Cover Letters
polycounter lvl 12
I am applying for a job at EAMythic. Before I send my resume in I was wondering if I should include a cover letter along with my resume. With any other industry I wouldn't have any second thoughts, but my theory is that a cover letter might scare off an employer with all the formalities since the games industry is usually so laid back.. then again this is EA so my resume might also be filtered first through some business-type doing paper-work all day.
Any advice before I make my move?
Any advice before I make my move?
Replies
Advice:
- Keep it simple, keep it friendly, and keep it semi pro, let them know you have a pulse and you aren't John Q customer #11954 but don't let all of your personality disorders loose just yet.
- Don't copy/paste some stiff cover letter you found on the web. It's easy to spot a phoney when you look at dozens a week. If you copy paste a cover letter what else do you butcher from the web?
- Don't assume that everyone especially the filter people are as laid back as the people you'll be working with. It is a business and someone has to have a stick up his/her ass to keep the money flowing, normally the guy/gal that cuts your checks gets stuck filtering the incoming email. They hate reading it as much as you hate writing it, so do them a favor and be friendly and short, giving them what they need. Side note: Remember this job is kind of boring, often filled by a female that might not like hearing how many strippers you can get for your new hire party.
- I highly recommend if you haven't already, post your portfolio in P&P and let the wolves tear it to pieces and then build it up better than ever. I don't normally recommend letter writing by committee but you might want to post your cover letter/email also?
- I highly recommend if you haven't already, post your portfolio in P&P and let the wolves tear it to pieces and then build it up better than ever
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Considering 99% of the artists at Mythic are posters on this board, I'd say this would be a good idea if you're trying to get a job there.
Post your portfolio.
I have never made a cover letter.
Post your portfolio.
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There straight from a guy that happens to work there.
Gotta agree with whats been said. post your portfolio and have it torn apart.
email them. don't send stuff in the mail.
Although I have seen a few where rather than just introducing himself the author only writes about how awesome he is and why that company -must- hire him. That always comes across as egotistical and fake in my oppinion.
Alex
Should you include 'shot notes' that tell people which assets are yours?
I normally present my work as a level with all the assets I've made in it in groups according to how they're meant to be seen together and I'm wondering if this is the most effective way to do this.
However I've never worked on a game where I've been able to make an entire levels' assets or even an entire section so these groups don't really show how they fit the area they're made for.
So do others show their assets in isolation? or do you show combined screenshots/video and include notes telling you what's what?
should the cover letter be made in a .doc or .pdf
just wondering is all,
im looking for a new 3d job starting today,
Thanks,Chris
Alex
a cover letter is still good to have, we like to pretend we're professional and take ourselves seriously. it wouldn't hurt.
well, unless it was a shitty cover letter; riddled with spelling or grammar errors, you typed in the wrong company name, or added pictures of yourself naked. even then, it all depends... maybe your employer is looking for a bad speller? maybe you look good naked? you can never tell with these things, they're so delicately complex and deep.