Quote: Original post by d000hg
It shows initiative. And when a job has like 100 applicants you have to stand out, maybe using non-standard means.

No you don't. You stand out by being best suited for the job and showing you understand how things work. Unusual fonts, coloured paper, video CVs (with or without ballroom dancing) and turning up unannounced and asking to see someone are all bad.

Sure, if you really are just passing then drop off your CV, ask who would deal with it, note the name and then leave. Use the knowledge you gained to follow up by phone - but don't interrupt their day. Sorry but as an entry level/intern you just are worth the disruption.

Quote: Original post by Jerax
That's pretty much how we hire people.

Internal transfers aren't something I've really seen happening in games companies. People move teams all the time as part of the normal course of things, so there's not really a need for a formal transfer process. If the company is very large and based in multiple locations (like say EA) there might be scope for moving people from office to office, but that's about all I could see happening.

Step 18 is interesting, as from what I've seen quite often you get there and there isn't anyone left. So rather than needing interviews to select amongst good candidates, you just weed all the bad candidates out right away and go look for more.

I agree on step 4 being easiest; we hire most people by personal reference.

Yes, that's what I see too, so steps 1-20 are rarely used in practice and are just a formality when noone already working there doesn't have someone in mind.

Quote: Original post by Driv3MeFar

Quote: Original post by d000hg
...and asking if anyone has a couple of minutes, you're happy to wait but only if it's not inconvenient isn't bad.

The problem is that (in my experience) companies won't give you an in-person interview just based on your resume/CV. If it looks acceptable, you will most likely be contacted via phone or email and given some sort of pre-interview test, and if that goes well probably a phone interview. I know I didn't get called in for an in person interview until I had completed both of these. Just randomly showing up at a company and asking for an interview seems rather brash, and I would certainly advice against it. Go through the established channels of communication for these things; they exist for a reason.

I've never had a a pre-interview test, or a phone interview. In all cases I submitted a CV and cover letter and then got interviews where I was given tests.

I don't know if it helps, but BioWare, Edmonton only searches for interns from college/university campuses. However, they have special programs there; which I guess gives the message of, "Going to post-secondary shows initiative...".

So I don't know how many internships you'll get with larger developers if you aren't already very much on your way to making that you career path.

Quote: Original post by frob
There are exactly two things that people want to know before hiring somebody:
1. Can they do the job well?
2. Will they fit in with our culture?

We look only for the very top people who must not only be clever but driven and passionate.

Quote: Original post by frob
>> Or hacking into their network and spiking it with a worm which makes popups saying "Hire <my name>"...

That is bad on so many levels.

You are saying "I'm willing to break the law", and "I don't care about company security", and "I have no respect for coworkers", and "I'm this annoying even before I'm hired, imagine how much more annoying I can be if I actually get to work here."

Sorry I missed my <sarcasm> tag. Should have thought that was obvious.

Quote: Original post by frob
Since a few people seem to not understand the process, I'll write it out:
[snip]

Not where I am. We are actively recruiting and this is being driven by the MD, because there aren't enough of us to do all the work we have access to.

Quote:
>> Turning up in person to drop off your CV

Probably Bad.

You are saying "I don't follow the rules and I will disrupt your workplace."

Not sure why you say dropping a CV in person is bad. Expecting an interview on-the-spot is bad. That's a different thing.

Quote:
Reason: There is an established procedure. You are disregarding the normal flow, creating extra work and a disturbance. Even McDonald's has online job applications. A fast food joint or janitor job might need to apply in person but software developers are expected to be smart enough to read and follow instructions.

Always following procedure is great for filing an expense report, but that's about it. I always hired / recommended people who were *not* thinking along pre-defined paths, who were creative in many ways, and who would bring something better to the existing culture. I don't believe you can evolve a company if you're stuck in a rigid cultural framework, and I found this to be especially true in industries driven by novelty and innovation.

-cb

I did 5 Weeks at Kuju (Godalming, UK Studio). Here is the process i went through:

1: Researched company.
2: Phoned the studio, asked to speak to HR (Made a note of the HR lady's name).
3: She asked me to send a CV by email.
4: After OK'ing the CV i was asked to send a portfolio. (I emailed a PDF/link to download).
5: I was invited for interview, taken around the studio and interviewed by a Lead Artist.
6: The Art Director wanted to meet me but was unavailible for the first interview. I returned for a second interview with the Art Director.
7: After the Art Director Ok'ed me, HR cleared a computer/work space with the Tech Guy's for me.
8: I had a great time and learnt alot!

Note: I must have sent around 30+ emails and made 4/5 phone calls to HR in the end. I strongly suggest calling the studio! None of the studio's i only emailed got back to me.

Good luck.

Quote: Original post by cbenoi1
Always following procedure is great for filing an expense report, but that's about it. I always hired / recommended people who were *not* thinking along pre-defined paths, who were creative in many ways, and who would bring something better to the existing culture. I don't believe you can evolve a company if you're stuck in a rigid cultural framework, and I found this to be especially true in industries driven by novelty and innovation.

Sorry, I think this misses the point: it's your work that should demonstrate your creativity. Those procedures are there to make it easier for the people in the studio to do their work. If you try to circumvent that process by showing up and asking for an interview, you're just getting in the way and risking pissing off the people who could hire you. It's inconsiderate.

Where I work, we have a lot of people applying. If they decided to just show up, it would be a major pain in the arse. And there's really no point in chatting with someone for a couple of minutes. The importance of good people on a team cannot be over-emphasised. So we take a lot of care in the people that we hire.

And, FWIW, our hiring process is pretty much what Frob outlined.

@OP: I got an internship by sending a CV and cover letter. I had an initial telephone interview with the lead programmer followed by an interview in front of the whole programming team. Normally, there's a C++ test for the applicant as well. However, make sure you check the companies website to see if they specify exactly how they'd like you to apply.

Good luck.

> showing up and asking for an interview

We both agree this is bad. Re-read my post.

> it's your work that should demonstrate your creativity.

Check this out: http://www.tropdimagination.ca

-cb

Quote: Original post by cbenoi1
> showing up and asking for an interview

We both agree this is bad. Re-read my post.

Yes you did. However, you also suggested that following a procedure establish by the studio showed a lack of creativity. I think that is wrong. I could have simply said, "no, you're wrong" but that's not terribly enlightening. I was explaining why I think it is wrong within the context of this thread, and my reply is not just to you but to the OP and anyone else reading the thread. As such I also wanted to emphasize that some of the advice presented by others here is dubious and certainly not an industry norm.

Quote: Original post by cbenoi1
Check this out: http://www.tropdimagination.ca

Why do you assume I speak French?

[Edited by - jjd on September 22, 2007 11:01:02 AM]