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An Introvert's Guide to Networking in GamesWhen I first joined the gaming industry, everyone talked about opportunities being all about who you knew rather than what you knew.
Which is absolutely terrifying when:
Introvert AF
Don't drink/partyHere's how I managed
They're colleagues, not heroes.This works whether you're in the industry already, or looking to break in. Treat the people you look up to like colleagues and they'll seem less intimidating.
I'm so grateful my first supervisor told me this early in my career.
Be genuine.People can smell BS a mile away. When you're looking at who you want to reach out to, look for individuals whose work you admire. If you're looking simply at fancy titles and what they can do for you, it's going to fall flat.
Not to mention that's heckin' rude.
Don't be afraid to be a fan.A terrible piece of advice I heard was to curb my enthusiasm as it came across as unprofessional.
Coworkers have said they love my enthusiasm.
Devs hear a lot of negative comments all day, so share something they did that you loved (and why!)
Coffee, tea, and/or lunch are great ways to connect.One of my managers joked that my job was to take devs at Blizzard out for coffee. I even asked Morhaime for coffee and he accepted!
Coffee was my safety blanket. Need a moment to think what to ask? Sip.
4.5 Smaller time commitments are easier to fit than longer ones.
Almost everyone can fit in a 15 minute coffee break into their schedule. I had a lot more success when asking folks for coffee than lunch.
Plus less intimidating for an introvert too!
Almost everyone can fit in a 15 minute coffee break into their schedule. I had a lot more success when asking folks for coffee than lunch.
Plus less intimidating for an introvert too!
People love to talk about what they do.My biggest fear when I started hearing yes from people was "fuck, what do we talk about?" In a panic, I started asking folks questions about what they did.
It was a great way of deconstructing the assumptions I had about development.
Thank them!Seems simple but people forget it all the time. I like to recap the things I found most enlightening.
I have also used it to set up something more regular if the person enjoyed it. Remember to schedule it in the calendar to make it official!
Follow up.If someone gives you a recommendation, follow through with it. It shows them that you're serious about improving.
Not to mention it's a great excuse to be all "so I read that book you mentioned, and I have some questions... Coffee?"
None of these are groundbreaking, but they're certainly things I wish younger me had found listed somewhere.
I've met some of the most amazing humans this way, some I've been very fortunate to call friends. Go forth and conquer!
I've met some of the most amazing humans this way, some I've been very fortunate to call friends. Go forth and conquer!
Join groups!If your studio has employee resource groups, join them! They're a great way of meeting folks across disciplines.
Oddly enough one of the ways I started was through Blizzard's boot camp. Nothing makes you bond faster than hating Russian split squats.