“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!
Tyler Triebold (BFA ’19)
Junior Game Designer at Arkadium
Is this going to be your first job/internship?
Yes
How did you approach your search for a job/internship?
I initially applied to my absolute favorite listings before expanding my search to jobs I thought I would be good at, and then finally applying to anything I thought I had a shot to land. It’s a humbling process.
What did you do to find positions you are interested in?
I used every resource available to me. Game Center mailing lists, Strategy Guide: Breaking into the Industry events, LinkedIn, Google Searches, Indeed, Glassdoor, Ziprecruiter, Handshake, etc. I even reached out to games-focused recruiters (who said they couldn’t be of much help since I was looking for entry-level work).
What kinds of positions did you apply to, and how many places did you apply to before getting this position?
I applied primarily to design, development, and business positions at game companies since I also have a BEMT minor. I sent out dozens of applications.
What materials did you submit as part of your application?
Resume, Cover Letter, and Online Portfolio.
Was there a specific game/project in your portfolio you tried to showcase?
Because the company focuses on casual games, I highlighted my prototype Bounce Tower in my cover letter. I drew comparisons to Doodle Jump to segue into my familiarity with the casual game landscape.
Do you have any tips for preparing application materials?
Do your research on each company, and tie-in specific work that you’ve already done that demonstrates the skills they’re looking for in the position(s) you’re interested in. Bounce Tower was a simple project that I made in a week, but it allowed me to discuss a specific competency the company was interested in. Being able to show them concrete examples of your ability to do the job should give you a leg up. As a designer, I also pointed them to my design documents in my portfolio, which were just projects from my Advanced Game Design course.
Tell us a bit about the application and interview process:
I had a phone screening a week after applying, which preceded an email with a game design test the next day. I had one week to complete the test, and then I heard back 2 days after submission to schedule an in-person interview. I was offered the internship at the end of the in-person interview.
Did you have to do any sort of skills test/project as part of your interview? What was it like?
I attached the aforementioned game design test & my submission to this email (I got permission first). Note that my document has its fair share of imperfections – there are plenty of things I would change looking back on it now, but I digress. What made it stand out was how I stated a clear goal in the beginning, and tied the design decisions I made to that goal. Email Toni Pizza to view the test :D.
What advice do you have for other students looking for a job/internship?
- Go back through your Google Drive or wherever else you have projects save and document any game design coursework that you’re proud of and organize it (if you’re not already doing so). It will help out a lot with building a portfolio that you can use to direct potential employers to specific projects that you feel are relevant to what they’re looking for. Games made for class can be just as valuable as personal projects!
- Speaking of personal projects, consider continuing to work on projects from class that you’re still interested in. Employers want to see that you can work on a project all the way to completion. Having lots of prototypes is fine too, but it’s important to show that you can finish the job when the right concept comes along. It’s something that’s more important for developers, but as a designer it helps show how you adapt to playtesting/feedback and use the results for iterative design. Working on games on your own time also reinforces your passion/drive/etc in the eyes of others.
- (Repeated from the application materials section) Make sure you do your research on each company, and tie-in specific work that you’ve already done that demonstrates the skills they’re looking for in the position(s) you’re interested in. Being able to show them concrete examples of your ability to do the job should give you a leg up.
- Lastly, stay humble and persistent when on the job/internship hunt. Everyone wants to work at Rockstar/Blizzard/etc, but you’re far more likely to get a chance at a smaller, local company. The Game Center has lots of great resources to help with the job hunt, and you should take advantage of that. Even then, it could be a while before someone takes a chance on you. It took me 9 months to land a position after graduating, and I know plenty of colleagues who waited even longer. Just be sure to keep at it, and make the most of every opportunity you get!
Did you hit any roadblocks during the job search?
Being on the job hunt for a long period of time can be exhausting, so try to focus your efforts on where you think they’re most likely to be successful if you’re running out of steam. For example, focus on recently posted openings rather than listings that have been up for weeks. Also, this may be the last time you have an extended period of free time on your hands – enjoy it while it lasts.
Where can people find your work?
I keep a list of games that I create/curate content for at Arkadium here. You can see my name under “Puzzle Info” for the games that have it in the menu, but I’ve been fortunate to do design work for many more. I’ve had a hand in pretty much every new release dating back to Codeword, as well as updates for many others. I use my itch page as my online portfolio, the rest which is the same as when I applied for the internship.
Anything else you want to share?
Remember to tailor all your application materials to the position (including resume and cover letter). Again, enjoy the free time while it lasts.