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I realize that I've been posting a bunch about my job hunting so I wanted to outline a few things that I've discovered along with some of the things I'm doing to keep things professional along the way.
So here's Community Manager games industry job hunting info as told by me
So here's Community Manager games industry job hunting info as told by me
First up I'm doing my best to keep things off the wall and not talk about where I'm applying or directly mentioning where I've applied by name. Happy to talk about my weird interview nervousness, but I won't ever be like "Had a kick-ass interview with [GAME STUDIO] today!!!!!"
2: There's a lot of jobs available right now all across the globe at studios big and small.
Someone I know who works in HR told me that Q1 is usually where most jobs are available since it's post-holidays and most companies have determined their annual budgets and headcount.
Someone I know who works in HR told me that Q1 is usually where most jobs are available since it's post-holidays and most companies have determined their annual budgets and headcount.
3: Most of the places I've applied have been through my network of peers and industry friends sending me along job information.
NETWORKING IS IMPORTANT.
I can't express enough how valuable it is to have a peer group and people who have your back and are looking out for you.
NETWORKING IS IMPORTANT.
I can't express enough how valuable it is to have a peer group and people who have your back and are looking out for you.
4: Resume - The reason I've been able to get as many interviews thus far is because I've worked on my resume a lot, and have done the best I can to frame what I've done in a way that is interesting
I've had my resume reviewed a dozen times even though I'm 'experienced.' Do this.
I've had my resume reviewed a dozen times even though I'm 'experienced.' Do this.
5: Cover letters are IMPORTANT. They convey who you are as a person, and is an opportunity to really present yourself properly to the hiring person on the other side
If you need a format go with three paragraphs
I'm awesome
Your team is awesome
We'd be an awesome team together
If you need a format go with three paragraphs
I'm awesome
Your team is awesome
We'd be an awesome team together
6: If you need to research where you're applying, If you do want to dig up background on places or people do that privately. That's what your network is for.
I won't be posting any "HEY WHAT'S IT LIKE TO WORK AT [GAME STUDIO]" but I have been asking my peers about places in DMs.
I won't be posting any "HEY WHAT'S IT LIKE TO WORK AT [GAME STUDIO]" but I have been asking my peers about places in DMs.
7: THE SIZE OF THE STUDIO/REPUTATION OF THE GAME SHOULD NOT BE YOUR DECIDING FACTOR
Too often quality of work, team, and life, is connected to how cool the game is. I don't believe in this. You should go where you feel like you have the best fit, and opportunity to do good work.
Too often quality of work, team, and life, is connected to how cool the game is. I don't believe in this. You should go where you feel like you have the best fit, and opportunity to do good work.
8: When you're getting interviewed, you're also interviewing them.
They want to know if I'm a good fit and what they need.
I want to know if they will provide good work/life balance, avoid crunch at all costs, and just how many community manager hats they expect me to wear.
They want to know if I'm a good fit and what they need.
I want to know if they will provide good work/life balance, avoid crunch at all costs, and just how many community manager hats they expect me to wear.
9: Talk to your family. I've been updating my wife constantly about each opportunity as it comes up. I know not everyone reading this is married, but talking through things with a friend/family member and how each job might impact your life is important to think though.
10: Take the time to clean up your LinkedIn, go get on HitMarker, go to networking events you might have skipped and don't let up. Don't count on the first thing that comes along to be perfect, or to work out for you. Keep at it until you find what is right.
11: Vent about all this on Twitter to keep yourself calm.
12: It's ok to feel tired. Things are exhausting and it is very hard to put yourself into people-pleaser mode constantly.
It can be incredibly demoralizing to apply somewhere and never hear back. This can happen for dozens of reasons.
Don't let it get you down.
It can be incredibly demoralizing to apply somewhere and never hear back. This can happen for dozens of reasons.
Don't let it get you down.
13: Getting "Your foot in the door" is a totally separate post from this. I've got a bunch of experience at this point.
For getting your 'foot in the door' the path is a bit different different in some cases. Will talk about that in some other thread.
For getting your 'foot in the door' the path is a bit different different in some cases. Will talk about that in some other thread.
