Gaming Industry Careers

If you read nothing else this year, please read this Friends, I had promised a week of surprises and meaningful upgrades to the community. Tonight’s update might not look flashy, but it’s a big deal. We’ve just rolled out the largest upgrade ever to the Games Jobs Workbook in, nearly, 4 years. https://lnkd.in/ePK7nQ44 asgc.gg (Category #2, Resource #5) This is the result of months of focused work and nearly four years of tracking the industry. I pulled together over 14,000 games organizations I’ve ever come across and built a system that now: • Daily scrapes roles across this entire set of companies • Aggressively cleans duplicates, errors, and messy data • Standardizes everything into ~20 categories we’ve used since 2022 • Normalizes roles into on site, hybrid, or remote • Cleans locations down to reliable country, state, and city data • Standardizes employment types and experience levels • Deduplicates even complex cases like multi location listings • Filters to only roles with less than three months of age • With all data populated where factually available On top of that, it’s now community powered: you can submit companies we’ve missed directly for scraping ingestion right on the page, flag issues directly on any row, and everything feeds back into automated cleanup. The system updates daily and largely runs on its own. We have pulled all this new data ourselves. Thanks, however, to Mayank Grover, who for months generously provided raw data and helped with many learnings, and to Gaurav Mathur for gamedevmap (support them: https://lnkd.in/enUe-NKb). And to this community and the ASGC angels. The result: ~30,000 roles tracked, and ~11,000 active games jobs at any given time. It’s also important context that not all job counts are created equal. With the level of cleaning, deduplication, and recency filtering here, this 11,000 is a true number. On other platforms that allow older roles, duplicates, or less structured data, you could easily think of our figure as 1.5x to 2x that count for effectively the same underlying market, for what others might present. For the first time, I’m confident this reflects the true long tail of active games hiring, in actually being to look at the whole market and also to, fully, scrape out junk and anything without 3 months recency. That means roughly 11,000 games roles and 20,000 roles turn over each year. We had it about right, but it balances out to this number still because we added a bunch in crawling so many more companies and reduced a bunch in being able to smartly clean the data much more. If we assume ~750,000 total jobs in the industry, that’s about 2.7 percent hiring annually. That’s a low churn rate. It confirms a tight market with steady, but limited, movement. This project reflects a massive amount of effort, but also the care and support of many people. I’m proud to finally share it with you. Please enjoy it free forever, just like all at ASGC!

I've helped over 20 gaming professionals land get better jobs in the last year. This is what I've learned about advancing your career in the gaming industry. 1. Your unique story matters more than you think Every gamer and developer has a unique journey: - The projects you've worked on - The games you're passionate about - The challenges you've overcome These are all part of your professional narrative. Craft this story well, and you'll stand out in a sea of applicants. 2. Networking isn't optional, it's essential The gaming industry thrives on connections: - Attend game jams - Join online communities - Reach out to professionals you admire. One conversation can open doors you didn't even know existed. Remember, your next job might come from someone you meet, not a job board. 3. Your social media is your secret weapon In gaming, your online presence can make or break opportunities. A well-curated social media profile that showcases: - Your industry knowledge - Your unique expertise - Project updates Engagement with the gaming community can attract recruiters and fellow professionals. 4. Continuous learning is your superpower The gaming industry evolves at lightning speed. Stay relevant by constantly upskilling. Whether it's: - learning a new engine - mastering a programming language - studying emerging trends like VR or cloud gaming Your willingness to learn makes you invaluable. 5. Rejection is part of the game Every "no" gets you closer to a "yes." I've seen countless professionals land their dream roles after facing multiple rejections. Each interview, each application is a learning experience. Embrace the journey, refine your approach, and keep pushing forward. Most IMPORTANTLY: The question isn't "What if I don't ever get a new job?" It's "Which amazing opportunity will I land next?" Your dream job in gaming is out there. With the right mindset, you're not just going to find it – you're going to crush it. P.S. If you're feeling stuck in your gaming career, let's chat. Together, we can level up your professional journey and unlock achievements you never thought possible.

