How to get a job in the games industry
The GamesIndustry.biz Academy guides to finding games industry jobs in all sectors, from game design to journalism to games PR and more
Looking for a job in the games industry? Discover hundreds of positions worldwide at jobs.gamesindustry.biz.
The games industry is a notoriously competitive sector and finding a job is no easy task, and the challenges will vary depending on which career path you want to follow. Whether design, programming, art, PR, marketing, QA or journalism, each discipline requires a different set of skills and a different approach.
To help you with your job search, you can choose to get in touch with specialist recruitment agencies, which are abundant in the games industry -- Aardvark Swift, Amiqus, Avatar Games, OPM Jobs, Datascope, Game Recruiter and Skillsearch, to name a few. And don't forget to have a look at our job board for the latest opportunities.
Take advantage of game conventions and industry events, as many of them run career fairs and portfolio reviews that will be invaluable tools in getting started. GDC has a Game Career Seminar, our own EGX has its Careers Bar, and Gamescom has a career center.
But it's not only the big events. Smaller events usually have booths from local universities offering relevant courses and career advice sessions. In the UK, the Yorkshire Games Festival has Career Surgeries for career advice, portfolio reviews and networking, while the Norwich Games Festival has a programme of free talks aimed at guiding people interested in working in the industry.
Working in the games industry
If you want to work in the games industry but you don't know where to start, the GamesIndustry.biz Academy can help you to find out which sector is right for you and how to land your first job. We'll be covering every key discipline in the games industry, from level design to games journalism, programming to marketing, and everything in between. If you'd like to get involved and talk to us about your niche in the industry, don't hesitate to get in touch by emailing academy@gamesindustry.biz.
We've started our guide with some of the most popular career paths, but check this page regularly for updates as we cover more topics.
Games journalism
Games PR and marketing
- What education do I need to get a job in games PR?
- What do I need to get noticed in games PR?
- What qualities and skills do I need to work in games PR?
- What are the common misconceptions about games PR?
- Advice for new and aspiring games PR professionals
How to get a job as a marketing director in games
- What education do I need to get a job as a marketing director?
- What experience do I need to get a job in marketing director?
- What qualities and skills do I need to be a marketing director?
- Common misconceptions about being a marketing director
- What's the typical progression to a marketing director role?
- What advice would you give aspiring marketing directors?
Publishing
How to get a job as a product manager
- What education do I need to get a job as a product manager?
- What experience do I need to get a job in product management?
- What qualities and skills do I need to be a product manager?
- What are the common misconceptions about product management?
- What are the career progression opportunities of a product manager?
- Advice and resources for new and aspiring product managers
Game design
How to get a job in game design
- What education do I need to get a job in game design?
- What do I need to get noticed as a game designer?
- What qualities and skills do I need to work in games design?
- What are the common misconceptions about games design?
- Advice for new and aspiring game designers
How to get a job as a game UX designer
- What education do I need to get a job as a game UX designer?
- What experience do I need to get a job in game UX design?
- What qualities and skills do I need to be a game UX designer?
- What are the common misconceptions about game UX design?
- What are the career progression opportunities of a game UX designer?
- Advice and resources for new and aspiring game UX designers
How to become a video game sound designer
- What is the day-to-day reality of sound design?
- What education do I need?
- How do I build up my portfolio and get started?
- What skills do I need to be a game sound designer?
How to get a job as a game level designer
- What education do I need to get a job as a level designer?
- What experience do I need to get a job in level design?
- What qualities and skills do I need to be a level designer?
- What are the common misconceptions about level design?
- What are the career progression opportunities of a level designer?
- Advice for new or aspiring level designers
Game testing
How to get a job as a video games tester
- What types of games testing jobs are there?
- What education do I need to get a job as a game tester?
- What's the best way to get into games QA?
- What qualities and skills do I need to work as a game tester?
- What are the common misconceptions about games QA?
- Advice for new and aspiring games testers
Game art
- What education do I need to be a game artist?
- What do I need to get noticed as a game artist?
- What qualities and skills do I need to work as a game artist?
- What are the common misconceptions about game art?
- Advice for new and aspiring game artists
How to get a job as a technical artist
- What education do I need to get a job as a technical artist?
- What experience do I need to get a job in technical art?
- What qualities and skills do I need to be a technical artist?
- What are the common misconceptions about technical art?
- What are the career progression opportunities of a technical artist?
- Advice and resources for new and aspiring technical artists
Community management
Games writing
How to get a job as a games writer
- What education do I need to get a job in games writing?
- What do I need to get noticed as a games writer?
- What qualities and skills do I need to work in games writing?
- What are the common misconceptions about games writing?
- Advice for new and aspiring games writers
How to get a job as a narrative director
- The difference between a narrative director and narrative designer
- What are the day-to-day responsibilities of a narrative director?
- How do you get a job as a narrative director?
- What qualities and skills do you need as a narrative director?
- Advice for new and aspiring narrative directors
Voice acting
Game production
Creative direction
How to get a job as a creative director
- What does the role of a creative director involve?
- What education do I need to get a job as a creative director?
- What experience do I need to get a job as a creative director?
- What qualities and skills do I need as a creative director?
- What are the common misconceptions about being a creative director?
- Advice for new and aspiring creative directors
Diversity and inclusion
How to get a job as a diversity and inclusion officer
- What is diversity and inclusion and how does it influence the workplace?
- What are the daily responsibilities of a diversity and inclusion officer?
- What education and skills do I need as a diversity and inclusion officer?
- What are some ways to become a diversity and inclusion officer?
- What difficulties can diversity and inclusion officers face?
- Advice for new and aspiring diversity and inclusion officers
Game programming
How to get a job as a game programmer
- What education do I need to get a job as a games programmer?
- What experience do I need to get a job in games programming?
- What qualities and skills do I need to be a game programmer?
- What are the common misconceptions about games programming?
- What are the career progression opportunities of a game programmer?
- Advice and resources for new and aspiring game programmers
More GamesIndustry.biz Academy guides to Working in Games
Our guides to working in games cover various perspectives, from hiring to retention, to landing the job of your dream or creating the right company culture: