How do I get into game development? How to be liked at a job interview? How to interest HR and the manager? We are frequently asked these questions.

Both newcomers to the industry and experienced professionals want to be interviewed for a successful gaming company. There is no single strategy for all. There is no magic pill, with the help of which you are guaranteed to pass all stages of selection. However, it is possible to make the path easier.

We have highlighted a few things that are important to consider to have a better chance of getting a job in the game industry and build communication with the HR manager.

A properly crafted resume and portfolio are a necessity. The phrase "I want to work for you" is not enough to get a response to a vacancy. First and foremost, the recruiter selects candidates based on whether the skills shown on their resume match the open position. Remember about the portfolio. It doesn't matter if you're applying for an artist, narrative designer, or server programmer position. A portfolio contains examples of work you've done. Don't post other people's materials - their origin will become known in any case, and your reputation will be damaged.

If you did only a part of the project, indicate the boundaries of what was done by you. If you do not have a separate portfolio, provide links to your work. That way it is possible to trace your professional path, assess the skills and quality of your projects. A cover letter of 5-7 lines should be included in a "header" of the resume or the body of the message, and describe in it why you want to work for the studio.

The company posts the same vacancy on different resources, but you shouldn't respond everywhere. The HR working on a particular vacancy looks at all the responses, and your resume will come to him from each of the channels. If he is interested, he will send the resume to the manager and respond, but not on all platforms at the same time.

Let's say you're responding to a position on a company website. If the answer did not come, and you think that signs of fate have led you to this vacancy - write HR an email. Include your name, the time and the channel of sending your resume in the letter, and re-attach it.

Before you go for an interview at the studio, find out more about it. Search the Internet for information about the company, study its history, and get acquainted with its projects and corporate culture. If there is publicly available information about the games that are being developed, it is useful to find out the release date, what stage the project is at, which team is working on it, etc. This will make it easier to understand if you are interested in the company's products and if you want to work there.

Even if you have a high level of professionalism, and several completed projects under your belt, be sure to prepare for the interview. It is important to understand how well you fit the requirements. Most likely, the employer will reject the applicant who applied for the job but did not study it. If the candidate does not fit most of the criteria, they are wasting time - both their own and the employer's time. If you want to get on the talent pool, write that in your cover letter.

Often the interview begins by asking what you know about the company. If the candidate answers: "This isn't my first interview today, I don't remember" or "I've already applied to so many jobs," it is inadvertently concluded that he doesn't care where to work.

Remember that most game studios are small organizations, where not only professional skills are important, but also personal qualities for good teamwork.

Try to answer questions clearly and not pour water. When you are asked to tell about yourself, explain how you got into (or why you want to get into) game development, why you are attracted to the industry, and why you chose this profession. Don't describe nonexistent achievements and experiences. When an applicant embellishes the reality, it can be seen both at the interview and when completing the test task.

Another important point is to adequately assess yourself as a specialist, your skills and your requests. Find out the level of salaries offered to applicants with your specialty and experience. Keep an eye on the labor market situation in the industry. Expecting unreasonably high pay is more likely to show you are not a great professional, but a job seeker with inflated self-esteem.

If there are health-related factors, disclose them. For example, you recently had surgery, and your rehabilitation certificate states that you should not work at a computer for more than 5 hours. Tell the interviewer about this.

If the interview is conducted remotely, ensure that you have a good quality connection. Choose a convenient time to meet so you are not distracted by anything. Do not call a potential employer while driving - it is not safe. When meeting in person, remember to look neat and be moderate when using perfume.

At the end of the interview, ask questions related to the future job. The employer will appreciate your interest.

The test assignment is an important step in the selection process. Recruiters give it before or after the interview to test the candidate: whether he can meet the deadline, get into the style of the project, whether he is sensitive to criticism and whether his declared skills correspond to reality. Offering a test assignment is not an attempt to steal story ideas, sketches, or examples of uncomplicated applications from you. Without implementation and promotion, their value is low.

Communication with the candidate at this stage helps the HR specialist understand whether the future collaboration will be productive and how comfortable working with a person can be. The recruiter will answer all your questions, so it is better to clarify an unclear point than to do something that is not stated in the requirements. Turn in the test assignment within the pre-agreed deadline. Let the recruiter know if you don't have time to complete it or if you lack the skills. The manager will understand that you are a responsible person, which is a plus for the future.

Recruiters often go back to past candidates after a while. You will have time to gain experience and therefore have a better chance of being selected in the future.

Check the test assignment before sending it in. If the result does not meet the requirements, the task is sloppy or the file with it does not open, the impression will be negative. We advise you to take this stage seriously, as it largely determines your chances of getting the job you want.

Good luck to you!