#131432 - MrD - Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:09 pm
I've got a (software dev) job interview next week... does anybody have any mega hyper advice for me? ;-;
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#131443 - kusma - Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:14 pm
Don't screw up.
#131456 - sajiimori - Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:27 pm
If this is your first programming job, emphasize your level of interest in programming, your desire to learn new skills and techniques, and especially your excitement about the prospect of working in a professional collaborative environment.
Don't worry about advertising your technical aptitude -- your interviewers will ask you what they need to know. If you don't know the answer to a technical question, be honest about that, and try not to be embarrassed. "I haven't done that yet" is a nice answer.
#131465 - wintermute - Fri Jun 15, 2007 11:07 pm
#131497 - trh - Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:53 am
Whenever I've interviewed someone I've found the worst thing is when they can't just admit they don't understand or don't know the answer to a question.
Blabbing on awkwardly or stabbing in the dark just makes you look like a tool--better ask for clarification or to just say you don't know and to move on.
#131501 - MrD - Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:44 am
| wintermute wrote: |
| If it's game dev, take Lemmings with you. |
Well there's a small boat made of china
It's going nowhere on the mantlepiece
Well do I lie like a loungeroom lizard
Or do I sing like a bird released
Everywhere you go you - always take the lemmings with you
Everywhere you go you - always take the lemmings
Everywhere you go you - always take the lemmings with you
Everywhere you go you - always take the lemmings, the lemmings with you
*snaps out of it*
Wait, what?
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#131671 - ScottLininger - Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:57 pm
Dress nice.
A friend of mine interviews people every day for entry-level jobs in the games industry, and he tells me that the occasional "applicant in a suit" really impresses him. I interview and interact with software dev guys a lot, and I feel the same way. Show me some "old fashioned" respect and I will remember you.
Because, unless you got the interview from a personal referral, chances are that you're one of dozens of applicants with virtually identical resumes. So how will you stand out?
$.02
-Scott
#131674 - Touchstone - Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:42 am
| ScottLininger wrote: |
Dress nice.
A friend of mine interviews people every day for entry-level jobs in the games industry, and he tells me that the occasional "applicant in a suit" really impresses him. I interview and interact with software dev guys a lot, and I feel the same way. Show me some "old fashioned" respect and I will remember you.
Because, unless you got the interview from a personal referral, chances are that you're one of dozens of applicants with virtually identical resumes. So how will you stand out?
$.02
-Scott |
Personally I think people who show up in a suit stand out, but in the wrong way. It doesn't have to do with respect, it's about understanding company culture and fitting in with it. I've never worked at a company where a suit is the standard outfit, so my first impression whenever a guy show up in a suit for a job interview I think that this guy doesn't understand what games is about. Obviously, as with everything else, my view of a person change as I talk to them.
In general I'd say it's a sad state of affairs if the clothes you wear makes for an important factor, when all the end customer care about is being entertained, and not so much about hte clothes a programmer was wearing when making the game.
When it comes to game jobs interviews I have 2 interviews where I've stood out in a really obvious manor (and by pure chance as I've been blissfully unaware of everything, really.. :) ) The first job was with an old demo group so they received tons and tons of really fancy demo effects that just couldn't be applied to games programming, so I got the job because I was think about occlusion, FOV and LOD's. The other job I got, the person hiring me said he was fed up with seing the standard FPS shooter engine so when I showed a really simple puzzle game, a complete game with music, sound effects, front end, all game logic, a couple of levels, cutscenes etc, he was really impressed. I guess impressed to see someone actually thinking about something playable and enjoyable instead of focusing on the technical low level bits. Obviously this depends on what job you're applying for! :)
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#131675 - RegalSin - Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:44 am
Personally don't fear them at all. While you need them more then they need you make sure that you are truthfull and that you say what is on your mind while not commiting sin ( Of course talking aloud and not doing anything ).
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#131682 - Ant6n - Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:52 am
i always thought that having a good attitude helps; that you are happy and enthusiastic about what you do, and that you believe in it or so;
... shave
#132139 - MrD - Sat Jun 23, 2007 8:46 pm
The job interview was yesterday, and I think it went quite well.
From the moment I entered the building, I tried to gauge what kind of atmosphere there was... trying to remember not to stand there like a lemon when anybody spoke to me.
The position is a games dev one year placement (I have to do one as part of my degree); the interview was with the head of the specific division I'd be working in, the senior programmer who I'd be working with, and the student who held the position the year just gone.
I feel the interview went pretty smoothly, I managed to explain myself clearly, without endlessly repeating myself or forgetting what I was saying.
There were parts of the interview where there was a split second of noticeable silence where I thought "Uh oh... are they thinking of a question... should I ask one. Losing momentum. Wait... I've got a plan." and leapt in with "Perhaps we should discuss... <something about CV>" or "I've prepared a demonstration of my handheld project, would you like to see it." (or something like that)
Questions... discussion... info... they seemed to enjoy my games (!) and it all seemed to go like a dream from there. At the end, I thanked them for their time, said I enjoyed the interview and asked what the next stage was...
I find out how I did at the end of next week. :D
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