You're interviewing for a game development job. How much does your online presence matter?

Having different projects shows your commitment to game dev and growth. It also shows that you set a goal and you deliver it.

This is harder for producers that may be responsible for teams and sprints instead of owning feature development per se, so take it with a grain of salt, there are exceptions to every rule. However, overall, as someone in game dev your portfolio is your first and potentially *only* chance for someone to see previous work you’ve done- you must make it count. I have two tips for maintaining a relevant and effective portfolio. 1. Get fresh eyes Get someone you trust to look at it that’s in the industry (or not) and trust their objective opinion. They have nothing to gain by lying. 2. Copy what works If you see a port. And you love it? Copy the format. Long story short- if you don’t like looking at your portfolio- no one else will!

- **Pivotal Representation:** A game developer's portfolio is the pivotal element in online presence, crucial for professional visibility. - **Skill Demonstration:** It serves as a dynamic showcase of one's best work, skillset, and professional journey, providing potential employers or collaborators with valuable insights. - **Versatile Project Display:** Inclusion of diverse projects across genres, platforms, and engines exhibits adaptability and proficiency. - **In-depth Project Insights:** Each project entry with contextual details offers a holistic view, showcasing not just the outcome but the skills, challenges, and contributions made. - **User-Centric Focus:** User-friendly navigation and regular updates

I personally think that LinkedIn plays a huge role in getting a job in any tight knit community, especially game dev. We’re gamers, we’re online people and we like to engage, interact, and champion our own stories. Having an engaging, dynamic, and positive presence on LinkedIn can show someone snapshots of what it would be like to work with you. We may not like it, but we are judgmental beings. Always assessing the environment and others for opportunities or challenges. Working with people will naturally have its ups and downs as people change everyday. Showing folks your character and the way you handle adversity can be a way to start a conversation, form a relationship, and hopefully get you your next job.

Si las usas bien y están enfocadas en tus talentos serán de gran relevancia. Hoy tu presencia en línea dice mucho de ti, sobre todo redes como LinkedIn donde conocerás a muchos otros profesionales como tú. Sin embargo, si eres desarrollador o artístico, creo que tener reels y videos de Youtube mostrando tu trabajo de forma original es importante. Yo no tengo blog personal, pero es algo muy interesante si lo sabes usar bien, tu presencia en línea puedes ser muy escalable y puedes llegar muy lejos con constancia.

- **Strategic Online Presence:** Social media is a key tool for game developers to craft a distinctive online identity. - **Community Engagement:** Actively participate in developer networks, sharing work progress and seeking valuable feedback. - **Personal Expression:** Showcase passion, creativity, and personality to add a human touch and highlight genuine industry interest. - **Cautionary Posting:** Maintain professionalism by avoiding offensive or controversial content that could tarnish your reputation. - **Continuous Learning:** Social media serves as a dynamic platform for staying updated on industry trends, fostering learning, and connecting with a broader gaming community.

A blog sounds a bit outdated- but the point stands. Commit time to doing things that are proven to have a good return. When looking for a job, you’re always trying to find ways to show folks what it would be like to work with you. Adding credibility, establishing your view and perspective in front of others- through any means you deem appropriate, is a great way to do this!

Having your code available in Github (or another source control platform) is a great way to advertise yourself. It shows your progress, your interest and your capabilities as a programmer.

It comes down to the overall quality of your work. The better the quality, the more people like it, and talk about it. It doesn't matter if others have 15 projects and you only have 2 or 3. Sure, more projects perhaps indicate a certain level of consistency and dedication, but quantity comes at the cost of quality. Attention to detail is what's even more required. The interviewers, which usually involve a senior or lead member of the team you're to integrate if things go well will want to know you can identify quality differences and take the initiative to act accordingly. At least that would mean that they won't have to worry much about the quality you'll be putting out. Quality over quantity.

Sería bueno que por medio de tu presencia en línea hablé también de otros hobbies y talentos que tengas. Lees, estudias, te gusta el deporte o la música? Tenlo presente e integrarlo a tu gusto por la industria. Es muy bueno demostrar que sabes de tu arte y de tus pasiones.