Do you want a job that will allow you to work alongside your past time in a growing industry, then work in the world of gaming design could be for you. Check out these tips.
Get Adequate Education
There are lots of courses available to those what want to enter the game industry. It's true that not everyone working in this industry has relevant education, but a relevant qualification could provide you a good competitive edge. You may find some courses that are rather generic, but many of them are sharply targeted. The "Jack of all trades" age is gone, young graduates of today being already experts in their area of activity by the time they get their first job.
Make It Your Hobby
Before game design courses have become available, people were entering this industry by doing it as a hobby. Today, you won't find too many hobbyists, as there are courses that offer the proper qualification for such jobs. Nonetheless, it's still possible to find a job, provided that you are able to show passion and talent, as well as some neat projects you've worked on in your spare time.
Release A Game As An Independent Studio
Setting up an indie studio is very easy, so there's no wonder many people choose this route to get their games released. Completing one or two games from scratch can give you a lot of insights and a solid work experience. This is how you can become very attractive to big game studios. Nonetheless don't expect them to hire you as an expert directly. You should take a junior position and work your way up from there.
The QA Way
Testing is one of the easiest ways to enter this industry. You may consider getting into QA, and start accumulating work experience. Later on, you may be able to take some better jobs as they become available, as many studios prefer to promote their own people rather than hiring outsiders. Nonetheless, if you enjoy testing and you prefer to stay whe re you are, you can surely do so and aim to become the manager of your department.
Be Present
If you aim for a job in animation, design or programming, you should make sure you have a good online presence and a cool portfolio of works. Keep your best projects in places where potential employers or business partners can see it. As you improve your skills, remove some of your old projects from your public portfolio and replace them with your latest creations. Studios love to see online portfolios and are clear and easy to navigate, as they can learn more about you than from an old CV.
Network
Social media has changed the way people do business and seek for talents. In addition, today it's easier than ever to contact people in key positions in big studios. You should build an online presence by becoming a member of some forums in the industry, and by trying to bring your input to the community. You can never know who's there, so you may end up very well connected without even knowing it. This piece from Amiqus is a good one on getting a job in this area.
Be Perseverant
Last but not least, you shouldn't imagine you're going to find a job as soon as you put together a nice portfolio and some decent projects of your own. Don't give up when you won't get an answer to your first 100 job applications. It simply means the right opportunity is yet to come. If you really want to get a job in this industry, you should be persistent. Apply to all new job openings as you see them, but don't forget to keep of honing your skills. Work on your own projects, as this is going to help you become better every day. Rest assured that the time will come when you'll get your dream job in a big studio. All you need is to persevere and to keep your motivation up. If you are passionate about making games, you'll find your place in this world sooner or later. The most important thing is to keep trying until you meet success. Very few people are as lucky as to get accepted right off the bat.
