Hi guys, I'm soon applying for a game developer position. It's a job in C++ 2D programming, because I'm still in the process of learning about 3D programming. Here's my portfolio: www.michelcarroll.com Could people please comment on my portfolio's content, resume, qualifications, presentation, etc.. Be honest! Thank you

Before having a look at your portfolio, could you give a bit more information about the jobs you'll be applying for? What sector are they in? You mention it's a 2D only position so are you thinking of 2D games only or have you seen specific roles you are interested in that specifically mention 2D only?

Are you looking at the more 'traditional' game dev positions (like developing for the current crop of consoles) or are you looking at other areas like mobile phones, hand-helds etc.

When you say you are learning about 3D programming, I'm taking it to mean 3D graphics programming rather than 3D in general like maths, physics etc.

Just having this information will make any critique of your portfolio much more relevant.

Thanks

Most employers don't care about your website. The first (an probably only) thing they will look at is your resume or CV.

Always remember that employers are interested in exactly two things: First, can you do the job well? Second, will you fit in? Even if they don't know how to express it clearly, that's all they want to know. Make sure everything you write answers those two concerns.

So reviewing that document...

It is two pages, which is too long for a resume with your limited experience. You get an additional page per decade.

Your career goal should be one line long, if you have one at all. You are want a job as an "entry level game programmer". That's it. You can try to make it fancy or reword it, just make sure it is clear. REWRITE.

You are bilingual, but is that so important that it belongs on the second statement? You live in Quebec, so it isn't that rare of a thing. Probably CUT.

You are a Canadian citizen. Thanks for sharing. What does that have to do with applying for a job? CUT.

You have security clearance. While it may be nice to know you are trustworthy, game studios are not working on state secrets. Ubisoft Quebec and other major game developers in your area don't care about it. CUT.

Education says you attended some schools and got some awards. Tell WHAT you did that you feel relates to the games business, and tell HOW you did your most interesting projects. EXPAND, and see next section for an example.

Computer Skills. CUT! You aren't applying for a secretary, so nobody cares if you can run a mail merge, or understand Excel macros. You don't need to list the IDEs you are familiar with. Game programmers are rarely involved with databases, and you'll cover your knowledge in your work experience section. Writing "C++" or "C#" doesn't give any concept on how well you can use the languages, what experiences you have, or your competency with them. CUT.

Here are two examples of something employers can use: "In graphics classes developed a full 3D renderer, starting with drawing a single pixel in C++ with Windows API, then drawing primatives using those libraries, expanding until I had developed a full 3D software renderer. In another graphics class project, I develped an infinite Mandlebrot viewer in C# and Windows forms (see website)."


Workplace experience. The bullet points don't work. Rewrite.

The "Programmer Analyst" section is your biggest job, so I'll give some details. Put yourself in a hiring manager's position. It says "Managing outgoing communications". What does that mean? How does that relate to making a video game? Game developers don't spend time "interacting with clients". Try for prose that lists your actual skills and experience, "Worked as junior member on a four-member team for over a year. Developed a communications scanner to identify cheating in academic documents. Primarily used C#, LibFooImageMatching for image processing, and SQL Server for data storage." That type of statement is useful because it shows transferrable skills, approximate competency levels, and degree of experience. REWRITE.

The same is true for your "Web Developer" job. All it says that you programmed websites and web applications. That could mean practically anything. Give some skills that actually relate to game development. REWRITE.

Your floor worker experience has nothing to do with game development. CUT.

Community service is nice, but has nothing to do with game development. CUT.

Your hobbies have nothing to do with game development. CUT.

References are ALWAYS available on request. CUT.

I note that your website has several games and projects that do not appear on your resume. ADD THEM. Put them near the top, even before your education. They are strong evidence that you can do the job -- you've already made two games by yourself! Give me a paragraph about QuickTank, what it does, the languages and technologies you used, and what you can apply to your new game programming job. Give me another paragraph about Sheep Defender with the same things.

Once you've rewritten the content, get it down to a single page. If you feel you need the space use a 12/10 point font set rather than the 14/12 set you are currently using. Remove anything that doesn't answer the two questions about doing the job well and fitting in to the corporate environment.

Quote:Original post by frob
...

I'm sorry, but what?!? There is some seriously bad advice in that post and I hate doing this on forums as it always turns into an inevitable flame war but some things simply need to be corrected.

