EP6: Community Stories

In this episode, we chat with Wargaming's Global Head of Early Careers, Callum Bridgmount-John. Callum leads the Early Careers Program (formerly known as Wargaming Forge), which assists job seekers of all stripes. From entry-level internships to online courses designed to level up your knowledge, Wargaming's Early Careers program is something all job seekers should be aware of. Callum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callum-bridgmount-john-b1244485/Wargaming Forge/Early Careers Program: https://wgforge.wargaming.com/Check out http://gameindustryjobhunt.com for more episodes and resources!Follow the show on social!LinkedInYouTubeConnect with Joe on LinkedIn! Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Headshot by Kyle Gaddo

In this episode, I'm chatting with recruiter extraordinaire Anna Moss. Anna has held a wide range of recruiting and consulting roles in the video game and tech industries over her career. I talk to her about recruiting ethics, how she created her "#AnnaMosity" content, which exposes the "tips and tricks" that some recruiters may use, and maybe most notably, how she went through the recruiting process with The Church of Scientology to see what kinds of things she could learn. Anna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethicalrecruiter/Check out http://gameindustryjobhunt.com for more episodes and resources!Follow the show on social!LinkedInYouTubeConnect with Joe on LinkedIn! Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Headshot by Kyle Gaddo

In this episode of the show, we're hearing from Charlie and Lawrence, two members of our growing community who came on to share their stories with us!Want to share your story on an upcoming episode? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/JxMG7oe7FAWWR7Gv6Check out http://gameindustryjobhunt.com for more episodes and resources!Follow the show on social!LinkedInYouTubeConnect with Joe on LinkedIn! Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Headshot by Kyle Gaddo

In episode 10 of the Game Industry Job Hunt podcast, we're hearing from gaming industry career coach and former Head of SEA Esports at Riot Games, Chris Tran. Not only is Chris full of great advice for every job hunter, but he also has a pretty awesome origin story. The current job market in the games industry can be scary, but scary is all relative. Chris went from the world of advertising to hiking in the mountains of Nepal, getting caught in an earthquake, and just trying to survive. After going through so much, Chris realized he needed to follow his dream of working in video games, which led him to Riot Games. After leading Riot's SEA Esports efforts for nearly 6 years, Chris found his way into coaching and has been helping job seekers in the games industry ever since. LinksChris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisltran/Chris's Website: https://www.christran.gg/Check out http://gameindustryjobhunt.com for more episodes and resources!Follow the show on social!LinkedInYouTubeConnect with Joe on LinkedIn! Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Headshot by Kyle Gaddo

In this episode of the show, I'm chatting with Hilary Goldstein to get his insights as someone who's been a hiring manager many times in his career. Not only does he give us some super useful intel on what hiring managers may be looking for, but he also offers some great general tips on networking (and making it count), the importance of asking good questions in an interview yourself (and how to do so creatively), and even a couple of past interview stories. LinksHilary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilarygoldstein/Check out http://gameindustryjobhunt.com for more episodes and resources!Follow the show on social!LinkedInYouTubeConnect with Joe on LinkedIn! Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Headshot by Kyle Gaddo

In this episode, I'm flying solo and we're talking about AI and the part it plays in the job hunt. We go over some the challenges AI presents, like ATSs (applicant tracking systems) and the fact that it can make it harder to stand out in the crowd, as well as a few tips to help you use AI to your advantage. LinksHuntr: https://huntr.co/Check out http://gameindustryjobhunt.com for more episodes and resources!Follow the show on social!LinkedInYouTubeConnect with Joe on LinkedIn! Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Headshot by Kyle Gaddo

