During my career I have interviewed a fair share of candidates and, especially in the past 3 months, I did a good number of interviews myself. I got a decente amount of offers, so I thought I'd share some tips. If anything for future me to read back. 👇 1\
⚠️ Disclaimer: I interviewed game designers up to mid-level, and I (recently) interviewed for senior or lead game designer roles. Keep that in mind if you keep reading!
⚠️ Further disclaimer: examples I'll provide here are close to what I've seen, but not taken 1:1. 2\
⚠️ Further disclaimer: examples I'll provide here are close to what I've seen, but not taken 1:1. 2\
I would like to start with the most obvious piece of advice: you need to prep 🖊️
Possibly you need it more the more experience you have! It really helped me a lot to map every requirement in job descriptions to a number of tasks I did or achievement I got during my career. 3\
Possibly you need it more the more experience you have! It really helped me a lot to map every requirement in job descriptions to a number of tasks I did or achievement I got during my career. 3\
This will help you loads in steering the conversation where you want it to go, as usually the first interview only lasts 30min to 1h.
I have learned this the hard way by totally missing a chance to impress and use up my time to talk about the _wrong_ parts of my career. 🤦 4\
I have learned this the hard way by totally missing a chance to impress and use up my time to talk about the _wrong_ parts of my career. 🤦 4\
Interview patterns (1): "Tell me about your experience." Easy, right?
❌ Nope. This is probably what most of the discussion will be based on, and you want to be the one steering it. You need to be concise AND stress the parts that are most relevant to the job. 5\
❌ Nope. This is probably what most of the discussion will be based on, and you want to be the one steering it. You need to be concise AND stress the parts that are most relevant to the job. 5\
Interview patterns (2): "Let's talk more about…".
This is why the above answer is important. The interviewer here has control of the conversation, and you want it to go on one of the aspects where you shine the most \ is most relevant to the job. 6\
This is why the above answer is important. The interviewer here has control of the conversation, and you want it to go on one of the aspects where you shine the most \ is most relevant to the job. 6\
A note here: they could "ignore" what you just said and pick something from your CV \ portfolio \ cover letter. It happened to me at least once that the interviewer was after something specific... but didn't include it in the job description. 7\
Interview patterns (3): "What have you played recently?" -> "Find a flaw" -> "Solve it".
This happens so frequently you can rehearse it and it won't be wasted time. Find something that plays on your strength, but acknowledge there must be a reason if that flaw is there. 8\
This happens so frequently you can rehearse it and it won't be wasted time. Find something that plays on your strength, but acknowledge there must be a reason if that flaw is there. 8\
A variant of the above is talking about a game the company you're interviewing for has made.
The more famous the company, the more likely. So keep it in mind and rehearse that as well if you can.
To the junior designers out there - we won't take offence, roast us! 🔥🧑🚒 9\
The more famous the company, the more likely. So keep it in mind and rehearse that as well if you can.
To the junior designers out there - we won't take offence, roast us! 🔥🧑🚒 9\
I should add that most companies don't take offense if you haven't played their games at all, and that it is normally not a deal breaker. However, if you already know what you'd be working on, it smooths things out if you at least gather basic info and watch a video. 10\
Interview patterns (4): "Here's an hypothetical scenario…"
If played well, this is one of the most important questions. The scenario is usually not-so-hypothetical and it probably translates to a problem the company will need to solve, or has solved recently. 11\
If played well, this is one of the most important questions. The scenario is usually not-so-hypothetical and it probably translates to a problem the company will need to solve, or has solved recently. 11\
An example might be:
"This is an open world shooter game, what do we need to consider when adding vehicles to it?"
Clearly too broad for expecting a complete solution. What you need to show in 5-10 minutes is that you understand the challenge and how to tackle it. 12\
"This is an open world shooter game, what do we need to consider when adding vehicles to it?"
Clearly too broad for expecting a complete solution. What you need to show in 5-10 minutes is that you understand the challenge and how to tackle it. 12\
It can be more specific though.
One company made me sign an NDA and screenshared a build of their game. I was asked to solve a problem they had. Again, I did not provide a complete design, but found and planned a direction. I then got an offer. 13\
One company made me sign an NDA and screenshared a build of their game. I was asked to solve a problem they had. Again, I did not provide a complete design, but found and planned a direction. I then got an offer. 13\
If you're given a brief, a whiteboard, and a lot of time (30min to several hours) this is a design test.
