Crafting a resume or CV for a game design career requires a unique approach. This article guides you through the process, offering practical advice and real examples. You’ll learn what to include, how to highlight your skills and experience, and how to tailor your application for the game industry. Whether you’re starting out or looking to advance, these tips will help you create a standout CV/resume that catches the eye of game development studios.
Contents
Read The Job Description / Advert
The first step is, of course, to read the job description. We need to know what the firm is looking for so that we can properly highlight these characteristics in our CV. So read back over the job description and try to pinpoint the important points. A lot of times a firm will call things “required”; if you see this, you need to make sure you include that in your CV. Similarly, if certain things are repeated throughout the advert, this indicates they are of high importance, so we will want to make sure our CV shows that as well.
When performing this analysis, take care to copy the ‘exact’ words and phrases that are being used by the hiring manager. We will want to pepper these into our CV later.
Game Designer Job Description Example
Game Designer Position Available
About Us: Join our dynamic team where creativity meets technology in the exciting world of video game development. We are a forward-thinking studio dedicated to crafting memorable gaming experiences. We value innovation, collaboration, and the unique contributions of each team member.
Job Description: We are seeking a talented Game Designer to bring fresh ideas and passion to our development team. The successful candidate will be instrumental in shaping the gameplay experience, creating engaging mechanics, and ensuring that our games are both fun and challenging.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with the team to conceptualize new game ideas.
- Design engaging and innovative game mechanics.
- Create detailed design documents, including game rules, mechanics, and interfaces.
- Work closely with artists and programmers to bring your designs to life.
- Test game concepts and iterate based on team feedback.
- Keep up to date with gaming trends to ensure our games remain relevant and competitive.
- Participate in brainstorming sessions and contribute creative ideas.
- Analyze player feedback to refine game experiences.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Game Design, Computer Science, or related field.
- Proven experience in game design, with a portfolio of work.
- Strong understanding of game mechanics and game balancing.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think outside the box.
- Familiarity with game development software and tools.
- Passion for gaming and an understanding of different game genres.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with level design and scripting.
- Familiarity with 3D modeling software.
- Knowledge of programming languages such as C++ or Python.
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package.
- A creative and inclusive workplace.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- A chance to work on exciting and innovative projects.
Join Us: If you are passionate about game design and eager to contribute to the creation of amazing gaming experiences, we would love to hear from you. This is an opportunity to grow your career and work alongside a talented and dedicated team in the world of game development.
Research The Company
Time to put on your detective hat and do some research on your target company. Look at their website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. You are looking for any piece of intel that will give you the leg up.
- Find out about recent work/projects they have undertaken or will be embarking on (highlight your experience in these areas on your CV)
- Find out what software/processes they use and make sure you include your proficiency in them in your CV
- Learn what interview questions you might expect should you make it that far
See if you know anyone who works there and/or connect (LinkedIn) with people ahead of the interview. A little nepotism could never hurt, and you might be able to glean more information about the role/hiring process in the meantime.
Find A Good CV Template
When selecting a CV template, it’s essential to opt for a simple design and structure. Not only are straightforward layouts more compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), but they also make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly identify and understand key details. A clutter-free and organized CV ensures that your most important information stands out, facilitating a smoother review process for potential employers.
This is the CV template that we recommend (click here)
Write 2 Or 3 Bullet Points As A ‘Professional Summary’
A handy approach is to craft three sentences: the first highlighting your qualifications and experience, the second showcasing your biggest professional achievement, and the third detailing your most recent experience.
Game Designer Professional Summary Example
- With over 5 years of experience in the gaming industry, holding a Master’s in Game Design and a rich portfolio in developing RPG and action-adventure titles; proficient in using Unity and Unreal Engine, and skilled in narrative design, level creation, and gameplay mechanics optimization.
- Spearheaded the design of the award-winning mobile game “Legends of Lore,” which achieved over 2 million downloads in its first year; responsible for conceptualizing the game’s unique puzzle-solving mechanics and leading the cross-functional team through the development lifecycle.
- Recently focused on designing immersive VR experiences, utilizing Unity 3D and C# scripting to create engaging, interactive environments; collaborated closely with artists and programmers on “Virtual Quest,” a VR adventure game praised for its innovative use of virtual reality technology to enhance storytelling.
Detail Your Employment History
Begin by listing your employment history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. This allows potential employers to see your recent experience upfront, which holds greater value. Keep in mind that brevity is key.
As you go further back in time, reduce the level of detail to ensure your CV doesn’t exceed two pages. Employers are less likely to read lengthy CVs.
