Hi! I'm finishing my Master in Theoretical Physics in a few months and I've specialised in computer simulations. I had my first touch with programming when I was 13 but I've only been seriously programming and developing my skills the last two years. In my thesis I've been busy implementing collision detection algorithms and in my free time I have been working on graphics programming.

I always loved video games and wanted to be a game designer but for some reason I forgot, I didn't decide to go that path when I finished school. The last year I've been working on my Thesis has been really fun for me and I started thinking again about the possibility of breaking into the Game Industry.

My programming skills are not yet where I would want them to be, especially in OOP and I would have wanted to build a decent game engine before applying for a job but alas I don't have enough time to do that.

Nonetheless, I still want to give it a shot even if I have no chance. My question is what would you recommend I went about searching for a job in the Game Industry. I guess I would have to go for the smaller companies, which may also be lesser known. How would I search for these and what kind of position would you recommend I apply for?

I hope my question fits the standards of the forum. If you think more background information would be helpful in answering my question, please ask

How would I search for [smaller companies] and what kind of position would you recommend I apply for?

Your questions are in reverse order. First, figure out what job type appeals to you the most and suits your abilities the most. Make a decision grid. These are discussed in this forum's FAQ (go back out to the forum main page and look at upper right).
Then, after you've made a portfolio and rewritten your resume targeting your preferred job, research game companies in your area using gamedevmap and gameindustrymap.

These are discussed in this forum's FAQ (go back out to the forum main page and look at upper right).

Unfortunately the FAQ had slipped my attention :S

Then, after you've made a portfolio and rewritten your resume targeting your preferred job, research game companies in your area using gamedevmap and gameindustrymap.

Thanks for refering me to these two sites, they are a very helpful starting point.

Generally, I think I know what I would like to do but I don't think that would be a realistic goal for the near future.
Anyway, thanks for the reply!

Generally, I think I know what I would like to do but I don't think that would be a realistic goal for the near future.

You're right - it's not. But there are realistic entry paths, and you need to pick one. See the FAQ.