Sometimes you're left alone before they review it, sometimes they'll be with you while you work. You'll need to go deeper in both design and implementation. 14\
Sometimes you're left alone before they review it, sometimes they'll be with you while you work. You'll need to go deeper in both design and implementation. 14\
Especially in COVID times, your tolerance to stress is being put to test here.
Try to stay calm, especially if you say or do something wrong. No one is expecting everything you say to be some piece of mind blowing design wonderfulness 🙃 15\
Try to stay calm, especially if you say or do something wrong. No one is expecting everything you say to be some piece of mind blowing design wonderfulness 🙃 15\
Interview patterns (5): "What do you think this level of seniority entails?"
This is for people seeking a job in a higher seniority level than their current. Which is totally okay if you do! Just make sure you know what additional responsibilities you're taking on. 16\
This is for people seeking a job in a higher seniority level than their current. Which is totally okay if you do! Just make sure you know what additional responsibilities you're taking on. 16\
Obviously the answer lies in the job description itself, but like many other seemingly open ended questions, you make a better impression with specific example from your experience that play into the answer. 17\
This is a meta-pattern (!) actually.
Almost no interview question is a narrow, yes-or-no one. Even if they're worded like ones. Use your prep to be specific, dig into your memory, and tell a good story about what was asked. You'll never miss the mark. 🙃 18\
Almost no interview question is a narrow, yes-or-no one. Even if they're worded like ones. Use your prep to be specific, dig into your memory, and tell a good story about what was asked. You'll never miss the mark. 🙃 18\
Interview patterns (6): being put on the spot.
"Tell me a flaw of yours", "Tell me about a failure of yours", ecc.
You might be reluctant to answer these, you might genuinely struggle to find something to talk about because your brain is in Superstar Mode. Try not to. 19\
"Tell me a flaw of yours", "Tell me about a failure of yours", ecc.
You might be reluctant to answer these, you might genuinely struggle to find something to talk about because your brain is in Superstar Mode. Try not to. 19\
Be specific. Contextualise. Talk about how you're getting better.
Don't mention something that disqualifies you. Be as specific as you can and maybe include an anecdote. Finish by telling them how you're getting better or what you've learned from a specific experience. 20\
Don't mention something that disqualifies you. Be as specific as you can and maybe include an anecdote. Finish by telling them how you're getting better or what you've learned from a specific experience. 20\
Interview patterns (bonus): everyone has seen this talk.
Watch it. If you're a bit cheeky, don't mention you've seen it when they drop the "Rock-Paper-Scissors" question.😂 21\
Watch it. If you're a bit cheeky, don't mention you've seen it when they drop the "Rock-Paper-Scissors" question.😂 21\
Interviews go both ways (1): always remember that you're interviewing them too.
The way you feel in an interview with both soon-to-be colleagues and HR is a (imperfect) indicator of how you'll feel in the office! 22\
The way you feel in an interview with both soon-to-be colleagues and HR is a (imperfect) indicator of how you'll feel in the office! 22\
Three times it happened to me that someone who was interviewing me said things like: "I'm not building up to anything", "I'm looking at your CV now for the first time", "I don't have anything prepared, I trust who talked to you before".
Well, what am I here for then? 🙃 23\
Well, what am I here for then? 🙃 23\
How can I trust these people for my pay reviews?
To hear my problems should I have them?
To see when I deserve a promotion?
They clearly don't care, and unless you're desperate you shouldn't as well. 24\
To hear my problems should I have them?
To see when I deserve a promotion?
They clearly don't care, and unless you're desperate you shouldn't as well. 24\
Interviews go both ways (2): do ask questions.
Prepare them beforehand if necessary. Usually you get some time at the end to ask them, but if it feels natural do ask them in between. You have nothing to lose, and it's important you know this company shares your values. 25\
Prepare them beforehand if necessary. Usually you get some time at the end to ask them, but if it feels natural do ask them in between. You have nothing to lose, and it's important you know this company shares your values. 25\
There's little I can add, but I do want to share a particularly "successful" question.
Many recruiters suggested to me I ask: "Do you have any reservation about me?".
