How To Get A Job In Games

Level up Recruiters from leading video game studios tell Tom May what they’re looking for in an artist

Want to work as an artist in video games? Then good news: the industry is booming and most studios are hiring. So how should you go about getting your dream job?

The first step is pretty straightforward: check out advertised jobs on your preferred company’s website. Right now, for example, British games studio Creative Assembly has five artist roles listed at www.creative-assembly.com/careers.

“We recruit in a wide range of fields,” explains Kevin McDowell, the art director for its Total War series. “These include concept art, concept design, UI design, character art, animation, rigging/tech animation, technical art, real-time VFX, environment art, cinematics, illustration and art management. And we will scan the globe to find the right people.”

But the ‘right people’ aren’t just talented artists. More importantly, they’re the perfect fit for the job. Which means it’s vital to familiarise yourself with the company’s games and tailor your portfolio precisely.

“Make sure it’s not a big leap for the hiring manager to see you working in their team,” stresses Johnny Taylor, who’s the director of visual development at social games giant King. “You’d be amazed at how many artists apply to work on a game like Farm Heroes Saga, but they have a hardcore AAA-style portfolio and little else.”

Instead, “each piece in your portfolio should be specifically designed to answer a question about your skill set,” says Kevin. “See it from the art director’s point of view. I’m looking for a very specific match between the role and your portfolio. For example, if I’m looking for a character artist I’ll want to see both male and female characters. But amazingly, some portfolios I see feature only men or only women.”