How to get ahead in the video games industry

From learning to accept feedback to being a great team player, here are some top tips on how to forge a glittering career in the video games industry
Every year there are droves of students who come into class on day one, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, thinking that because they have made it onto a games course, they will be able to work in the industry. I often show them this videoto bring them straight back down to earth.
Only small handfuls of gaming students get jobs straight away, even fewer of these are actually in the games industry itself. Truth be told, even these graduates take very basic junior positions. It all sounds like doom and gloom doesn't it?
Well, it shouldn't. Success is possible. Some of my recent 2012 graduate cohort from the University of Salford wonDare to be Digital and have been nominted for a Bafta. These guys took on board a great deal of the advice and their win is a testament to their approach to being great new developers and professionals. If you are about thinking about or already part way through a games course, here's some advice for you to consider, so that hopefully you are one of those successful students.
Be motivated and enthusiastic at all times and start to know your trade inside and out
You need to have a positive attitude at every junction, coupled with skills and knowledge. This will reinforce your attitude and confidence for the many knock-backs during your career. Getting into games is very tough; studios will often reject you because you either do not have enough experience or your skills are not good enough.
You need to get into the right frame of mind from day one and demonstrate motivation – attend all classes at all times, give up your social life in favour of getting the job done to the best of your ability, live, eat, breathe, and sleep your subject (whether it's art, design, programming, sound and music or production).
Make sure that you are known to all teaching staff – they can open opportunities for you, but only if you prove you have the skills. If your skills are lacking, then practice, practice practice. Don't be de-motivated by other people's talent; use it to set benchmarks for your own standards.

Here are some quick tips for art, design and programming:
1. If you are lacking skills as a concept artist, then take tips from traditional 2D artists and attend extra 2D drawing classes to refine your ability to draw environments and components such as weapons and characters (life drawing classes are useful here).
2. For technical art implementation, whether you are focusing on being a texture artist, modeller or animator, you need to have good reference material. Know your tools straight away – whether its Photoshop, 3DS Max, Maya, Z-Brush – and be sure to use legitimate versions of software so you can benefit from the updates. You also need an eye for your specialism, so always look at the real world and question yourself, for example, " I wonder how many polygons can I use to replicate the spaceship in that flm?"
3. If you need to focus on developing your design skills, then apart from having an encyclopaedic knowledge of as many games as possible, ensure that your writing skills are up to scratch. Be clear, concise and accurate with your descriptions; demonstrate your ideas on paper visually and also in 3D packages and game engines. Start building levels; you can even try and replicate environments that you already know, contextually ones from the real world too.
4. If you are a programmer, focus on the technical implementation of games by getting your hands dirty with code. Try some simple game engines like Unity where you can quickly and easily get some rough and ready gameplay up and running. Understand performance issues of the platforms you are implementing; evolve ideas but be realistic about the time frame you will need to do this.
Don't be precious about your work
There have been many times where students have spent ages on a piece of work, but not taken any feedback on board to improve it. They were confident within themselves that what they had done was amazing. It's not nice when someone comes along and rips apart your work, but the best people are emotionally detached when it comes to taking feedback and can improve upon the information provided and deliver a superior product.
If the information you have been given is unconstructive, go back and ask more probing questions. Sometimes you have to do this as the information you have been given is poorly delivered but you need to understand where the person giving feedback is coming from.
Be a great team player and remember your reputation starts now
Many students forget that to make games, you need to work in teams, and the best team player is the person who always puts the project first and does what needs to be done to get the job done to the best standard. Students also forget that they are earning a reputation. If you have a good reputation as a hard worker who's committed and motivated, great with feedback and a great team player who's easy to get along with, you'll be first choice on anyone's team.
Your reputation follows you into the industry. When students settle into their jobs, they sometimes get contacted by former university colleagues, who ask them for recommendations at the company. Without a good reputation, the application won't get taken any further and, if this information gets passed on elsewhere it can be incredibly diffficult to secure positions.
Stay on top in terms of knowledge
Make sure that you keep on top of what's going on in the industry so you can focus your skills as the games industry is always evolving. Great sites to get insight are Games Industry International, Gamasutra and Develop. The industry is very volatile and that entry gaps are few and far between, depending upon where you want to live.
Always consider your end goals
If your end goal is to get a job in the games industry, ask what you are doing right now to help that. Start with creating your portfolio of work and consider specialising within a subject/discipline while making sure your have versatility in the other areas. Start with a website (Wix and Wordpress are great to get sites up and running quickly) and then research other specialists' work to see how you can improve.
Finally, make sure that you take advantage of all the game developer and networking events. For example in the UK there's GI Career Fair: Art & Animation at Euro Gamer in London, and there are the Develop conferences in Liverpool and Brighton, where you should focus your efforts on meeting as many game developers as possible and making contacts.
http://careers.guardian.co.uk/get-ahead-video-games-industry