Quote:Original post by frob
Most employers don't care about your website. The first (an probably only) thing they will look at is your resume or CV.

For an entry level position in game development employers certainly will be interested in this website. Not because it's a website but because it's his portfolio. A CV/resume alone will not get someone a position. Every other good applicant will have a portfolio and every great applicant will have a great portfolio. Concentrating on the resume alone is wrong.

Quote:Original post by frob
Always remember that employers are interested in exactly two things: First, can you do the job well?

Which is exactly what a good portfolio proves. Not a document claiming they know how to do the job.

Quote:Original post by frob
... Some interesting information about resumes ...

There are interesting differences between whats expected in a British CV and a US resume so I won't comment on much of that but as I've mentioned above where you state you have to write how you know something or have done something, the portfolio proves this.

Quote:Original post by frob
Here are two examples of something employers can use: "In graphics classes developed a full 3D renderer, starting with drawing a single pixel in C++ with Windows API, then drawing primatives using those libraries, expanding until I had developed a full 3D software renderer. In another graphics class project, I develped an infinite Mandlebrot viewer in C# and Windows forms (see website)."

There is some good stuff in there and your resume would be improved with things like this added.

Quote:Original post by frob
Workplace experience. The bullet points don't work

Yes they do. Bullet points work very well. They are simple to read and (most importantly) easy to scan which makes the reviewers job much easier.

Quote:Original post by frob
Game developers don't spend time "interacting with clients".

Quite often they do. A developers client is often the designer or the project manager. Granted not a client in the strictest sense but showing how you are capable of taking other peoples ideas, how you can scope what they want into what is possible is a great advantage.

So it might be worth rewording this and making it more relevant to the industry you want to work in.

Quote:Original post by frob
Your floor worker experience has nothing to do with game development. CUT.

Community service is nice, but has nothing to do with game development. CUT.

Your hobbies have nothing to do with game development. CUT.

Again this might be a major difference between the UK and US but the inclusion of things like this (especially the community service) shows character and commitment. Very desirable skills.

Quote:Original post by frob
I note that your website has several games and projects that do not appear on your resume. ADD THEM. Put them near the top, even before your education. They are strong evidence that you can do the job -- you've already made two games by yourself! Give me a paragraph about QuickTank, what it does, the languages and technologies you used, and what you can apply to your new game programming job. Give me another paragraph about Sheep Defender with the same things.

Again, that's what a portfolio is for.



I'm still waiting for a bit more information from the OP regarding exactly what he's going for before actively looking at his portfolio, but the points raised above are relevant to anyone looking to apply for a job in the industry who might read the last post and come away with totally the wrong impression as to what is needed when applying for an entry level position in the games industry.

Thanks

Forgive me for the not-so-prompt reply.

I'll definitely look at everything in my resume/website more closely, and rewrite stuff to make it more relevant to the industry. Thank you for the taking the time to point everything out.

I'm aiming for a generalist game programmer position to start off with. The company I want to apply for is a game developer for IFE (In-Flight Entertainement), which are games played by airplane passengers. They develop their games in C++, using in-house libraries, as well as Allegro, DirectX and OpenGL. They currently have open positions for 2D and 3D programmers. Because I don't currently have sufficient knoweledge of 3D programming, I want to try to get in as a 2D programmer right away. However, I'm currently learning DirectX, which I'll point out to them.

The company mentions how the position will involve participating in brainstorming sessions, and writing design specifications. There will be alot of associating with other team members (artists, designers, quality assurance).

I'm in the process of learning 3D graphics programming and linear algebra.

Should I take the time to polish my game? Or should I move on to another project (I'm thinking a 3D game in DirectX)?

Thank you again everybody. This is very appreciated.

Quote:

Quote:Original post by frob
Most employers don't care about your website. The first (an probably only) thing they will look at is your resume or CV.

For an entry level position in game development employers certainly will be interested in this website. Not because it's a website but because it's his portfolio. A CV/resume alone will not get someone a position. Every other good applicant will have a portfolio and every great applicant will have a great portfolio. Concentrating on the resume alone is wrong.

I am not saying to concentrate on it alone. I agree that the web site is important, but it should not be the major focus.

The first thing the employer sees is a tall stack of applications. Those get sorted down to a short stack.

