Today I was working on a resume that I hope that potential employers will consider and respect. I've read an article on writing a resume for getting a job in the game industry before, but I just wanted to ask you all if this is acceptable for a game dev resume.

Quote: Resume of John Doe Last updated Wednsday, November 29, 2006 I am currently seeking employment in the video game industry in the Seattle area. Currently, I am in the process of returning to the Seattle so that I may hopefully obtain a degree in Game Programming/Design. I am hoping that this will be a great opportunity to receive a great game education and gain real world experience in the video game industry. I reside in Indiana, but I am more than willing to travel to meet my job requirements. Also, I am not willing to fund long trips for inverviewing purposes simply because at the moment I can't afford it financially. I am a largely self-taught and self-motivated programmer. I have been into programming since 1989. During my high school years, I was always ahead of both the class and the teacher in my programming classes. Everyday, I strive improve my game development knowledge and skills. Languages/APIs I use frequently: C/C++, x86 assembly, HTML, Microsoft DirectX, SGI OpenGL, Creative Labs OpenAL Other languages/APIs I have experience in: Visual Basic, BASIC, &#106avascript, 3dfx Glide Other languages I'm in the process of learning: Twiki, GameMonkey script Software that I am experienced in MSVC++, Windows, DOS, Jasc PaintShop Pro, VirtualPC, various Microsoft SDKs Education history: Some college at Purdue North Central University Michigan City High School graduate Contact information: Home: (219) 555-9328 Cellular: (219) 555-0674 emai: blueshogun96@gmail.com<!--QUOTE--></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE><!--/QUOTE--><!--ENDQUOTE--> I've never been very good at writing resumes to be frank, but I was hoping that I could learn a thing or two from more experienced devs. Thanks.

Quote: Original post by blueshogun96
Resume of John Doe
Last updated Wednsday, November 29, 2006


I am currently seeking employment in the video game industry in the Seattle area. Currently, I am in the process of returning to the Seattle so that I may hopefully obtain a degree in Game Programming/Design.

Your resume just gained an HR person 3 points as they screwed it up and made an impressive drop shot into the waste paper basket from out side the area. No employer is going to hire someone who will almost immediately leave to spend the next four years doing a degree.

Quote: I am hoping that this will be a great opportunity to receive a great game education and gain real world experience in the video game industry.

As above this makes no sense. How are you intending to hold down a job in the games industry, while attending university. They are both full time undertakings.

Quote: I reside in Indiana, but I am more than willing to travel to meet my job requirements. Also, I am not willing to fund long trips for inverviewing purposes simply because at the moment I can't afford it financially.

Employers are very very unlikely to hire an out of state applicant for an entry level position. If you want to get a job in Seattle you will need to relocate to Seattle before applying. There are always more applicants for entry level jobs than there are jobs. Companies will almost always hire local applicants because there is less risk involved.

Quote: I am a largely self-taught and self-motivated programmer. I have been into programming since 1989.

1. If you have formal training in programming (such as a degree or recognised course) then state it. Otherwise it goes without saying that you are self-taught (and says little or nothing about the quality of that teaching).
2. the term "into programming" denotes an informal interest in programming (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dict.asp?Word=into). Employers don't care when you started thinking about becoming a programmer or when you decided that one day you might start.
3. Learning to programme is not the same as being a programmer - especially if you are self taught. An employer won't have any idea how much time per week you spent teaching yourself or the quality of that teaching. The only thing that would make this time of interest to an employer would be if you have some actual code - something that you have produced, which is of a relatively high quality.

Quote: During my high school years, I was always ahead of both the class and the teacher in my programming classes. Everyday, I strive improve my game development knowledge and skills.

Employers don't care what you do at high school. It has no place on a resume because it is only ever, at best, an introduction to a topic. From an education perspective employers are interested in degree level.
Employers also don't care how good you claim to be (especially compared to a bunch of other people they don't know) be it at high school or at any other point in your life. Can you provide some documentary evidence of this claimed superiority or some meaningful measure of you actual ability level? Can you provide some proof of the ability level of the people you say you were better than? It is all unmeasured and as such meaningless.

Conclusion
None of the above belongs on a resume and your purpose for creating this resume seems flawed. Why are you applying for jobs when you are actually intending to start a degree? This makes no sense.

Original post by Obscure

Quote: Original post by blueshogun96

Quote: I reside in Indiana, but I am more than willing to travel to meet my job requirements. Also, I am not willing to fund long trips for inverviewing purposes simply because at the moment I can't afford it financially.

Employers are very very unlikely to hire an out of state applicant for an entry level position. If you want to get a job in Seattle you will need to relocate to Seattle before applying. There are always more applicants for entry level jobs than there are jobs. Companies will almost always hire local applicants because there is less risk involved.

You would not be expected to pay for your travel expenses to fly out to an in-person interview, so get rid of the part saying you're unwilling to pay.

Also, not hiring from out-of-state is bogus - yes, companies would love to hire locally first, but that's only if there's a bunch of people locally looking for game development jobs. I work for a studio in the Seattle area and at least we have no problem moving people out once hired, entry level or not. Unfortunately there are a lot of job openings, so more junior people are being considered (well, that's good for you, heh). If you know your stuff, you can get a job, but your resume needs some work to make you sound a little more solid and clean-cut.

If you have no experience, that's fine - be clear about what experience and skills you DO have, and don't try to talk meaningless things up (like knowing "DOS") just to try and fill up space. Write down in a concise way what kinds of topics are second-nature to you - things that you would have no trouble being comfortable in a conversation about.

Don't say "some college at Purdue North Central University" - state the college, when you were there, what your GPA was, and anything you walked away earning.