I eventually changed that to: "How would you define success in this role?" 26\
Many recruiters suggested to me I ask: "Do you have any reservation about me?".
I eventually changed that to: "How would you define success in this role?" 26\
With the first question, interviewers got defensive and gave me vague answers. With the second, they got straight to the point and told me what they really were looking for.
That was a perfect chance for me to argue I could be successful. 27\
That was a perfect chance for me to argue I could be successful. 27\
Cultural fit (1): a growing number of companies is putting an accent to finding the right cultural fit. I have nothing but praise for these initiatives. The idea is that while you are great for the job, you might struggle to integrate or negatively influence the atmosphere. 28\
It helps both you to know that they have a positive culture and them to hire people who will keep that culture positive!
For some companies this is a couple of questions here and there, for others it's the topic of entire interview stages. 29\
For some companies this is a couple of questions here and there, for others it's the topic of entire interview stages. 29\
Cultural fit (2): these are "nice chat" situations and not "being scrutinised" ones. The switch might be uncomfortable and take time.
Especially when interviews go on for several hours, do take small break in between. You don't want exhaustion to add to the challenges. 30\
Especially when interviews go on for several hours, do take small break in between. You don't want exhaustion to add to the challenges. 30\
Cultural fit (3): above all, remember that these are not a judgement of you as a person.
Teams can have wildly different vibes, and you (and them) want to make sure you fit right in, or even better add something to it. Not the contrary. It still goes both ways. 31\
Teams can have wildly different vibes, and you (and them) want to make sure you fit right in, or even better add something to it. Not the contrary. It still goes both ways. 31\
Negotiations (1): congratulations! You made it! Now don't underestimate this part. This is the time you have the most negotiation power with this company.
They know they want you, and you need to make it worthwhile for you. 32\
They know they want you, and you need to make it worthwhile for you. 32\
Remember that salary isn't the full picture. It needs to go hand in hand with cost of living, for example. Then there's benefits, bonus schemes, profit shares, stock options, relocation and welcome bonuses… you REALLY should have an idea of what would make you accept. 33\
Negotiations (2): be honest at all times.
However, it's okay to not want to answer some questions at different stages. I personally don't disclose my current salary until I'm speaking to the talent recruiter, and even then I usually give a range and not a precise figure. 34\
However, it's okay to not want to answer some questions at different stages. I personally don't disclose my current salary until I'm speaking to the talent recruiter, and even then I usually give a range and not a precise figure. 34\
Negotiations (3): the tough questions.
You might be asked if you're talking to other companies, your priorities in these companies, your current salary, why are you looking to leave… These questions are usually not designed to discomfort you or gain leverage (but...) 35\
You might be asked if you're talking to other companies, your priorities in these companies, your current salary, why are you looking to leave… These questions are usually not designed to discomfort you or gain leverage (but...) 35\
If you don't want to answer these questions directly, what I can suggest is to provide the information they're really after. What is the range you're looking for? The timeframe you're willing to wait? Why did you talk to them in the first place? 36\
I am honestly not sure of the perfect course of action to get the best deal every time. But if you know what you're looking for, if you're being honest and clear in your intentions, you have the potential of walking away from the negotiation satisfied. 37\
Negotiations (fin): unless you're desperate, don't be afraid of sending back an underwhelming offer.
Be polite, and explain what would make you accept in full, rather than serialise your requests. Arrange another call if you can't bear the stress of waiting for an reply. 38\
Be polite, and explain what would make you accept in full, rather than serialise your requests. Arrange another call if you can't bear the stress of waiting for an reply. 38\
I interviewed for a globally famous company, currently developing a very high profile game. I had done my research and I knew what I needed. Come the offer and… it's almost lower than I currently make. So I refuse straight away without even space for negotiations. 39\
One of their internal recruiters calls me first thing in the morning, telling me they have a history of lowballing people given their fame. They then proceed to offer me a **19** % increase in salary, making it very competitive. Still, I had already set my mind elsewhere. 40\
This is a wrap! If you read all the way here, thank you!
Feel free to ask any questions you might have or share your experiences! There's more I'd wish to say but that's for other threads :) 41\
Feel free to ask any questions you might have or share your experiences! There's more I'd wish to say but that's for other threads :) 41\
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