The HR manager throws out most applications and forwards them on to the project manager. The project manager throws out all but a handful of them. Only the few remaining resumes are examined. Then I MIGHT visit their web sites if I have time and they have piqued my interest.

The web site is only important AFTER the resume has survived multiple rounds of pruning.

Quote:

Quote:Original post by frob
Always remember that employers are interested in exactly two things: First, can you do the job well?

Which is exactly what a good portfolio proves. Not a document claiming they know how to do the job.

Yes, a good portfolio provides evidence that they can do the job.

But he doesn't submit a website to the company. He submits a pdf or word document, and everything else is mostly ignored once it gets to the employer.

Please critically review his resume again.

That document is the only thing I have in my hand or my screen to look at.

It doesn't say that he has created a portfolio.

It doesn't say he has written games.

At the very bottom he has one line that says he administers a website that happens to mention game in the title.


I don't have time to look at potentially hundreds of web sites when pruning out the applications.

I'll throw out most applications based on a cursory glance. Then I'll throw out more of them based on some more thought. Then it will be down to a stack of 10 or so applications. Only then will I bother to look at the websites and portfolios that remain.

It doesn't matter how good the web site is if I never look at it.

If there is something on the site that must be looked at (such as completed games) then the resume needs to call it out. It needs to tell me what I will find on the web site, and convince me not to toss the application without first viewing the site, and convince me that it is important enough to spend a half hour of my life looking at.

Quote:

Quote:Original post by frob
Workplace experience. The bullet points don't work. Rewrite.

Yes they do. Bullet points work very well. They are simple to read and (most importantly) easy to scan which makes the reviewers job much easier.

Please take my statement in context. I am not saying that bullet points in general don't work. I am saying that THOSE SPECIFIC bullet points are useless. The need to be rewritten. I then gave two paragraphs comparing what he listed vs what is useful.

Quote:

Quote:Original post by frob
Your floor worker experience has nothing to do with game development. CUT.
Community service is nice, but has nothing to do with game development. CUT.
Your hobbies have nothing to do with game development. CUT.

Again this might be a major difference between the UK and US but the inclusion of things like this (especially the community service) shows character and commitment. Very desirable skills.

Yes, it does show some character.

However, he only has a single page.

Everything on the page should be focused on getting an interview.

Consider this from an employers perspective. I have a stack of 150 applications. One says prominantly "Completed two hobby games, see my website". The other (as his currently sits) says absolutely nothing about games, and lists experience as a floor worker and volunteer at the Greater Sudbury Public Library. Which one is going to make the short stack?

Quote:

Quote:Original post by frob
I note that your website has several games and projects that do not appear on your resume. ADD THEM. Put them near the top, even before your education. They are strong evidence that you can do the job -- you've already made two games by yourself! Give me a paragraph about QuickTank, what it does, the languages and technologies you used, and what you can apply to your new game programming job. Give me another paragraph about Sheep Defender with the same things.

Again, that's what a portfolio is for.

Again, look at his actual resume.

He wrote the word "game" four times in the document, and in the worst possible places (from my perspective).

It says he has a goal to be a game programmer up front. Then at the bottom of the second page he mentions administering a personal web site that has the word game in it, and he mentions playing games.

He never mentions that he has written games.

If he as written games, even as a hobby, that needs to be highly visible.

Based only on that document I have zero evidence that he has made any games, nor does it tell me that he has a portolio, nor does it direct me to actually look at his web site, nor does it show any evidence of wanting to program games other than the heading.


If I saw it as written now in a stack of applications, it would end up in the cut pile. It would not survive the first round of pruning.

I've thrown out better-looking resumes that show more game-related experience. But if he reduced it to just his name and contact info, two paragraphs describing the games he has done, and his education, that by itself would probably make the cut, or at least survive the first round.


My first reply has my comments about helping it land in the "to be interviewed" pile, rather than landing in the trash. I've thrown enough of them out that I can identify what doesn't work.

I'm sorry if this message sounds harsh. I'm just trying to prove the point that it doesn't matter how good the web site looks if the resume doesn't land in the "to be interviewed" pile. Many beginners think the portfolio is the most important document, but it isn't. Your resume is the most important document. Without it your portfolio will never be seen.

[Edited by - frob on January 5, 2010 6:24:58 PM]