CVs and applications

An application to a games studio is a small package: a portfolio link, a CV, often a cover letter, and the public profiles a recruiter will check. The portfolio does most of the work; the rest exists to get it opened and to answer the questions it cannot.

For artists, the portfolio matters most. Stig Strand of games recruiter Amiqus notes that artists and animators are judged mainly on their portfolios (MCV/DEVELOP: Top ten CV writing tips for game developers). Build that first (portfolios, planning a portfolio piece), then use this page to make sure nothing around it gets in the way.

#First readers and reading time

Assume a busy, non-specialist first reader. Skillsearch's Giles Fenwick advises writing as if the CV may first be read by HR staff or recruitment agencies without deep technical knowledge (Skillsearch: Writing the Ideal CV for the Games Industry). Lilia Gurova, talent sourcing director at Room 8 Studio, puts the time pressure plainly: "It takes them a few seconds to make a decision on you" (Women in Games: Levelling Up Your Professional Profile: Top…). The Level Design Book suggests imagining "a bored manager scrolling through your e-mails" (The Level Design Book: Level Design Portfolio).

#The CV

Structure. Gurova's order: name and role, then contact details, career summary, experience, skills and education; keep colours and highlighting restrained (Women in Games: Levelling Up Your Professional Profile: Top…). The Level Design Book adds "say what you are at the top" and include your portfolio link and target role (The Level Design Book: Level Design Portfolio).

Experience. Strand recommends reverse chronological order, the most detail on recent and relevant roles, and explained gaps: "Don't leave unexplained dates" (MCV/DEVELOP: Top ten CV writing tips for game developers). For each project, Fenwick asks for your responsibilities and the software you used (Skillsearch: Writing the Ideal CV for the Games Industry). Only list games where you had a key role, and be exact about what you did: "Never lie on an application!" (MCV/DEVELOP: Top ten CV writing tips for game developers).

Skills. "Only list software you have truly mastered" (Women in Games: Levelling Up Your Professional Profile: Top…). Fenwick suggests a star rating or a table to make software skills easy to scan (Skillsearch: Writing the Ideal CV for the Games Industry).

Education. Strand says to include education and grades whatever your seniority (MCV/DEVELOP: Top ten CV writing tips for game developers).

Format. Riot's application guide: "PDFs are your ally!" (Riot Games Internship Study Guide Vol. 2…).

#The cover letter

Not every studio asks for one; studios that do ask will read it. The games job board Hitmarker suggests making it "the first page in a two (or three) page PDF document", matching the CV's style (Hitmarker: Write an awesome esports & gaming cover letter).

• Open with the role and the studio, not a flat sentence about where you saw the advert (Hitmarker: Write an awesome esports & gaming cover letter).
• Answer the top three requirements in the listing, since those usually matter most to the employer (Hitmarker: Write an awesome esports & gaming cover letter).
• Show research. PocketGamer.biz summarises Olga Novikova's advice on "why it's important to do your research and show off your knowledge in the industry and profession" (PocketGamer.biz: How to get a job in games: Crafting the…). Strand wants a personal statement specific to the studio that says "what you have achieved" (MCV/DEVELOP: Top ten CV writing tips for game developers).
• Do not copy and paste. Hitmarker warns that "hiring managers can spot duplicated cover letters at a hundred yards!" (Hitmarker: Write an awesome esports & gaming cover letter).
• Avoid "To whom it may concern" and overconfident lines such as "I can't wait to be your next hire!" (Hitmarker: Write an awesome esports & gaming cover letter).
• Name the file properly, for example firstname_lastname_cover_letter, not "Cover Letter.pdf" (Hitmarker: Write an awesome esports & gaming cover letter).

#Your ArtStation profile

For 3D artists the portfolio usually lives on ArtStation (see portfolios), and its profile is part of the application.

• Headline. Gurova advises against witty names such as "'Art Ninja' or '3D Enthusiast'"; choose a title that "clearly showcases your expertise" (Women in Games: Levelling Up Your Professional Profile: Top…).
• About section. A short summary of your experience and focus, or what you are learning if you are starting out (Women in Games: Levelling Up Your Professional Profile: Top…).
• Project descriptions. What you did, the stages, the problems you solved: "The more details, the better" (Women in Games: Levelling Up Your Professional Profile: Top…).
• Stacked posts. Skillsearch's Jay McDougall likes that ArtStation "allows you to stack multiple images in each thread", and suggests game logos on the covers of shipped work (Skillsearch: Pyxel-Perfect Portfolios #2: Environment Art).
• Focus. "make sure that your profile represents what you spend your time doing" (Skillsearch: Pyxel-Perfect Portfolios #2: Environment Art).

#LinkedIn and other profiles

Recruiters will look you up. Strand: "Keep your CV and online profiles synchronised", and be mindful that employers may check social media for team fit (MCV/DEVELOP: Top ten CV writing tips for game developers). Fenwick asks you to link your LinkedIn profile from the CV and keep public social accounts employer-friendly (Skillsearch: Writing the Ideal CV for the Games Industry). Riot lists "linkedin/personal website" among the materials it asks applicants for (Riot Games Internship Study Guide Vol. 2…). Treat LinkedIn as a second copy of the CV's facts with a link to the portfolio, not as a portfolio in itself.

#Applying to a studio

1. Read the listing closely. A Sucker Punch listing for a staff environment artist asked for a "Portfolio of work demonstrating strong proficiency as an Environment Artist" and stated "A portfolio review is required" (Hitmarker: Staff Environment Artist). Strand advises reading each description before tailoring (MCV/DEVELOP: Top ten CV writing tips for game developers).
2. Apply only where you fit. Riot asks applicants to apply for roles that truly fit their interests and experience, not all of them (Riot Games Internship Study Guide Vol. 2…).
3. Tailor everything. "Tailoring your resume for the opportunity goes a long way!" (Riot Games Internship Study Guide Vol. 2…); Strand: "Tailor it to each application" (MCV/DEVELOP: Top ten CV writing tips for game developers).
4. Apply early. Riot reviews applications on a rolling basis (Riot Games Internship Study Guide Vol. 2…).
5. Check every link. Dead portfolio links "can be a reason to reject" (MCV/DEVELOP: Top ten CV writing tips for game developers). If the portfolio is private, include the password (Riot Games Internship Study Guide Vol. 2…; Women in Games: Levelling Up Your Professional Profile: Top…).
6. Get a second pair of eyes. Riot suggests a peer, mentor or career centre review your materials, and reminds you that a submitted résumé cannot be replaced (Riot Games Internship Study Guide Vol. 2…).
7. Answer quickly. A Riot intern's advice: "Be prompt with email responses in regards to scheduling interviews" (Riot Games Internship Study Guide Vol. 2…).

After the application may come an art test and interviews. For interviews, Riot recommends structuring answers with the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Results), reviewing the job description for examples you can talk about, and asking thoughtful questions (Riot Games Internship Study Guide Vol. 2…).

#Further reading and watching

• portfolios, art tests and demo reels and flythroughs: the rest of the application.