When writing about your responsibilities on your CV, focus on how you’ve excelled in your role as a Game Designer. Don’t just mention your duties; instead, highlight your successes. For example, instead of simply stating “Designed game levels,” you could say “Crafted 10+ engaging and challenging game levels for ‘Adventure Quest’, leading to a 30% increase in player engagement.” This way, you’re not only telling potential employers what you did, but also showcasing the positive impact of your work and your expertise in creating compelling game content.
Detail Your Education History
Keep your CV concise, aiming for a two-page limit. The education section can often be streamlined.
Highlight the most relevant qualifications. For instance, if you have a degree, your A-levels become less significant. Similarly, if you’re in the U.S., having an MBA overshadows your high school GPA.
Unless an older educational milestone is crucial for the job or highly pertinent, focus on showcasing your Bachelor’s degree, post-graduate studies, or professional certifications. If you lack these, mention your latest qualifications. Remember, having a Master’s suggests you’ve finished school, so no need to state the obvious. Only include your educational background if it’s pertinent to the job.
CV Structure
Tactically structure your CV to the ‘most wanted’ attributes of the job description. For example, if the job description values “qualified”, then place your qualifications first; if they want someone with RECENT experience, put your last job up top. If they want multiple years of experience, highlight your tenure.
We always recommend that you have a Professional Summary up top (after your name/contact info), as it will be the first thing that anyone reads. As discussed earlier, this should be tailored towards the job advert and showcase your experience and skills in what the employer is looking for.
A fairly typical structure would go:
- Name and contact info
- Professional Summary
- Current (or most recent employment)
- Education & Professional Qualifications
- Employment History
WHAT NOT TO DO
Now that we’ve discussed what you should be including in your CV, let’s look at some things that you should avoid doing.
- Do not include personal history or likes. Employers are not going to care about your hobbies, so unless you have some inside information that the hiring manager only hires people who play a particular sport, for example, then leave your extracurricular activities off your CV. This does not extend to things like volunteer or charity work. Definitely include that if you have the space.
- Do not list your skillset and the tools/applications you have experience with. It takes up valuable space and is often obvious (Skilled in Excel…?). Instead, include these in your achievements section (Example: “Used Asana to manage and coordinate tasks for a remote team of 25 members”).
- Do not include references or “references available on request”. If employers want a reference, they will ask you for them; otherwise, this is just wasted space on your CV.
- Do not include a photo of yourself unless specifically asked. In many countries, including the UK and US, you should not include a photo of yourself on your CV/resume. Companies don’t want you to do it, as it opens them up to liability, and there is absolutely nothing for you to gain by doing so – plus, you are making it easier for firms to discriminate against you, either implicitly or explicitly.
- Do not use any fancy graphic or artistic CV format. Most CVs come in a standard format, allowing Application Tracking Software, recruiters and hiring managers to easily pick out the key pieces of information they need quickly based on their experience. If you throw them a CV in an artistic format, they are more likely to get annoyed and throw your application away. This is not a situation where standing out is good. You want your skills/experience to be noted, not your CV format.
- Do not include your previous salaries. This will severely impact your negotiation abilities down the line.
Game Designer CV Tips – Recap
Let’s recap what we’ve discussed so far:
Tailor Your CV to the Game Industry
Ensure your CV speaks directly to the gaming world. Highlight skills and experiences that are most relevant to game design, like creativity, teamwork, and technical knowledge.
Showcase Your Portfolio
Include a link to your online portfolio. Make it easy for employers to see your best work, like game designs, level designs, or any projects you’ve worked on.
Highlight Technical Skills
Mention the software and tools you’re proficient in, such as Unity, Unreal Engine, or 3D modeling tools. These are crucial in game design.
Detail Your Projects
For each project or role, explain what you contributed. Did you design levels? Work on character development? Script game mechanics? Be specific.
Include Relevant Education
List your degrees, especially if they’re in game design, computer science, or a related field. Relevant courses or certifications can also be included.
Show Your Passion for Gaming
? Mention games that inspire you or gaming communities you’re part of. This can demonstrate your genuine interest in the industry.
Keep It Concise
Don’t overload your CV with unnecessary information. Keep it to the point and relevant to the game design role.
Proofread Thoroughly
? Make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors. A well-written CV reflects your attention to detail, an important trait for a game designer.
Game Designer CV Sample
Below is an example CV from someone with a number of years experience in the field. For an editable .DOCX version, click here.