Mission accomplished: how to get on an employer's radar

Although unemployment is high, many businesses report that the war for talent is still raging. Here are some key steps you can take to get on an employer's radar – and stay there
While many people are struggling to find work, many businesses report they're still looking to hire and the war for talent is strong. There are clear steps you can take to ensure that you get on a potential employer's radar – and stay there. Here's how you can get one step closer to the right job for you:
• Create a job-search strategy. Employers hate receiving applications from candidates who lack relevant experience or qualifications. Take the time to read job postings and ask yourself if you fulfil the job requirements. A recent CareerBuilder forecast showed that employers are struggling to find qualified candidates so tailor your existing skills to the job's requirements, adapt your CV and write a relevant, personable cover letter.
• Build your network. Social media is becoming increasingly popular as a recruitment tool and offers a great way to connect and engage with organisations, get a feel for their culture and assess whether the brand is a good fit for you.
Interacting with potential employers in an intelligent way will help you get your foot in the door, and LinkedIn and Facebook are a good way to stay in touch with contacts you've met, interviewed with or come across through recruitment days. Just remember to keep your profile professional; highlight accomplishments that will make you stand out and attract the attention of employers screening applicants via social profiles.
• Diversify your search. As well as connecting with employers through social media, don't underestimate the power of face-to-face meetings. Careers fairs may appear daunting but building that relationship with a potential employer will pay off in the longer term. They also give you the chance to get an insight into the range of organisations out there, talk to professionals and build your network.
Today's job search can be summed up in one word: hustle. The more you switch up your efforts, the more opportunities you'll find and get ahead of the pack.
• Be unique. When an employer asks "why should I hire you?", have a list of your best qualities to hand. When you find jobs that you feel confident about, do something that will help you stand out and be memorable to the recruiter or human resources manager. Before applying, find out the name of the hiring manager or someone who heads up the department the position is in, and contact them directly. Use LinkedIn to your benefit; reach out with a brief introduction and let them know you've applied for the position and you hope to be in touch. After applying, it never hurts to follow up with a company via social media.
• Listen. Searching for a job can be tedious and isolating. Some applicants get so focused that they forget to listen, research or monitor conversations. Pay attention to how employers are communicating about jobs via social media and their websites, and how you can speak to them in their own language. Connect with other jobseekers or career experts, and see what methods you can adopt from their job-search strategies. Be sure that while you're out selling yourself, you take the time to listen to how others are finding success in their search.
Tony Roy is president of Europe Middle East and Asia at CareerBuilder
http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/avoid-job-search-burn-out

How I made the most of my internship

You need to know what you want to achieve from an internship so you can challenge yourself the employer to make sure you have a worthwhile experience, says Kate Pierpoint
I remember looking for an internship in the careers guidance building of the University of East Anglia back in 2008. I was in my penultimate year at the university, studying environmental science and international development. I had no previous work experience, no idea about the value of my skills and no clue where to start looking for work.
I decided to do an internship because I needed the chance to apply my skills in the workplace and sample working life for the first time. Looking back certain factors ensured the internship worked for me, so here are some of the insights I learned.
Before you commit, it is really important to decide what you what to achieve from an internship so you choose the right one for you. I wanted an internship that would stand out on my CV and allow me to make new friends but would not interfere with my university studies. I chose the STEP London Internship Programme because they place candidates in paid internships for three months over the summer and organise events for their interns to meet each other and share experiences.

I was placed with a construction company called Lakehouse, an industry I would never have considered looking into. The internship was really inspiring; my role involved taking control of a project. I had to carry out market research to identify new business opportunities within the company's business development team, gaining valuable experience and useful industry contacts.
Many people highlight the disadvantages of internships where the interns aren't given challenging or interesting work. An internship should be a mutually beneficial arrangement, where you gain valuable experience and the employer uses your skills to benefit the company. When you are interviewed by a prospective employer, remember it is also your chance to iask them what they have to offer.
I was looking for a career direction and to gain confidence in my abilities. My internship gave me the opportunity to try out an industry which I had not previously considered and broadened my horizons. It prepared me for the working environment, which some of my friends have struggled with having gone straight into work from university, enhanced my CV and helped me negotiate future jobs. When the recession was at its worst and I found myself unemployed, having those contacts helped me to find work again.
Not everyone has a good experience of internships. However, if you know what you want to achieve from doing one, this will help you to challenge yourself and the employer to make sure you have a worthwhile experience.
Kate Pierpoint is the director of Local Labour Hire CIC and social enterprise manager of Manor House Development Trust. Kate was awarded the Future 100 Award for Young Social Entrepreneurs of 2011
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more content and advice like this direct to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Careers update.