In this episode of the Game Industry Job Hunt podcast, we dive deep into the challenges and experiences of entry-level job seekers in the gaming industry. I had the pleasure of speaking with Conor Ross, an aspiring community manager, social media manager, and producer who is currently navigating the job market while finishing his degree at Virginia Tech. Conor offers some great insights that will be useful for anyone looking to break into the games industry. LinksThe Conor Collection on YouTubeConor on LinkedInTimestamps00:00:00 - Introduction to Game Industry Job Hunt00:00:32 - Guest Introduction: Connor Ross00:01:40 - Connor's Background and Journey to Games00:02:38 - Transitioning from Military to College00:03:20 - Discovering Community Management00:04:36 - Starting the YouTube Channel and Interviews00:05:59 - The Importance of Taking Action00:06:42 - Challenges in the Job Search00:07:18 - Applying for Jobs and Networking00:08:54 - Reaching Out to Recruiters00:10:20 - Persistence in Job Hunting00:11:26 - Value of Transferable Skills00:12:45 - Using LinkedIn Effectively00:14:30 - Creating Content and Building Community00:15:49 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome00:20:00 - Building Confidence in Interviews00:22:52 - The Role of Passion in Job Applications00:25:38 - Impatience as a Motivator00:27:15 - Lessons Learned from Job Hunting00:29:35 - Final Thoughts and Advice00:32:16 - Where to Find Connor's Work00:33:10 - Closing RemarksCheck out http://gameindustryjobhunt.com for more episodes and resources!Follow the show on social!LinkedInYouTubeConnect with Joe on LinkedIn! Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Headshot by Kyle Gaddo

In this episode of the show, we're hearing from two of our listeners -- Kai and Kevin -- as they share their stories with us. Not only that, they're also sharing invaluable insights and learnings that have come from their time on the hunt. Links:Amir Satvat's Discord CommunityCheck out http://gameindustryjobhunt.com for more episodes and resources!Follow the show on social!LinkedInYouTubeConnect with Joe on LinkedIn! Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Headshot by Kyle Gaddo

In episode 5 of the Game Industry Job Hunt podcast, I sit down with career coach Adam Hobbs, the CEO of GamingCareers.gg. With over a decade of experience in the gaming and esports industries, Adam shares invaluable insights into optimizing your job search and navigating career transitions.Looking to enhance your job search in the gaming industry? You've come to the right place. Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your career, Adam's insights will help you navigate the complexities of the job market with confidence.Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth GodinAdam on LinkedIngamingcareers.ggTimestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction to Job Search Tips00:00:32 - Meet Adam Hobbs, Career Coach00:02:15 - Adam's Journey into Career Coaching00:05:20 - The Importance of Selling Yourself00:06:29 - The Five N's of Job Searching00:10:11 - Niche: Specialization in Your Career00:11:45 - Networking: Building Relationships00:12:45 - Nurturing Existing Connections00:14:30 - Never Stop Learning00:15:52 - New Ideas: Staying Competitive00:18:02 - The Value of In-Person Networking00:19:34 - Strategies for Networking Events00:21:13 - Finding Meaningful Connections00:23:08 - Breaking into the Games Industry00:24:50 - Creating a Job Search Strategy00:27:15 - The Three Levels of Career Development00:30:03 - The Importance of Focused Applications00:31:09 - Staying in Action, Not Results00:32:22 - Transitioning from Other Industries00:37:15 - Soft Skills for Success in Gaming00:41:15 - Crafting Resumes and PortfoliosCheck out http://gameindustryjobhunt.com for more episodes and resources!Follow the show on social!LinkedInYouTubeConnect with Joe on LinkedIn! Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Headshot by Kyle Gaddo

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Christina Drake, recruiter at Ghost Punch Games, public speaker, and founder of Moms and Gaming. Christina brings nearly a decade of experience in the gaming industry, making her a leading voice in job hunting strategies, especially for women in gaming.This episode is packed with actionable insights and personal anecdotes that will be useful to anyone navigating the job market, especially in the gaming industry. If you found some value in this episode, please share it with a friend and leave a review and help us grow the community!Christina on LinkedInTimestamps00:00:00 - Introduction to Christina Drake00:01:05 - Time Management Strategies00:02:14 - Balancing ADHD and OCD in Daily Life00:04:18 - Christina's Career Journey00:07:29 - Networking and Job Search Strategies00:08:08 - Tracking Job Search Data00:12:39 - The Importance of Networking00:17:00 - Identifying Job Scams00:24:51 - Common Job Hunting Mistakes00:27:08 - Final Advice for Job Seekers00:29:45 - Conclusion and ResourcesCheck out http://gameindustryjobhunt.com for more episodes and resources!Follow the show on social!LinkedInYouTubeConnect with Joe on LinkedIn! Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Headshot by Kyle Gaddo