Gaming Industry Careers

Most game design resumes fail in the first 10 seconds. Not because the candidate isn’t good. But because the resume tries to sound impressive instead of being CLEAR. If your resume starts with a summary, remove it. Replace it with a Career Highlights section. This isn’t who you are. It’s what you’ve actually done. Every bullet should answer one silent hiring manager question: “Why should I trust this person with my game?” Use this filter: • What changed because you were there? • What did you design, ship, fix, or scale? • What scope, numbers, or outcomes prove it? Example (Game Designer): • Designed and shipped 6 live features across F2P mobile and PC titles reaching 3M+ MAU • Owned features end-to-end, from concept and specs through tuning, launch, and post-live iteration • Improved core loop retention by 8% through progression and economy changes backed by player data No adjectives. No self-praise. Just evidence. If it can’t be proven, it doesn’t belong. And if it is TRUE, then you certainly aren't bragging. If this was useful to you, please follow. And if you think it's useful to others, please hit REPOST.

🎯 Applying for a role in games? I have received hundreds of inquiries over the past several weeks and months asking how to get your resume noticed. I cannot respond to every inquiry as much as I try, so I wanted to make sure I am setting you up for success. Here are a few resume tips that can help your application stand out — and actually get seen: First: We don’t use AI parsers or keyword-scanning tools to filter resumes — every resume is reviewed by hand. So it is important to keep it simple, clear, and accessible. ✅ Put your best stuff first Lead with your most relevant work experience or education (whichever is stronger) — don’t make the reviewer dig for it. There is a growing trend of listing oldest experience first, but unless there’s a strategic reason for it, keep your most recent work at the top. ❌ Skip the photos & QR codes Photos are more suited for CVs — and unless you’re applying for a modeling or acting role, they’re just not needed. If you must include one, make it a professional headshot (not a selfie from your last con — as cool as those are). And QR codes? These are often used with in lieu of a URL or Portfolio link. with rising identity theft risks, many people will not scan them. 🎨 Creative role? Include a working portfolio Applying for a creative position? A portfolio is a must. Double-check that your hyperlinks work and passwords (if needed) are included. Broken links = missed opportunity. 📝 Cover letters or summaries =🥇 Especially if you're changing industries, applying for something niche, or your background isn’t a perfect match. It’s your chance to showcase transferable skills, industry knowledge, or simply share your why. Pro tip: I read them all. 📄 Word vs. PDF? Go PDF. Word docs are fine, but in 2025, saving your resume as a PDF (File > Save As > PDF) protects your formatting and info. I won’t hold it against you either way — but some recruiters and hiring leaders will. 📁 Name your file like a pro Avoid submitting files titled just resume.docx. Use your name — it’s a small thing that makes a big difference when sharing with teams: Example: JoshuaForrest_Resume_2025.pdf The job hunt isn’t always easy — but small details can make a big impact. You've got this! 🎮 #ResumeTips #GamingJobs #CreativeCareers #GameIndustry #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #RecruiterTips

With all the layoffs and studio closures happening across the games industry these last couple years, thousands of experienced and super talented individuals have hit the open market in search for a new job. Odds are, if you're reading this, you're one of them! There are far fewer jobs available these days than there were in the past. Companies are dealing with more applications than ever and given this influx of talent, they will be judicious in who they hire. Having a job at a AAA studio on your resume isn't going to be enough anymore – so here are a few tips to help you stand out: 1. Tell us what you specialize in with specific examples and accomplishments: If your LinkedIn profile and CV only say that you were a "Software Engineer" at a big name studio, there's a good chance you will be passed on. Instead, include the specific areas of software engineering you've worked in (ex. gameplay, rendering, animation, etc.), what programming languages you used at that job, and your key responsibilities. There are many highly talented and experienced folks out there who have 10, 15, 20 years of experience, sometimes all at one company, and there isn't a single detail of what they did while there. Help fill in the blanks. :) 2. Don't list everything you've ever done or worked with, either! This may sound contradictory to #1 but it's important to maintain a balance. I've seen far too many profiles and resumes that said nearly nothing or looked like a Wikipedia entry. Putting too much information casts doubt on what you truly excel at and blurs your qualifications for the role you're applying for. 3. This one will sound self-serving but: answer recruiters! If their message is riddled with wrong info, they addressed you by someone else's name, or some other egregious error, I totally get ignoring us. But I can assure you that any good recruiter will be very grateful that you took a moment to respond and connect. Even if you're not looking for something right now, we provide a direct line to a potential future employer if you find yourself looking for something new. It also gives you an opportunity to help others out, if our job offer isn't the right fit for you. Odds are, you know someone who might be a fit and needs help. What goes around usually comes around. Hope these tips help! #recruitment #advice #videogames #layoffs

