applying

undeadink

so i have a question i'm sure this has been asked before but i couldn't find a thread so i'm asking again. whats the best way to apply for work? spam all companies interest in if they have a posting for a job or not, or just apply for open jobs.

i only ask this because i never see entry level job openings.

Tulkamir

Neither?

Don't spam. That's just annoying.

Start applying to the places you are most interested in with job openings, and make sure that every application is someone specific to that company.

Do that for every company you are interested in, starting with the the ones that you are most interested in and that have currently open positions.

That's just my view though.

Spam is bad!

Frump

Send applications or portfolio links to everywhere you are interested in whether they have jobs posted or not. Nothing to lose from doing it. You could get a position that isn't posted or they could keep you in mind for the next time something comes up. Just don't do it all the time, do it when you actually have updated your portfolio so you have something new to show.

And when there are specific postings available, great. Apply for those with more specificity like tailoring cover letters and Resume such.

whats_true

I agree with what Tulkamr said. My position wasnt open but I sent the resume anayways. ended up landing the job cause they were looking but never posted it on the web. Go big, to the places you want to go, then, work your way down.

Justin Meisse

Don't spam, customize your cover letter to each place you apply to, make your resume generic enough to apply everywhere (I realized after I applied to Valve that my resume pimps me as an MMO specialist, whoops!)

undeadink

sorry i shouldn't have put spam i meant what most of you are saying is it better to send out resumes to companies that dont have openings posted. thanks tho this has been great help. before tattooing i was in sales so im a summing I'm selling myself to a company even if i don't have all the experience in the world..

have another question is it worth putting in that i was a tattoo artist my problem is i have a 5 yr gap between when i went to digipen, or would it be better to put down the mods I've worked on?

Tulkamir

I'd say that putting down both the mods and the work as a tattoo artist would be good. I suppose it's up to the specific art director, but personally I think that it can only be a bonus to have an artist who is at a professional level using mediums other than CG, and having worked on mods can show that you have some understanding of game pipelines.

undeadink

thanks tulkamir that sounds good

Firecracker197

Yeah I say neither, you want to focus on 5 employers and really do whatever you can to get your best chances at those places, and those 5 places you pick should probably have positions open. Keep in mind that sometimes you might have a chance getting a position that isn't posted as entry level, but if they like your work enough they might give you a chance. I would say just look for places that are hiring for what you specialize in and go from there. It never hurts to apply to places that aren't hiring though because you never know when they will be, someone could quit the day after you apply.

apocalypse

Dunno if this helps but I got my first game job by attending a Videogame Conference. I just walked around meeting people and asked if I could give them my reel (on dvd). A couple of months later I got an interview and a job. I found it worked best to go for the H.R managers of the companies. Otherwise your reel will end up a beer coaster or in the bin.

Pay extra attention to the ones that are scouting for people and make your reel out-shine the others.

Richard Kain

Apply to the companies that have listed job openings. Call the companies that don't, but that you are interested in. Establishing some manner of personal contact usually increases your chances in the future. And on that note, I second the suggestion of going to conferences. Networking at conferences is great, if only to talk to people who work at these companies.

PixelFish

Never gotten a nibble from a company who wasn't specifically hiring for a position. Whereas whenever there is a specific job listed, I usually get a phone interview at least, or sometimes an email three months later.

Mark Dygert

Whatever you do, do NOT make each email personalized for the company. Make it as generic as possible. As if you don't have a soul or you copied a form letter from some site.

If you do decide to personalize it make sure to mix up the company name and miss spell words this shows you have a keen eye for detail and that you are in fact not a robot.

But seriously, I suggest holding one piece of art back and not posting it to your site. Save it for the 1 week "I haven't heard anything yet I wonder whats going on!?" email. That way you have something new to show them and its not just an annoying email but it serves a purpose.

Don't rush the emails, take your time this is your first impression don't blow it.

undeadink

LOL ok still confused i guess its more of a personal choice to email companies that don't have a posting or not. i also agree with attending conferences.

Tulkamir

PixelFish wrote: »

Never gotten a nibble from a company who wasn't specifically hiring for a position. Whereas whenever there is a specific job listed, I usually get a phone interview at least, or sometimes an email three months later.

I have. I've actually gotten a job over a year after applying, because when I applied they had nothing, but a year later they did. :P

apocalypse

Same here. I got a few nibbles from companies I applied to months before hand. They usually store applicants away for a couple of months. I wouldn't rule out sending reels to places you'd like to work that aren't hiring. I doubt any harm would come of it.

jipe

You have nothing to lose from applying to as many places as possible. I know some studios that never advertise for certain positions, either because they fill it via internal recommendations or because they receive so many applicants that they don't need to put it on their site. For example, Dreamworks never advertises that they need character animators, yet they certainly hire animators on a fairly regular basis.

The worst that can happen is that they don't like your reel and you don't get hired. Unless your reel is at the level of Colin's Bear and they keep it around to make fun of you every week, you're not disgracing your name nor ruining any future chances of employment. But you are giving yourself a shot at getting hired, and for what? A few minutes to write an e-mail, or 50 cents to mail a DVD?

Firecracker197

The point is that you can apply to every place you want, but just make every application count, that way you stand the best chance. Its really easy to get lazy and just change a few words in a cover letter and resend it, but if you take the time to write a well thought out letter for each company and really apply it to what they might be looking for your more likely to attract the most attention possible.

Joao Sapiro

if you applied once , and didnt get positive replies, id say work on art, do new pieces, better than the ones you have, and then re-apply. Reapplying just for the sake of it can be seen sometimes as annoying if there isnt anything fresh to see.