“You Got The Gig” is a Q&A style interview with students and alumni about their job hunt strategies. If you’re a student or alumni who’d like to contribute your own tips & experience, email Toni for more info!
Noelle Mazurek (BFA ’18)
Production Coordinator at Games for Change
What is Games for Change? What do you do at your job?
Games for Change is an awesome non-profit organization that focuses on how games can make a difference. At Games for Change, I lead and support the various initiatives in the organization – from working with games industry professionals in events & workshops, to teaching students about game design in our youth programming. I also manage the Games for Change Awards program, which celebrates games and immersive media! Each year Games for Change hosts the G4C Festival, where industry experts and emerging professionals can explore the value of impact games.
Was this your first job/internship in the industry?
Not quite! In 2016-2017, I interned with Tribeca Immersive at the Tribeca Film Festival, which showcases emerging VR/AR experiences and highlights how creators can leverage technology for storytelling. Many of these immersive experiences were games, which allowed me to make some exciting connections! What I loved about this internship was that I was able to coordinate with developers and dive deep into their creations. When I completed my internship, I continued supporting the event annually and gradually received more responsibilities every year.
How did you approach your search for a job/internship? What kinds of positions did you apply to, and how many places did you apply to before getting this position?
When I graduated, I looked everywhere online for opportunities – NYU career boards, the Tisch school-specific career boards, LinkedIn, Indeed, and other similar websites. I also followed companies and professionals on Twitter, as many companies post their job openings there. At first my search was very narrow, but it expanded quickly into trying to find any job in the games industry. I applied to so many different kinds of jobs (Game Designer, Games Programmer, Copywriter, Narrative Designer, Associate Business Development, Associate Producer, Game Design Intern). Actually, I had a spreadsheet where I kept track of every job I applied to; there were about 50 different companies on the list and a different resume & cover letter for each application…
Tell us a bit about the application and interview process:
I struggled until I saw the XR Fellowship application at Games for Change. When I read the responsibilities, I thought “Wow, now THIS is the perfect job for me.” All of my different experiences and connections felt like they added up for the job. I knew I needed to get this right, so I reached out to NYU Tisch Career Development and did a walk-in with a counselor. We reviewed my resume, made some important changes, and revised my cover letter. When I got the interview, I was so worried that I would mess up or be late. So I treated the interview like an audition – I sat in Central Park for 4 hours and memorized the most important ideas and key-phrases that I wanted to share about myself, as well as knowledge about the organization’s mission. The actual interview took about 30 minutes, and most of the questions allowed me to elaborate on what was written in my resume. After the interview, I got home and sent a Thank You note via email (saying ‘thank you’ is very important!). A few weeks later, while I was managing the Tribeca Immersive 2019 exhibition, my phone rang. I got the job!
What advice do you have for other students looking for a job/internship?
My advice is all about making connections. They say networking is the best way to find an opportunity, but the goal of meeting new people isn’t “get a job”. You want to foster professional relationships, people who will advocate for you and your success. As a start, connect with communities that excite you and interest you! To name a few – IGDA, Babycastles, PoC in Play, Playcrafting, etc. Everything is online right now, so it’s very easy to join a local or virtual community. Many of these organizations also support professional mentoring programs. If a person in the industry inspires you, ask for an informal interview to learn more about their work (they’ll be flattered!). If an organization is something you’re passionate about, reach out about volunteer opportunities or ways to get involved. And if you already have an internship, make sure that you present your best self at the job. Treat your internship as more than something to boost your resume, but rather a way to connect with experienced professionals in the industry.
Did you hit any roadblocks during the job search?
Job applications can become really discouraging. Companies ghost you and send an email months later to let you know that you didn’t get the job (yeah, thanks for the heads up!). But the worst part is feeling like you aren’t doing enough. I remember when I shared my job hunting spreadsheet with a mentor-figure, and they said “Oh! There’s your problem. You only applied to 50 jobs, when you should be applying to 500 jobs.” I felt so disheartened because I felt like I was doing everything right. But guess what? After that conversation, I came across the job listing for a fellowship that led to my current job! And suddenly, I began to see all of the threads that connected me to the opportunity – my work experience, my education, my references, and mutual connections.
Where can people find your work? Anything else you want to share?
Learn more about Games for Change and its awesome programs, and stay tuned for more information about the Games for Change Virtual Festival, taking place on July 12-14, 2021. I’m also always happy to chat with NYU students and alumni, feel free to reach out! Remember that learning is a part of the journey, so do your best – whatever that may look like today.