care of everything to be nice and neat. Above all, your portfolio needs to look as professional as humanly possible.
Before submitting your portfolio, I recommend running over it, again and again, to make sure that you've covered everything.
And remember to double-check the job description before you apply too. You need to be one-hundred percent certain that you really fit the requirements. Otherwise, it's a waste of time to apply.
You could also background research the game studio you want to work for. There are many online sources like Glassdoor, where potential employees review the hiring practices of companies. This will help you pick only the most relevant work examples to the position that you're applying for from your portfolio.
To sum it all up, here's a checklist:
I know, thank us later.
For the latest video game jobs, remember to check out Leaderboard. Every day new video job ads are posted. By applying to each of them, you're one step closer to landing your dream job.
