Hello Everyone,

I've been working my way through the FAQ and there is one thing I have seen that raises a question for me. On Tom's site he mentions several times that you need to go where the jobs are. I fully understand this aspect of getting a job long term but would like to know if it applies to internships as well.

I live (and attend college) in a state which has a very small professional game development community (two small developers who do not hire interns normally). I am applying for internships all over the country with the closest being about 300 miles away due to availability.

Will this affect have a negative my internship search? If so is there anything I can do to help negate any concerns potential employers may have?

I am more than willing to pay for my own relocation for the summer but at the moment (due to school) it is not possible for me to be "where the jobs are" in this case.

Thanks for the input!

Paid relocations are a generally rare thing in the industry, especially for entry-level and internship type positions. I've seen a few packages offered for more senior-level positions, but even then it seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

That said, being willing to pay your way will probably help you a lot. I don't know if there's a general trend or not, but I wouldn't expect it to be a major stumbling block for most employers provided that (A) you're footing the bill and (B) you're available on the timetable they want. I'd say just focus on making yourself as attractive of a candidate as you can, and the details should sort themselves out. (Just be up-front about your situation when filing applications and be sure to be clear that you're willing to move and pay for it yourself.)

Taun,
Since you can't move right now, all you can do is try to do it the way you're trying to do it. You can only do what you are able to do.
Give it your best shot, but know that it's going to be harder for you given the location, location, location factor.
You might not be able to get an internship, or maybe you can. All you can do is try (never mind that Yoda says trying isn't good enough). Plan to move in the future when moving is feasible.