Area 5’s Jay Frechette and game producer Erin Ali met a few years
ago when they were both working their way through game design programs
at different schools (Jay at The Art Institute in San Francisco, Erin
at The University for Advancing Technology in Phoenix, AZ). In Splash Damage,
the duo discuss their experiences — the positive, the negative, the
insightful, and the just plain funny — at game design school.
Follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JayFrechette and www.twitter.com/HenleyFenix.
Erin: Most people find the interview process to be one
of the hardest parts of landing a job. Even if you’re the most talented
designer/producer/artist, if you sell yourself short, stutter, or show up late
to an interview, it’ll be tough to find an employer willing to take you.
Interviews can be scary and downright intimidating if you’re not properly
prepared. How have you dealt with the pressures of interviewing over your
career?
Jay: If I get an interview, the first thing I always
do is research the crap out of the company that’s interviewing me. I look at
all their products, study their mission statement, and reread the requirements
they posted for the job that I’m interviewing for. I feel much more confident
going into an interview with a sense that I know what they’re looking for, and
that allows me to get my bearings when deciding how to present myself. I had a
great class in college called Career Development that dealt with handling
interviews and even had the students undergo mock interviews with career advisors.
Did
you have anything like that?
Erin: Wow, we didn’t have a class like your Career Development
course. That sounds like an awesome concept. We did have an industry
career coordinator that was more than willing to work with you. One of the
best pieces of information he gave me that I pass on to students and people
trying to break into the industry is to not be afraid of the “professional
experience” requirements that you see on job descriptions.
If
you read the needs of the job and feel that you can do what’s being asked of
you — be honest with yourself — then apply regardless of if they ask for one
year of professional experience or four years. Show them through your résumé
and portfolio the experience you have gained while working on projects or other
jobs and show how it applies to what the hiring manager’s asking for.
Did
you ever find yourself getting nervous about a position because you thought
there were people already in the industry who were applying for the same job?
Jay: That’s always a concern, but I try to focus on
what I have to offer and do my best to present myself with confidence. I agree
that professional-experience requirements shouldn’t deter you. If you feel that
you have the skills they’re looking for, go for it. But be honest with
yourself. When I update my résumé or start to plan for an interview, I always
sit down and re-evaluate what my strengths and weaknesses are.
Another
thing I’m very mindful of is not just how I present myself professionally but
personally as well. In an interview your personality is under the microscope as
well as your career experience; potential employers want to know if you can do
the work, but they also are reviewing whether or not you’re the type of person
they want to have around.
Erin: Personality and really melding well with teams
is a huge thing! Something else I’ve learned that I’ve heard other
employers also state is that students shouldn’t fear being pitted against
someone who’s already in the industry. Yes, those people may have titles and
experience, but they also have habits from being in the industry and might in
some ways be less eager or willing to tackle certain tasks and issues. When
someone can show through personality and interviews just how hungry they are to
get into the industry and also has a good set of skills, an employer just might
choose them over someone who has a few years experience. Hiring someone is
definitely an investment, and if an employer can find a candidate whom they can
mold instead of trying to break another’s habits, why not take the person fresh
out of college?
Jay: I couldn’t agree more. I have no doubt that part
of the reason I was hired at EGM –regardless of the fact that I had zero
experience in journalism or print — was because I came off as someone that was
passionate about the field and willing to learn new things. The tools and
methods evolve and change pretty quickly in this industry, and the people that
I’ve seen have the most success are those that adapt to those changes.
For the community: What are some of your interview experiences? What tips and
tricks do you have?