http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/making-most-of-internship

How to avoid job search burn-out

by Clare Whitmell

Job hunting can be a long and lonely process. Clare Whitmell shares her advice on how to stay fresh and positive when job search fatigue sets in
Job hunting can be a long and lonely experience – especially if you're dedicating most of your time to it. But when 'job search fatigue' sets in, you can lose the appetite for tailoring each application. Here are some ways to keep motivated in your job hunt, so that each application sounds fresh and positive and makes an employer want to meet you.
Involve other people
Keep other people up-to-date with your progress, as well as any disappointments or setbacks. Family and friends can be a great source of support, but also consider joining job clubs and networking groups so you continue to meet people, share leads, and keep each other's spirits up. It also helps to be accountable to other people so that you maintain your job search momentum.
Get out and about
It's tempting to conduct all your job search activities from behind your computer screen. Although this is a great way to research companies and opportunities, a successful job search usually combines more than one approach. It's vital that people meet you, so make a point of getting out. Attend industry events and start being active in local or voluntary organisations so you get your face known.
Organise your job search
Set yourself daily and weekly goals, tracking your progress and logging activities. As well as making sure you're avoiding duplicate effort, it's a psychological boost to know that your job search is moving forward and isn't just characterised by rejections (or silence). The sort of goals that are achievable and helpful are: researching x numbers of companies and people per day or week; mobilising x number of your contacts to find a way in to a company; writing a specific number of targeted, speculative applications; and setting aside enough time to prepare for meetings and interviews.
Take time off
A job search is hard work. Tweaking your CV and cover letter, following up on job leads, or keeping current with industry blogs and forums (plus all the research you'll need to do) are all time-consuming activities. Make sure you stay fresh by taking some time off now and again. Regular physical exercise boosts energy — even if it's only five minutes every hour. Don't feel guilty about taking breaks that will help you recharge your batteries and see things more clearly.
Keep the dream
For many graduates and career-changers, the dream job is probably not the first. In fact, it's more likely to be further down the line, after you've amassed necessary skills and experience. A stepping-stones approach can help you see the bigger picture. If your current job doesn't fulfil you, stay focussed on the big prize. Find lateral moves that can get you closer to where you want to be, and stay connected to people who may be able to help you get there. Although your present job may be demotivating, always be looking for the next step up, or out.

http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/avoid-job-search-burn-out

How to avoid networking mistakes

Building a network of contacts should be a key part of your career management strategy. Here are some common mistakes to avoid

Clare Whitmell offers advice on common mistakes to avoid to ensure your networking is successful.

Networking isn't just about going to an event and worrying about what to say to strangers. In fact, networking can be a lot more informal. Your network consists of your professional and personal contacts – friends, neighbours, colleagues past and present, recruiters, people you know online etc – who can either help you directly, or introduce you to others who can.

Building a network of contacts should be a key part of your career management strategy. You can make it work better for you by avoiding the following mistakes.

Lack of clarity and focus

It's hard to help someone if they can't articulate what they want. Be as precise as possible when you talk to people. Try to identify the type of role, sector, company size and location, or even the type of progression or career move you're looking for.

Over-wordiness

Generally speaking, people have short attention spans. If you're meeting a lot of people at an event, you need to make an impact quickly. Don't waffle on with lots of easily-forgotten details, but prepare a few sentences describing what you do, and what you're interested in. You don't need to make an elevator pitch (being salesy can put people off) but aim for a clear, concise account of who you are, and why that might interest the person you're speaking to. Your goal should be to have a mutual conversation, rather than giving a speech.

Reluctance to ask for help

People often fail to ask favours because they're embarrassed, or fear that the other person will refuse. But people are usually happy to help, either through passing on your name or by giving you some advice or information. In fact, you'd probably do the same if the situation were reversed, so don't worry about seeming pushy. If you feel really awkward, ask for small or simple things, for example, the name of a hiring manager in a company.

Forgetting to thank or give feedback

Thanking someone for their time or help isn't just a question of politeness, but it will help if you need to ask other favours in the future. It's just as frustrating to help someone out but then never hear back. Let your contact know how the meeting went, or what was promised or decided. If you just leave your contact hanging it can be awkward for them too.

Not maintaining your network

Always try to contribute to your network. Help others when you can, by passing on leads and information, or putting people in touch with each other. Stay in contact – even if you don't need help. Flag up interesting news stories and articles and continue to attend industry events. Online networking can be as important for building relationships, so continue participating in 'industry chat' by commenting on blogs and contributing to conversations on Twitter. Don't neglect your LinkedIn presence either – maintain your involvement in group discussions, and update your status regularly.

http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/networking-mistakes

Mistakes that every fresher makes

LAUREN COPE   FRIDAY 05 OCTOBER 2012

As well as the late nights, later mornings and the free pass to do (almost) everything, university has plenty of potential pitfalls for freshers.

We don't just mean the usual ones - don't blow your student loan the weekend you get it, learn to cook, etc - and we've got some great tips you might have missed. Our guide can help you make sure you sidestep danger zones to have the best time you can.

Don't limit your friends

Although the bad music you tolerate, the late-night antics you bear and the mouldy food you grimace at will be your flatmates’, you aren’t confined to those eight people for friends. If the people next door aren’t your type of people, don’t be disheartened. Being part of a lively flat can enhance the experience, but most students settle into friendship groups around second semester – don’t fret if you don’t feel like you’ve met people you ‘click’ with.

Get to know the flats around you (you’re on your own with that one), meet your coursemates, join clubs – there are thousands of students at university, many will be similarly aged, like-minded guys and gals. Don’t be shy! That weird kid you bumped into in the queue for the bar could be your best friend in six months.

Get stuck in!

When I first started, as a scared, shy 18-year-old, I thought that joining a society or a club in the first year would be too much to handle with the background worries of, well, going to university. Meeting new friends, living without my mum, cleaning, cooking, and going out – how would I have time for a society? Don’t get me wrong, first year was amazing, but if I regret anything, it’s not throwing myself into more sooner.

Not only do they offer the best socials (particularly sports clubs), they’re a great way to make friends, meet different people and come out of your shell (and if you’re lucky enough, experience a week’s ‘tour’ in Salou) Plus, if you’re brave enough to tiptoe out of your comfort zone to join up, doing something you enjoy will take the edge off the pressure during stressful work periods. Watch out for the clubs that have the most intimidating initiations (rugby and hockey, anyone?) and get in with some of the tightest-knit groups at university.

Don’t put if off – drag along a flatmate and sign up at the start of the year when everyone else is equally as new and nervous, before friendship groups are forging. I promise it will be one of the best decisions you’ll make at university.

Go political

Admittedly having a slightly poor reputation for being crammed with wannabe MPs arguing at demos and waving placards, many students are involved just to get the rest of us a better experience at university. The roles available are diverse, particularly ones like LGBT or women’s officer. There’s something for everyone. Not happy with something that the union have done? They listen to students and value their opinions highly, so introducing a new policy or getting rid of an old one is something that your university would take seriously.

It looks great on the CV - probably the millionth time you’ve heard that, oh, this year? But it goes without saying how impressive a student politics position is to a potential employer. With transferable skills like public speaking, leadership skills, a high work ethic and all that comes with running a campaign, it really can help you in any field. It also pushes you out of your comfort zone, representing your peers forces you to push yourself.

Don't sleep through lectures

Come every single September there will be an article about this, and yes, ‘first year doesn’t count’, but let’s be honest, it does. Although most universities count first year as 0 per cent of your final mark, employers will consider it, particularly in law/business fields. If two 2:1 applicants are against each other (almost an inevitability in the job market), one with a first in first year, and one having scraped a 2:2, who do you think will get it?

You’ll also be doing yourself a favour. Going from ‘nothing counts’, to a second year student whose next piece of coursework is worth 25 per cent is a shock to the system. Do the reading, answer the questions and do the practice coursework in first year so that when it does count, you’re prepared.

Although you’ll convincingly reassure your parents, grandparents, flatmates, advisor and yourself that you’ll work hard, simply because you can get away with it, sleeping through that lecture and promising yourself you’ll ‘catch up online’ will be a frequent occurrence. Having flatmates who won’t rise until gone 12pm will make getting yourself in gear harder than you think. Even as an admittedly ritualistic part of university, snoozing your alarm one too many times and getting the work off Blackboard will have its effects.

Think ahead

Most freshers don’t think ahead to life post-university. And, why would they? They’ve been given a taste of freedom, a sample of life without the parents and it’s understandable to barely look back long enough to wave goodbye, let alone think about what happens when you’re in employment.

