Hi, I'd like to hear from anyone who has experience working in games. How did you get your first job in games? What advice would you have for someone looking for a games job today? Please respond to PamRecruit@q.com

An internship allowed me to get my foot in the door. If a person is planning on taking education for the purpose of getting into games, ensure they have an internship program. Find out if the school has connections -- or if you have to do the footwork on your own.

In Vancouver, many schools hire game devs part time as teachers. If you can get an opportunity to be taught by someone currently in the business, it is likely that those who do well and show promise will be remembered and are often recruited.

JasonB is correct, I intern only the best A students from my classes.  It makes little sense to hire a "game" artist who hasn't been put to the test in a game environment.  I throw my students in the fryer by demanding the same level of quality and speed as is required by my work.  Then, for the rare few who go on as interns, I throw them right out of the fryer and into the fire with real world work that is outside their comfort level and on a tight deadline.  They work for free for a while but that is the only way to see if the passion is there.  If they can get money positions somewhere else, more power to them but I want to find out: Do they really want to do this?  If they do well for a few months, I usually move them into small contracts for money and so on.  Mine is a vetting process.    There are many who don't realize that we expect them to treat their classe and internships like a job for which they are a hair away from getting fired.  This may sound harsh, but I've weeded out the failures early on who realized that this industry and it's demands aren't for them.  Some interns show up with passion, quality, and delivery and so they are in.  If not at my studio, then another Austin game company.  So in review: Quality, Passion, and perseverence(problem solving and stick-to-it), and being a team player.  I bet this is pretty much any game recruiter's criteria.  

Super agreed. After three years of College as a 3D Modeling/Animation Major, One summer of interning showed me more Industry-related information than I could've hoped for from my school. I'm very grateful for my foundation classes. Every artist could do to learn art history, composition, Colour theory, design, etc, but there's no substitute for real-world experience. Additionally, many forums (Polycount, GameArtisans, ConceptArt, etc.) are a good midway point between foundation art knowlege and actual production work. They tend to be useful for gaining contacts and getting that ever-important "foot in the door".

   -343

i was not that lucky, i wish i would have got an intern, i had to just plug away for 6 months after graduation doing freelance, but then word of mouth go tme my job i just worked hard, and people referred me, so freelance is what got me into my first full time job

HI

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