Gamedev Career Guide (2.0) 27 tips from Mirko Minenza and me to help you find a job in games. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 Networking: 1. Engage in LinkedIn/Discord/Reddit communities 2. Attend one industry event per month (online/offline) 3. use your free connection requests – build relationships 4. Aim at one mentorship calls/week – experts are willing to help 5. Check game credits, creative way to find potential connections (mobygames) 6. DM your connection before applying – referrals increase your chances of being hired Crafting Your CV: 7. Skip skill level bars – they don’t add much value 8. Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities 9. Keep it simple – concise bullet points for easy reading 10. Tailor your CV to each job – highlight relevant experience DM Tips: 11. Be direct – explain why you’re reaching out 12. Highlight value – how can you help or learn? 13. Don't pressure them to reply fast, keep it easy 14. Keep messages short – no one likes a wall of text 15. Personalize your messages – show genuine interest 16. Make them easy to read – break up text and get to the point 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘃𝘀 Video Game Career Resources by Amir Satvat Gamedev Resources by Alexander Rehm PlayHire, Hitmarker | Gaming Jobs, Outscal. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Industry Knowledge: 17. Watch streamers – learn what grabs their attention 18. Research the market – use tools like AppMagic or VG Insights 19. Read player reviews – Steam, Reddit, App Store are goldmines 20. Play new games and analyze them – what works, what doesn’t? 21. Stay updated with industry news via PocketGamer, Gamasutra, or IGN Develop Skills: 22. Find a mentor for feedback and guidance 23. Create small games in UGC (mods, prototypes) 24. Join a small team – build portfolio projects together 25. Participate in game jams like Ludum Dare or Global Game Jam 26. Take free courses on YouTube – channels like Brackeys and The Cherno are great! 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: https://lnkd.in/dKnMCzVY

Gamedev Career Guide (updated) 27 tips from Anton and me to help you find a job in games. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 Networking: 1. Engage in LinkedIn/Discord/Reddit communities 2. Attend one industry event per month (online/offline) 3. use your free connection requests – build relationships 4. Aim at one mentorship calls/week – experts are willing to help 5. Check game credits, creative way to find potential connections (mobygames) 6. DM your connection before applying – referrals increase your chances of being hired Crafting Your CV: 7. Skip skill level bars – they don’t add much value 8. Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities 9. Keep it simple – concise bullet points for easy reading 10. Tailor your CV to each job – highlight relevant experience DM Tips: 11. Be direct – explain why you’re reaching out 12. Highlight value – how can you help or learn? 13. Don't pressure them to reply fast, keep it easy 14. Keep messages short – no one likes a wall of text 15. Personalize your messages – show genuine interest 16. Make them easy to read – break up text and get to the point 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘃𝘀 Video Game Career Resources by Amir Satvat Gamedev Resources by Alexander Rehm PlayHire, Hitmarker, Outscal. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Industry Knowledge: 17. Watch streamers – learn what grabs their attention 18. Research the market – use tools like AppMagic or VG Insights 19. Read player reviews – Steam, Reddit, App Store are goldmines 20. Play new games and analyze them – what works, what doesn’t? 21. Stay updated with industry news via PocketGamer, Gamasutra, or IGN Develop Skills: 22. Find a mentor for feedback and guidance 23. Create small games in UGC (mods, prototypes) 24. Join a small team – build portfolio projects together 25. Participate in game jams like Ludum Dare or Global Game Jam 26. Take free courses on YouTube – channels like Brackeys and The Cherno are great! 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: https://lnkd.in/dKnMCzVY Start small. Keep learning. Your dream job is yet to come 💫

To those impacted by layoffs: Don’t let this change the way you see yourself or make you question your talent, your experience, or your worth in any way. You’re not alone. The games community is filled with awesome, incredibly kind people who dedicate their time to help others like you go through this. Here's my advice to make your job hunt even more successful, knowing how terrible the market is right now. Do not treat your job hunt like a job (PLEASE) I know you’re feeling the pressure. But burnout won’t get you hired any faster. You are not your job title. Make space for the things that remind you of who you are outside of work, such as cooking, running, gaming, painting, reading, whatever fills your heart in all the right ways. A hobby you forgot you loved can help reset your mind completely and push you to be more resilient during these hard times. Make time for these 3 small habits Improve your materials: Update your resume, portfolio, or website. Try to clearly communicate who you are and what you've accomplished; concrete results grab anyone’s attention. And for your LinkedIn profile, highlight your experience as much as possible by including shipped titles, names of studios, anything that instantly tells someone where you’ve been. Applications: Choose a few focused hours each day, no doom-scrolling job boards at midnight. Get referrals from friends and colleagues who know your value as an employee and think highly of you. And here's a tip many game developers overlook: consider reaching out to recruitment or staffing agencies. You should follow Aardvark Swift Recruitment, Here's Waldo Recruiting, Nxt Level Entertainment, Onward Play, and Datascope Recruitment. Networking: Have real conversations. Reach out to people, ask questions, and most importantly, listen to their advice. Opportunities come from people, there's no doubt. But honestly, what matters most is making friends who support you in your career journey. If you're not sure where to start connecting with others in the games community, I’ll be attaching some Discord servers below. 7 Discord Servers Every Game Dev Should Know ▪ Amir Satvat's Games Community - https://lnkd.in/ekJARWCS ▪ Game Design Skills - https://lnkd.in/eyXTpr_k ▪ Indie Game Academy - https://lnkd.in/eQeqZbsT ▪ PlayHire - https://lnkd.in/eW6Eqvn7 ▪ 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 - https://discord.gg/gamedev ▪ 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 - https://discord.gg/gdn ▪ 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐯 - https://lnkd.in/etFCfeYd Please let me know how I can support you. Happy to send you studios I think you’d be a good fit for, or just have a nice coffee chat if you need a breather!

