Thread by @ajryangameaudio

Milestone today – 50 #gameaudio job rejections (in 2 years – screenshot from spreadsheet with the automated rejection counter)!

Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned and things I’ve observed, hopefully this can help people in similar positions!

Rejection – A Thread (1/18)

Any job application you’re not 100% “in” on, you probably shouldn’t bother applying. Some applications I’ve put in, I haven’t been convinced that even I would give myself the job – so someone else certainly won’t! (2/18)

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. It’s easy to just keep applying with the same material, but at points you must question whether what you’re applying with is reflective of your best work. (3/18)

Especially early-career, it’s probably not your best work unless very recent! I’ve revised my cover letters, refined/eventually replaced my show reel, changed the format of my resume (this week), made a website (still a work in progress!) and started on twitter/instagram. (4/18)

On showreels, instead of constantly trying to improve the same showreel you’ve had for a year, go and do a brand new one. Trust me, you will get better results much more quickly and pretty soon have a totally fresh reel which is *all* better than your first one. (5/18)

Your good application today is better than your best application next week. I’ve been caught out trying to come up with the most perfect, specific redesigns for a job, and by the time I apply, it’s too late. Start preparing *today* for that dream job posting *tomorrow* (6/18)

What’s not useful after rejection – anger, bitterness, giving up. For AAA roles, there can be 100s of applicants, so breaking through that initial stage is difficult. It doesn’t mean you’re no good, it just means there are others who better fit what they need at that time. (7/18)

Use rejection as motivation. Look at job reqts and be honest about where you’re falling short. Work on that. For “years of experience”, you can’t speed that up. For “x AAA titles released”, that’s also hard. But you can learn/get better at every skill-based reqt yourself. (8/18)

Show your reel to trusted peers/mentors for feedback, and play the kind of games you want to work on. Both will give you a good sense of where your sound design is compares to where it needs to be, and both will help you improve. (9/18)

#sounddesign is always somewhat subjective. You never know when your reel might end up in front of a sound designer who just likes your work when others don’t. And you never know who that will be, at which company, for which job. So keep working hard and keep applying! (10/18)

The lack of feedback at the initial rejection stage is understandable but can be frustrating. Was it lack of years in the game? Lack of credits? Poor resume/cover letter? Reel not up to scratch? No visa support? You may never know, but you will need to move on quickly. (11/18)

On visa support, as an Aussie ready to relocate anywhere, I appreciate the companies who make their stance clear. Nothing more frustrating than applying to a job you later find out you actually *couldn’t* have got. It’s not hard to make this clear during the app process! (12/18)

What you *can* know (if clever about it) is if people watch your reel at all! Positive mindset - If they do and you get rejected, it means you’re really not good enough yet so that is motivation to improve, and it’s great that you got your work in front of people at all. (13/18)

If they don’t watch it and you get rejected, then you’re not getting rejected because your work is not up to scratch, because they just don’t know! It’s all the other factors which can be more beyond your control, as previously discussed. (14/18)

A quick rejection is better than no rejection notice, or a drawn-out one! I’ve applied for a role on day 1 it goes up, and received an email 3 months later saying “the position was already filled when you applied”. Rejection can hurt, but honesty is always appreciated. (15/18)

Each rejection is 1 closer to an acceptance. Don’t give up! I’ve heard capable sound designers get down on themselves because of rejections. It’s a cutthroat business, but if you stick at it, keep working on yourself and keep applying, you will get there. It’s inevitable. (16/18)

If you find yourself wanting to give up, realise that that is the point where others may drop out, so you can be the one to keep going, and eventually you will be the one getting further in those application processes and ultimately, getting those offers. (17/18)

If anyone is still reading, and you’re a recruiter, audio lead or a sound designer involved in the hiring process, I would love to hear your thoughts around all of this and what I (or anyone) can do to have a better chance when applying for these jobs! (18/18)

My brother saw me typing all this and said "are you sure you want to publicise this?" haha! But I'm sure I'm not alone in my early game audio journey of rejections, especially for everyone aiming for AAA like I am! Hopefully someone can gain something from this! (bonus/18)