To all of my very talented Artist friends in the gaming industry who are on the job hunt – A few friendly tips from your neighborhood Recruiter ✨ 🔑 Portfolio Access: If your portfolio has password-protected sections, please ensure that the password is included directly on your Resume. If it’s not included anywhere within your Application, it’s a slight yellow flag as it raises questions about attention to detail. In some cases, if your background is really great, I will still reach out directly to ask you for it, which 90% of the time gives the wrong impression that we’re interested when I haven’t seen your work yet. 📎 Include a Portfolio Link: This one’s critical – always provide a portfolio link on your Resume when applying! If the portfolio link is on a PDF, make sure it’s an actual clickable link (I’m seeing this happen so much), because if it’s not, there’s no way to highlight the text and copy it into a browser - it has to be hand-typed. This may sound like “so what, just type it?”, but the problem is we’re frequently reviewing hundreds of Resumes.   🛑 No Portfolio? Hold off on applying: If you’re applying to a Character Artist, Environment Artist, VFX Artist role, etc., and do not yet have a portfolio put together, then please hold off on applying until you have one ready. If you do apply without a portfolio, the hiring manager will immediately pass. We cannot assess your artistic skill by only seeing your work experience. (There are special circumstances for those who have only worked on NDA projects that are not yet released, in those cases, note it on your Resume where your portfolio link should be, and we can chat about options) 👀 Where to Place Your Portfolio: Ideally, your portfolio link should be clearly visible at the top of your Resume – right under your name, email, and LinkedIn. Also, please make sure your portfolio link is easy to find on your LinkedIn profile as well - preferably when I click the “Contact Info” button, I should see it there. Don’t make us dig through your posts to find it.   🚫 Avoid Game Trailers as Work Samples: I’m seeing a huge uptick in this trend. Please don’t rely solely on released game trailers as the primary example of your work. To be transparent, this can come off as lazy to both recruiters and hiring managers. We want to see your individual impact on the project. 📊 Break Down Your Work: It’s highly appreciated when you clarify what you contributed to each project/sample. For example, "I was responsible for modeling and texturing all of the buildings, while the foliage and set dressing was handled by X and Y." This helps us understand your specific skill set and whether or not you’re a fit for the role we’re looking at you for. Thank you for reading, and feel free to reach out with any questions! (And if any Recruiters see this and feel that I missed something, add in the comments!) 

I went from getting recruiter emails every week 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠. Same reel. Same experience. Same industry. For months, I applied and waited. Nothing. At first I blamed the hiring climate. Timing. Skill demand. Bad luck. But I knew one thing from experience: If the right people see my demo reel, I usually get a call. So the problem became obvious: 𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐥. I confirmed it with a simple tracking trick I shared in another post. (I’ll link it in the comments). Recruiters today are handling more applicants with less time. To manage volume, many rely on ATS and AI filtering tools. When I looked at my resume again, I realized the issue. I built my resume for humans. Every formatting choice, word decision, and layout tweak was designed to look appealing to a person. But to automated systems, my resume was hard to read. So it got filtered out. 𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧. So I rebuilt my resume from scratch with three priorities: 1. Formatting Simplify format so systems can extract information cleanly. If tools like ChatGPT can read it easily, parsing systems usually can too. 2. Strategic use of Keywords Put in the keywords that recruiters use to search. Not keyword stuffing! But explicitly state skills and tools. 3. Human readability Once it passes the filter, a person still takes a look. It should look professional, even if visually plain. The structure I landed on was simple but clear: Company - Title - Years Project name - type of project • accomplishment & role-relevant skills • Another accomplishment or highlight (throw in a couple key words) Repeat. Then: • clear software & skills section Maya, Unreal Engine, Etc. • education & training School Name Degree - Graduation Date Not fancy. But readable by machines and humans. After I made those adjustments, I started getting interviews again. It felt like flipping a switch on my job hunt. Invisible to top candidate. The rules of the game have changed. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭. Thanks for reading. If you’d like experienced eyes on your reel or resume, I review both on my website. #animation #gamedev #jobsearch #careerdevelopment #creativecareers