Start "X-Raying" the web for jobs. Most top game studios (Riot, Blizzard, Ubisoft) host jobs on ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) that don't always show up clearly in standard searches. For example, here's how to build a Boolean Search to find a Remote Producer role: • 1st String: The "WHERE" (The Website) site:boards.greenhouse.io OR site:jobs.lever.co --This tells Google: Only look inside the "filing cabinets" of the world’s biggest job platforms like Greenhouse, Lever, and Workable. • 2nd String: The "WHAT" (The Title) ("Video Game Producer" OR "Game Producer") Use quotes to keep the title exact and OR to catch different ways studios name the role. • 3rd String: The "HOW" (Location & Filters) ("Remote" OR "Anywhere") In Boolean searching, parentheses work exactly like they do in math. They tell Google: "Solve this part first." By putting the titles in a "Logic Bucket" (parentheses), you are saying: "I want one of these titles FIRST, and whichever one you find MUST also be Remote." The Cheat Sheet: AND: Must include both terms (if nothing between parenthesis it assumes AND) OR: Broadens your search (A or B). NOT (-): Excludes specific words from your results. Pro-Tip: Once you paste this into Google, click Tools > Any Time > Past Week to find the freshest openings before the crowd does! Remote Producer string: (site:boards.greenhouse.io OR site:jobs.lever.co OR site:apply.workable.com) ("Video Game Producer" OR "Game Producer") ("Remote" OR "Work from home")

Still scrolling endlessly for jobs on LinkedIn? Try this instead 👇 It’s called Boolean Search — and it’s how recruiters find and recruit candidates. But you can flip the script  ↳ and use it to find your next role faster! Here’s how it works: You’ll use a few special operators to narrow your search results like a pro. Let’s break it down: 🔍 Quotation Marks (" ") Search for exact phrases. "project manager" shows those 2 words together. ➕ AND Combine key terms. "Unity" AND "Agile" finds posts with both terms. 🔀 OR Show similar options. "hiring" OR "recruiting" Casts a wider net. ➖ NOT Exclude what you don’t want. ✅ "project manager" NOT "internship" Cuts out the noise. (🧮) (Brackets) Group your ORs together. ✅ "UX designer" AND ("remote" OR "hybrid") 🔎 Site Search (outside LinkedIn) Use Google to find LinkedIn jobs. ✅ site:linkedin.com/jobs "game developer" AND Unity AND remote 🎯 Sample Job Search: "game developer" AND Unity AND ("remote" OR "hybrid") NOT internship This pulls listings that mention: ✔ Game Developer ✔ Unity experience ✔ Remote/hybrid ❌ No internships 🙌 Did you find this useful?  ♻️Repost & help someone land their dream job. #jobsearch #booleansearch #linkedintricks #careertips

Linkedin isn't the ONLY way to find jobs you are qualified for - quick example for hacking your job hunt (using "Boolean") 👇 I'll use 3D Artists as an example (so if that's you - bangarang). Jump on to Google and try out some of these: 🔧 Example Searches 🔧 3D Artist AND "job" AND "game industry" AND (Maya OR Blender OR ZBrush) "Character Modeler" AND "job" AND (Unity OR Unreal Engine) Environment Artist AND "job opportunity" AND (VR OR AR) 🌟 Pro Tips 🌟 🌎 Location - Add your preferred location to the search. Example: 3D Artist AND "game industry" AND "San Francisco" 🏢 Company - Include specific companies you’re interested in. Example: 3D Artist AND "game industry" AND (Ubisoft OR EA) 👩👧👧 Job Boards - Search specifically in websites. Example: site:linkedin.com 3D Artist AND "game industry" 🔗 Let's Get More Complex 🔗 You can combine everything above together to get more specific: ("3D Artist" OR "3D Modeler" OR "Character Artist" OR "Environment Artist") AND ("game industry" OR "video games" OR "game development") AND ("mid-level" OR "senior" OR "experienced" OR "lead") AND ("job" OR "jobs" OR "job posting" OR "job opportunity") AND ("United States" OR "USA" OR "Canada") AND (site:linkedin.com OR site:glassdoor.com OR site:indeed.com OR site:monster.com OR site:simplyhired.com) Give it a try and let me know how it works for you - would love to see your complex boolean searches that have netted you positive results. Happy job hunting! 🚀