Unfortunately, in an overly competitive job market, getting work experience from the word-go is a must. If you want to get into journalism, start writing for the student newspaper, or get work experience at a local one. If you want to go into accounting, start looking around at local firms. Making contacts, getting placements and thinking about what happens after you graduate should always be a concern, to make the eventual transition easier. Don’t ruin your fun though. Think about it after Jeremy Kyle finishes. Oh, it’s a double bill? Well maybe just after dinner then.

Appreciate it

I clearly remember putting on Facebook that I was graduating in 2013, after I’ve just received my UCAS confirmation, and feeling like that the day would never come. Alas, as I write I am sitting here in the library after my last ever Freshers Week with 10 months until I inevitably embarrass myself on stage in a fancy gown. As well as being the best three years of my life (it’s terrifying to hear people in their 20s and 30s still calling it that), it’s been the quickest. I’m a different person than I was when I dragged my stuff into halls and if you offered to take me back to that exciting (and absolutely terrifying) day; I’d bite your hand off.

Appreciate every second you are given the opportunity to be there (for the affordable price of £9,000) and take in everything you can. Work hard, play hard and make those memorable moments because once it’s over it’s over, and you’ll only be left with the memories.

http://www.independent.co.uk/student/student-life/mistakes-that-every-fresher-makes-8199265.html

Six ways your phone can get you a first

Specialist student discount site studentbeans.com tell us your how your humble phone can also be your academic saviour.
ROSS JONES-MORRIS   TUESDAY 09 OCTOBER 2012

You may have just started university or you may be a seasoned veteran staring down the barrel of your final year.

You may be going all guns blazing to get that first, or, more likely, balancing things as best you can and hoping to come out of the other side with a respectable 2:1.

Whichever group you belong to the chances are that the key to giving your results a serious boost is sat right there in your pocket, or handbag, or wherever it is you keep your phone.

Now obviously this works best if you have a smartphone but older models can still serve a purpose - it’s all about utilising what you have. And utilizing your phone in these six key ways can genuinely help you up your grade level - potentially to a mind-blowing, career kick-starting first.

Record your lectures and classes

Lectures and tutorials are incredibly important. They are full to the brim with information that is vital to your success but perhaps more significantly they provide key signposts, cues and warnings over how you should engage with a topic and crucially how your lecturer/tutor thinks. That’s the person who’s marking your work.

What’s more, they are a convenient and quick way to get you up to speed on a topic or provide an overview come exam time. With all that said, it’s almost a crime against your education to let them pass by in an hour-long flash. You need to record them.

Which is where your phone comes in. Plonk it down, hit record and you can start building your personal library of everything the lecturer has has ever said. This can then be used how you wish. We advise uploading it to a website like SoundCloud which has the advantage of being able to attach notes at various points across the recording. Brilliant. And of course, entirely free.

Reading

You’ve taken a trip to your library but you’ve realised you’ve left a book at home. Disaster. Or a book you’re reading has cited something which sounds interesting, but someone has already taken it out, or you’re nowhere near a library and you need it now. Disaster.

But never fear, as long as you have the Internet and your phone you have access to Google Books and (as long as you have a subscription) many other e-book services which may carry a copy of the passage that you need. Sure, you’ve got a laptop but you don’t take your laptop everywhere. Carrying a library containing hundreds of thousands of books in your pocket can enable you to do the breadth of reading required to get you that first. It also allows you to strike while your mind is hot on wider reading possibilities, therefore optimising their impact on your thinking and on your work.

Plan your time

There are many great organiser apps out there but amongst the very best reviewed is StudentLife Organiser. Not only will it allow you to break your time down into subject specific blocks, keep track of your classes and help you keep on top of deadlines, it can pretty much be used to plan your entire life as well.

Failing using an app, you can also simply use your phone as a mobile diary by using notes and your in-built calendar. Organisation is key to achieving good grades as is getting your work done in the most efficient way possible. And if you aren’t using your phone as a hub to do this, you should at the least give it a try. It is the thing that’s with you 24/7 - are we right?

Use it to revise

Apps like Flashcards can help with your last minute revision needs but as a long term proposition nothing is better than Evernote. It helps you collate, organise and utilise your revision material through a variety of different interfaces.

Revising using apps can often be directly equitable to real world methods but where app based revision comes into its own is in its slickness of presentation. Revising in quiz format can relieve some of that revision boredom and having easily editable and classifiable notes and revision cards that don’t take up a folder’s worth of space is clearly extremely convenient.

You may be into more old fashioned ways of going about your preparation and


http://www.independent.co.uk/student/student-life/six-ways-your-phone-can-get-you-a-first-8204208.html