🎮 Breaking into the Video Game QA Industry? Here’s How to Craft an Effective Resume! 🎯 If you’re passionate about games and looking to land your first role in Quality Assurance (QA), your resume is your ultimate power-up. It’s not just about listing your experiences—it’s about showcasing how your skills align with the role. Here’s how to create a resume that stands out: 1️⃣ Highlight Relevant Skills First QA isn’t just about playing games—it’s about breaking them. Make sure to feature skills like: Bug tracking tools (Jira, Trello, Bugzilla) Testing methodologies (functional, regression, exploratory testing) Attention to detail and problem-solving Knowledge of platforms (PC, consoles, mobile) Basic scripting or coding skills (if applicable) 2️⃣ Focus on Your Experience—Even If It’s Not in QA Don’t have professional QA experience? No problem. Highlight: Beta testing for games (include specific titles if possible) Projects from game jams or personal game development Roles that required analytical thinking, documentation, or technical troubleshooting (retail tech support counts!) 3️⃣ Use Action-Oriented Language Employ strong verbs to describe your contributions: "Identified and documented gameplay bugs during beta testing." "Collaborated with dev teams to report and reproduce critical issues." "Executed detailed test cases to ensure feature stability across platforms." 4️⃣ Show Your Passion, But Keep It Professional Yes, you love games—but avoid making your resume sound like a fan letter. Instead of saying, "Lifelong gamer with a passion for RPGs," say, "Experienced in analyzing complex game mechanics and identifying balance issues in RPGs." 5️⃣ Keep It Clean & Concise 1 page for entry-level roles Use clear section headers (Skills, Experience, Education) Bullet points > long paragraphs 💡 Pro Tip: Include a section for "Relevant Projects" where you list any personal or academic projects related to game testing or development. Your resume is the first checkpoint. Make sure it’s polished, bug-free, and ready to impress! 🚀

After reviewing hundreds of resumes this year, I'm seeing the same mistakes over and over. Here's what's immediately flagging candidates, and some advice on how to navigate it! The AI Tell-Tale Signs: If you're using ChatGPT or other AI tools, that is great! But please customize the output. That default blue color scheme and generic font combo? Recruiters and hiring managers spot it instantly. AI is a powerful assistant, but it shouldn't replace your personal touch and genuine voice. Numbers Tell Your Story: "Managed social media" vs. "Increased social media engagement by 85% across 4 platforms, growing followers from 2K to 15K in 6 months." Which candidate would you call? Quantify everything: budget sizes, team members, percentage improvements, revenue generated, time saved, projects completed. Numbers make your accomplishments tangible and memorable. Location Strategy: Remove your location if you're seriously considering and open to relocating. Unfortunately, location bias is real. Many hiring managers unconsciously filter out candidates from certain areas. If you're flexible on location, don't let geography eliminate you before you even get a conversation! Additional Game-Changers: Tailor your resume for each role - Generic resumes get generic results. This is super time-consuming, so be intentional about where you are applying. Use AI to help you navigate this by downloading JDs and pulling from your own experience to fill in the gaps! Lead with results, not responsibilities - What you accomplished matters more than what you are supposed to do. Use industry keywords strategically - Help ATS systems find you, but avoid keyword stuffing. Use your voice, but pull from the JD to help navigate what verbiage to go with. Keep it to 2 pages max - Your resume is a trailer, not the full movie. We don't need to see what your first 10 jobs were while you were figuring out the career path you are currently on. Be intentional about this! Proofread ruthlessly - Typos signal carelessness, especially in today's spell-check world. It's so easy to run your resume through an AI service to help you with this, trust me, it makes all the difference. Update your LinkedIn to match - Consistency between platforms builds credibility. I know my clients take the time to review both resumes and LinkedIn/social media pages. If your resume and LinkedIn don't match, you will be less likely to get the interview. The job market is competitive, but a thoughtful, personalized resume still opens doors. Put in the extra effort, it shows, and it pays off. What resume mistakes are you seeing? Drop them in the comments and let's help our network land their next job!!! #ResumeWriting #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Recruiting #ProfessionalDevelopment #MSBResources #ILoveMyJob #ResumeTips

