Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The Hiring process is given from an Art Director's insider perspective and from my experience in reviewing thousands of resumes, conducting hundreds of interviews and hiring over 50 new employees and interns for video game companies. This presentation is given to students in secondary education game development and media entertainment programs preparing to enter the job market.
Citation preview
A N I N S I D E R S P E R S P E C T I V E O N
G E T T I N G H I R E DI N T H E V I D EO G A M E I N D U S T RY
A N D M A N A G I N G YO U R C A R E E R
B R I A N P E L L E T I E RB P E L L E T I E R @ L E A R N I N G G A M . E S
PREPARING FOR YOUR
CAREER
WHO AM I?
20 years in games industry
Helped build Raven teams
Developed 16+ retail games
Art Director & Creative Director
CAREER JOURNEY
Marvel Comics: Freelance Artist
Raven Software - 5 years Artist - 2D/3D/Animation Art Manager Lead Artist
CAREER JOURNEY
Activision / Raven – 13 years: Art Director Project Leader/Creative Director Artist 2D/3D
Games Learning Society / Learning Games Network Art Director Creative Director Head of Project Development
CAREER PATH
Production Path Increase skills and experience over time Become and expert at your craft Mentor and Train others
Management & Leadership Path >> Me Learn management skills
training Organize production for others People Leader
personnel issues More responsibility – more pay
More headaches!
WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU
Hired over 40 people
Reviewed thousands of resumes and Portfolios
Conducted 100’s of interviews
I’m still at it
THE HIRING PROCESS
RESUME
PORTFOLIO
PHONE INTERVIEW
ON SITE INTERVIEW
COVER LETTER AND THANK YOU
WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR
RESUME
RESUME: WHAT I LOOK FOR
Easy to Read
Skills Do you fit the requirements
Software Programs Doesn’t matter which ones
Experience Yes! even for entry level position >>
RESUME: EXPERIENCE
Hiring for a team position:
Experience working with others Group projects – class project or with friends
List the projects Number of team members What your roles were
Internships
Join a Mod group
Create your own game/s Shows passion / self motivation / proactive
WHAT I WANT TO SEE
PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO: WHAT I WANT TO SEE
Blogs vs. Websites
Quality – eye for detail Instant reaction
Well rounded skills
Area of Specialty What is your focus?
Quality over Quantity
PORTFOLIO: WHAT I WANT TO SEE
Consistency Diamond in the rough syndrome
3 examples with same quality
Compare yourself to others Internet – world at your fingertips
Never plagiarize! See internet…
Differentiate yourself from classmates
PORTFOLIO: WHAT YOU SHOULD SEE
Comparison of entry level art
1 2
PORTFOLIO: WHAT YOU SHOULD SEE
Comparison of entry level art
3
PORTFOLIO: WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Continue to build your portfolio Work on new art to better your portfolio After school – it took me 3 portfolios to get Marvel Gig.
During Career – continue to build portfolio Catalogue your work Be prepared I didn’t save enough images of my game art
Create Process Images Create step by step images to show your process
STEP BY STEP EXAMPLE
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW
PHONE INTERVIEW
PHONE INTERVIEW: DIGGING DEEPER
Okay, so we like your Resume and PortfolioScreening process overview:
Did you do what you say you did How well do you know your programs Passion enthusiasm How well do you work with others Your potential to get better Personality / Culture fit
PHONE INTERVIEW: DIGGING DEEPER
Be prepared to answer the questions
Did you do what you say you did, and……How well do you know your programs
Tell me the process and programs you used to create “X”? How did you get your reference? What stock models or textures did you use? What part of “X” was created by someone else? What feature of the program did you use to create “A & B”? What problems did you encounter?
How did you overcome?
PHONE INTERVIEW: DIGGING DEEPER
How well do you work with others? What was the project you worked on? What was your role? What was main factor in the success of project? What was the biggest issue facing the project?
How did you overcome? Tell me a time when you disagreed with a teammate? Explain a situation where you disagreed with your instructor?
How did you work through the issues? Besides the tasks given to you, how did you help your team succeed
PHONE INTERVIEW: DIGGING DEEPER
Passion, Personality and Culture Fit What Artists inspire you? What games inspire you?
Be truthful if not the games (or kind) the company makes Where/what do you see yourself doing in 5 years?
Be honest! Don’t pander to what you “think” I want to hear What do you do for fun? Who are your heroes?
PHONE INTERVIEW: DIGGING DEEPER
What are YOU screening the employer for?
Prepare questions to askDo your homework on employerAre they a good fit for you?
Be respectful and grateful
DO YOU FIT IN?
ON SITE INTERVIEW
ON SITE INTERVIEW: HOW DOES IT FEEL?
Congrats, We like you enough to spend money on you.
If we weren’t serious about hiring you, we wouldn’t be flying you out. Or spending our precious time with you.
Be courteous, appreciative and respectful.
Dress to impress
This is our first date
Do we want to commit to a relationship?
WHAT IT TELLS ME
COVER LETTERS
COVER AND THANK YOU LETTERS
Written communication skills – it matters.
Communicate Passion and Enthusiasm
Show knowledge of potential employer
Follow up with any extra info or clarification
Thank by name and be appreciative – mean it!
I HIRE PERSONALITIES FIRST
SKILLS SECOND
THE BIG SECRET
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
Get Discovered:
Create Fan Art…with a twist! Re-imaging their universe – be original Put on message boards / fan sites
Post your Artwork on Art sites
Enter Contests All the art sites do them
LAST WORDS
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Confucius