I agree with Obscure about the degree thing - it would be pretty hard to maintain a full-time job while also trying to get your degree; I would suggest doing one or the other.

HTML is not a programming language, get it out of there.

From your resume it's not clear what kind of work you would be good at doing, or even what you would like to work on. In other words, by reading it I have no idea what you're good at, if anything.

topic 415303
topic 371687
topic 375376
topic 382726

There are many more, just type in search words like 'job' and 'resume', and filter out the many hits on resume (to continue) instead of resume (which should really be résumé).

Monster.com and many other job placement websites have great info on what makes a good resume. You should look at those prior to asking here. Don't make a mistake of thinking of "game industry" as some magical business unlike any other; it's a business. A good resume is a good resume, regardless of what job you're trying to get.

Quote:
A good resume is a good resume, regardless of what job you're trying to get.

There are a few minor differences, though. If you have any completed games as a hobby they should be listed.


Here is a critical, perhaps harsh, review of what the OP stated.

I do not care what languages you are using. I do not care about if you are unwilling to pay for interview trips --- which you should know are paid by the interviewing company. I do not care what you are planning on learning. I do not really care what school you attended. And I don't care about your "emai address"

I care what you have actually done with it.

"Languages/APIs I use frequently:
C/C++, x86 assembly, HTML, Microsoft DirectX, SGI OpenGL, Creative Labs OpenAL"

This means absolutely nothing to me. Or at least, the few things it does mean to me come across as negative.

First, C and C++ are different languages, there is no language called "C/C++". Developing in C uses fundamentally different thinking processes than developing in C++. Many C programmers use classes but they are writing C with classes, not C++. If I am responsible for interviewing you, I will grill you about what you did with the "C/C++ language", and you will not be comfortable during the process.

What did you do with C? I would rather see something like "Developed code for power switches on electric drills using C with ARM microcontrollers on ARMv4 chips."

Continuing on with some questions you should ask yourself:

What did you do with C++? What did you do with x86 assembly? Why did you learn it? Did you only study it in a book? If you did something, can you provide code examples and executables if I ask for details? Did you write little DMA transfers and mode 13h programming that was significant 13 years ago, or fixed function shaders, or something else? Why are you even mentioning HTML? Will your target job be working with HTML, perhaps you're planning on using the web browser in the Wii or something? What exactly did you do with DirectX? Did you do 3D programming, and if so, what? Did you use DirectDraw? Or DirectSound? Or DirectInput? What did you do with them? Do you have something finished and polished that I can glance at? If you have one and remind me at the interview, I'm more than willing to glance at it. Remember that DirectX is a suite of technologies, whereas Direct3D 9 is something very specific.

Anyway, carefully read the other posts I linked to above and you should see the pattern.

Quote: Why are you applying for jobs when you are actually intending to start a degree? This makes no sense.

Ok ok, I should have mentioned what I was actually applying for. There were some internship jobs on the Midway website that I was interested in. I know at this state I don't have a hope in heaven of getting a job like a senior AI programmer or another job of that nature. I am applying for these internships at Surreal Software Inc. in Seattle. I just thought it would be a great way to get some experience under my belt and expand my portfolio.

Production Intern
Technical Design Intern

I was hoping that I could find a job in Seattle so I won't have to worry about finding a job right after moving there, which is usually tough around that area. I know because I used to live there. As for the school part, I can always go either part time, or get it later I guess. There is a huge lack of support, interest, and motivation in Indiana, and that's one reason why I plan to leave here very soon. I was thinking that getting the job part out of the way first would be a good start.

And another thing, these are the only 2 job listings that I have ever seen for a game industry job that doesn't require X amount of years of experience in the game industry doing this or that. I was hoping that this would be a great way to get some experience.

As for providing examples of my work, I would like to set up a website for potential employers to see and download some samples of my work and read my resumes. I haven't gotten around to that yet, but first I need to find a decent host. I'm working on some technical demos right now and I hope to have a handfull done by the end of the month. And sorry I didn't tell you all what I was trying to apply for.

Quote: Original post by blueshogun96
And another thing, these are the only 2 job listings that I have ever seen for a game industry job that doesn't require X amount of years of experience in the game industry doing this or that. I was hoping that this would be a great way to get some experience.

The job posting is the ideal person, the applicant that we would love to see, who would only need one short interview rather than the typical two or three. Many candidates who actually come in for interviews range from mediocre to abysmal. The job posting is what we want for someone who is great, wonderful, or even perfect for the job. If you are the best fit for what they are looking for, that's all you need.

Apply to the jobs, the worst that will happen is that you will be ignored, which is really no worse off than not applying.

Quote: Original post by RDragon1
Also, not hiring from out-of-state is bogus - yes, companies would love to hire locally first, but that's only if there's a bunch of people locally looking for game development jobs. I work for a studio in the Seattle area and at least we have no problem moving people out once hired, entry level or not.

There may be more chances than usual due to the console transition (programmers in short supply) and there may be a greater shortage in Seattle than elsewhere. However in general, employers don't employ entry level staff who aren't local.

The following is from one of the job ads that the OP is applying for....

Quote: # Requirements: High school diploma or GED required.
# Fantastic written and verbal communication skills.
# Must be well organized and self-motivated.
# Twiki and/or basic HTML experience preferred.
# All candidates MUST be local to the Seattle area.

Midway Games Inc. is an equal opportunity employer in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.

Quote: Original post by Obscure
The following is from one of the job ads that the OP is applying for....

Quote: # All candidates MUST be local to the Seattle area.

Yeah, this makes sense for an internship... I'd bet you won't find this line on any / almost all of the non-internship positions.