4 Reminders on How to Apply to Your 1st Game Design Job 1/ Start Small. Be a big fish in a small pond. Think: - Smaller studios - Indie teams - Mobile developers You have a higher chance of getting seen. With a faster growth opportunity. You'll wear multiple hats and gain multiple perspectives. 2/ Tailor your career assets. Remember, each step helps you get to the next. Resume > Portfolio > Interviews Interviews > Skills + Clear Communication = Job Offers. Start with a solid resume template, then tailor it to each studio's role. Your foundation needs 6 things: - Portfolio link (clickable!) + contact up top ↳ See more info on what to include in my last post - Keywords matching their job post (ATS-friendly) - Recent relevant projects/work first - One unique personal detail (related to the role!) - Keep it to one page and easy to digest ↳ You need to grab recruiters' attention within the first 10 seconds. Pro tip: Get a friend for 2nd opinion. Fresh eyes catch what you miss. Ideally, someone in the same role you're applying to. Make personalization -> your competitive edge. 3/ Be a part of the community. Networking at: - Game Jams (online or local) - Document and showcase your work in public - Commenting meaningfully on LinkedIn posts - Discord communities (e.g., join discussions!) - Meetups and conferences, e.g. IGDA, GDC Opens doors that cold applications never will. 4/ It is incredibly tough right now. As a beginner, honing your craft and gaining relevant experience is much more important than getting the ideal job at the ideal studio. As you get better, your options start to increase. Invest in building 3 things: 1. Design Skills 2. Relationships 3. Showcasing your skills Your first job right now is unlikely to be your dream job. But 2 years of solid experience + shipped titles opens way more doors. [BONUS] 5/ Arm yourself with patience and resilience. Currently, the job market is brutal. Rejection is not a reflection of your self-worth. Your talent matters. You matter. The key? Start small. Adapt as you go. Level up over time. ✋ For further support or questions, stop by the #career-guidance channel in Funsmith Club Discord. (you can find it in my profile) Follow and 🔔 Alexander Brazie for more game design insights.

Did you know that rewriting your resume for each job does not mean rewriting the entire thing? I've worked with so many people who are pulling their hair out trying to scope the entire resume differently for each job. I think “WE”—meaning everyone out there telling people to target their resumes—have done a disservice to job seekers by not explaining what that really means. Here are the rules I use with my clients when updating a resume for a target job: 💡Don't Rewrite Your Professional Experience. At some point, you have to decide that your work is your work. You can't change your career experiences or accomplishments. The highlights of your work exist in their own space—and either the company wants them, or they don’t. You worked a certain job, were tasked with X, Y, Z, and accomplished 1, 2, and 3. That doesn’t change. Write the best version of your experience and run with it. 💡Branding Statement & Industry: Instead of a "Professional Summary" header at the top of your resume, that space is for a branding statement that should change with every resume submittal. A strong branding statement is short, specific, and aligned with your target role. Think of it as a professional headline + mini-pitch that instantly tells a hiring manager or recruiter who you are, what you do best, and why you’re a fit. FORMULA: [Your Title or Role] | [Key Specialty or Value Proposition] | Top JOB DESCRIPTION Industry & Skills Example: Project Manager | Driving Operational Excellence Through Scalable Process Improvements (1st line) Healthcare | Technology | Risk Management | Agile Methodologies | Change Management (2nd line) The skills and keywords in the branding statement always come from the job description and you change it for each role you’re applying to. 💡Summary: This goes directly below the branding statement. I recommend starting a Word or Google Doc to house summaries that you can cut and paste for updates. You should know the 3–5 key things you do in your job that will matter most to a hiring manager or recruiter. The summary needs to hone in on what the company is looking for (this isn’t about you) and communicate that in no more than three sentences. It should expand on your branding statement and target the job description. 💡Accomplishments/Highlights: I love three top bullets before you get to the professional summary. Some of my colleagues hate that. Ask a recruiter or resume writer, and you’ll get a different answer from everyone. Anyhoo... I like three two-line bullets that highlight your top accomplishments, specific to the job description. It’s a quick and easy way to match what the recruiter sees right at the top. Don’t go crazy. Keep the writing tight. 💡Skills: Use AI to analyze the JD and pull your top skills. This section gets updated every time. Download my AI prompt sheet. NEVER CUT & PASTE from AI! You must write in your own voice on the final document otherwise it's just too generic. #resumetips