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Turning your passion into a profession is the ultimate in life goals, but gaming is a competitive space with lots of exemplary talent on offer. Making yourself standout from the crowd is essential if you want to really make a difference and use your creativity and talent to bring your ideas to life. Here are some tips on how you can get started on your career in the gaming space.

Find Your Niche

When you first decide that a career in gaming is for you, you’ll need to identify your skills and figure out where you want to end up. You could feel that game development, content creation, visual development, programming or even sales is for you, but even then, there are so many different sectors to consider. From software and platform type through to content genre and style, there are lots of different niches you can specialise in, or you could take a more versatile approach. Whatever path you choose, you need to make sure that you have narrowed down your field of interest before you start.

Learn More About The Skills You’ll Need

Even if you have a strong background in gaming and good technical knowledge, there will be areas that you need to focus on in order to get ahead in the professional gaming space. Speak with developers in your chosen sector, as well as the heads of companies that you would potentially like to work for, to find out more about what skills they look for when hiring and how they keep on top of emerging developments in the gaming market. After all, being a technology driven industry, gaming is subject to regular changes, including software updates, fluctuating trends and new releases and updates from major technology providers. Make sure you learn as much as you can from mentors in the industry and apply this knowledge to help you get ahead.

Explore The Qualifications Your Dream Career Requires

Different careers require different qualifications, so make sure you find out what you need and how you can get it before you start applying. You may already have the appropriate qualifications, or you may need to return to education for a while in order to obtain them. Make sure you look at the job adverts for the roles you would like and see what qualifications and experience prospective employers are looking for. Once you know what qualifications you need, find a trusted education provider with respected courses and research how long it will take and how much it will cost.

Get a Good Teacher

Even if you don’t need qualifications for your ideal role, getting professional tuition is vital to getting your career off to the perfect start. You might think you know everything there is to know about gaming, but you need to understand how to convert this knowledge into real commercial success, and for that you need a great teacher. Finding someone that can adapt to your learning methods and really made a difference can be a challenge, so try sites such as Superprof, which have a selection of gaming tutors for you to choose from. Working with a supportive teacher who understands your goals and how you can achieve them will help you to get ahead of other candidates. Also, these teachers understand the gaming market in a way that a new entrant doesn’t, so they can teach you the tricks that will help you to get ahead.

Look Into Unpaid Internships

Unpaid work may sound unnecessary, but for many it can be a great way to enter the gaming industry. You can gain contacts, insight and understanding that you couldn’t find elsewhere. In return for your time and effort companies will invest their expertise and the time and support of their experienced staff so that you can gain first-hand expertise. As a result of your unpaid role you may be offered a job in the future, although make sure you do not rely on this and are constantly being proactive and exploring the other ways in which you can excel in the gaming market and really make a name for yourself.

Invest In The Latest Technology

I’m sure you don’t need much encouragement, but it’s important to make sure that you have the latest gaming technology so that you sound current when applying for new jobs. You should also be networking in the industry so that you are constantly able to adapt to the latest updates and developments. A thorough understanding of what gamers are looking for is crucial to any career in gaming, so being an avid gamer is a must. This can be an expensive hobby, but it will pay off in the long-term for those looking for a career in gaming.

Stay Up To Date

Keep yourself informed of the latest developments in the gaming space by reading sites such as ours, as well as signing up to news alerts and newsletters from some of the world’s most popular games providers. Many manufactures and video game development specialists, such as Nintendo, PlayStation and Steam host blogs that will ensure you know about the latest releases and insights first. Staying ahead of the market is crucial to sounding professional and passionate during your interviews.

Do Your Research Before Your Apply

When you’re applying for roles, do your research to find out more about each company that has a vacancy. With entry-level jobs, you will want to stay there for a while to really learn the ropes, so make sure you find a company that will invest time, money and effort into your development. Research the company culture, as well as its product offering and processes, so that you know that you are applying to the right business. Sites such as Glassdoor and Indeed offer you the chance to read reviews on companies before you apply, making the process much easier.

Check That The Role Is Suitable

As mentioned before, there are many different niches in the gaming market, and as such you need to make sure that you are applying to the right roles so that you do not end up wasting your valuable time in roles that aren’t right for you, or attending interviews for jobs you have no chance of being offered. Make sure that you understand exactly what it is the company is looking for, and if in doubt contact them for clarification.

Come Prepared With A List Of Questions

Some information will be impossible to research, so make sure you know what to look out for when you eventually get an interview. Read the job description and compile a set of questions to ask your interviewer. Find out more about the investment they will make in your career and what they expect in return. Remember to think practically and ask not only about the role, but also the amenities and facilities on offer including parking, flexible working hours and training. Salary is also a key consideration, and whilst it should not be your top priority, make sure that you are entering into a workplace with a strong focus on personal development that will reward you for enhancing your skillset and growing as an employee.

So if you’re looking to make your mark in the gaming industry, these tips should help you and give you the grounding you need to lift your career off the ground.

 

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