To all of my very talented Artist friends in the gaming industry who are on the job hunt – A few friendly tips from your neighborhood Recruiter ✨ 🔑 Portfolio Access: If your portfolio has password-protected sections, please ensure that the password is included directly on your Resume. If it’s not included anywhere within your Application, it’s a slight yellow flag as it raises questions about attention to detail. In some cases, if your background is really great, I will still reach out directly to ask you for it, which 90% of the time gives the wrong impression that we’re interested when I haven’t seen your work yet. 📎 Include a Portfolio Link: This one’s critical – always provide a portfolio link on your Resume when applying! If the portfolio link is on a PDF, make sure it’s an actual clickable link (I’m seeing this happen so much), because if it’s not, there’s no way to highlight the text and copy it into a browser - it has to be hand-typed. This may sound like “so what, just type it?”, but the problem is we’re frequently reviewing hundreds of Resumes.   🛑 No Portfolio? Hold off on applying: If you’re applying to a Character Artist, Environment Artist, VFX Artist role, etc., and do not yet have a portfolio put together, then please hold off on applying until you have one ready. If you do apply without a portfolio, the hiring manager will immediately pass. We cannot assess your artistic skill by only seeing your work experience. (There are special circumstances for those who have only worked on NDA projects that are not yet released, in those cases, note it on your Resume where your portfolio link should be, and we can chat about options) 👀 Where to Place Your Portfolio: Ideally, your portfolio link should be clearly visible at the top of your Resume – right under your name, email, and LinkedIn. Also, please make sure your portfolio link is easy to find on your LinkedIn profile as well - preferably when I click the “Contact Info” button, I should see it there. Don’t make us dig through your posts to find it.   🚫 Avoid Game Trailers as Work Samples: I’m seeing a huge uptick in this trend. Please don’t rely solely on released game trailers as the primary example of your work. To be transparent, this can come off as lazy to both recruiters and hiring managers. We want to see your individual impact on the project. 📊 Break Down Your Work: It’s highly appreciated when you clarify what you contributed to each project/sample. For example, "I was responsible for modeling and texturing all of the buildings, while the foliage and set dressing was handled by X and Y." This helps us understand your specific skill set and whether or not you’re a fit for the role we’re looking at you for. Thank you for reading, and feel free to reach out with any questions! (And if any Recruiters see this and feel that I missed something, add in the comments!) 

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 1-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 After spending 20 years teaching others how to navigate job searches, I found myself in an unfamiliar and humbling position last year—I was on the job hunt. Despite my experience, the strategies I had relied on in the past weren’t delivering the same results in today’s hyper-competitive market. Over the last year, I’ve learned some valuable lessons about standing out in the game industry. Here are my top takeaways: 1. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞 > 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 I spent countless hours perfecting resumes and cover letters, but it wasn’t until I overhauled my LinkedIn profile that I started seeing traction. In many interviews, I noticed that hiring managers referenced my LinkedIn profile over my resume. Optimize your profile with key accomplishments and an updated portfolio—it’s often the first thing recruiters look at. 2. 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 The game industry is small, and personal connections make a big difference. Attend networking events, game jams, and join resources like Amir Satvat Savat mentorship programs or Kenn White Game Industry Coffee Chat on Discord. Recommendations on LinkedIn are gold—one of my recent interviews came from someone who knew my recommender. Build genuine connections and don’t hesitate to ask for mentorship or introductions. 3. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 When asking for introductions, recommendations, or internal advocacy, make it as simple as possible. Send pre-written templates for them to choose from—like an intro email or candidate summary. Remove all obstacles, and people will be more likely to help you. 4. 𝐁𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞, 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 If someone agrees to advocate for you, ask if it’s okay to follow up monthly. When you do, be concise and try to add value—share a relevant article or offer a quick insight. Consistency is key; if you say you’ll follow up, make sure you follow through. This is a chance to demonstrate your determination and professionalism. 5. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 In my first few interviews, I over-prepared and came off robotic. The better approach? Identify 3-4 success stories you can confidently share using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Practice telling them naturally and adapt them to different questions. If needed, ask a recruiter to help you refine your delivery. These lessons reflect what it takes to navigate one of the most competitive job markets I’ve seen in two decades. The game industry demands more than just qualifications—you need to be proactive, polished, and consistent to stand out among thousands of applicants. #GamingJobs #GameIndustry #GameJobHunt #ActionButtonRecruiting