Interview with Scott McDonald

Scott McDonald, a game developer for the popular game Subnautica, provided us with an interview on how to get into the games industry, as well as what employers are looking for. Similar to what was stated in the ScreenSkills talk, Scott recommended entry through QA as it typically has low entry requirements but provides effective experience towards the industry. Scott spoke briefly about having a good online presence, as employers frequently search potential employees' name online for a quick background check. Ensuring that your online profiles are employer friendly is highly important as it reflects on the employers. A strong portfolio also helps, Scott noted that a small portfolio full of quality work is better than a large portfolio of lesser work. He advised also that we should be familiar with whatever software the industry is currently using, such as: Blender, 3DS Max, Maya, Unity, Unreal, etc. Being skilled with software makes you more enticing to an employer as you will not need time to adjust to the new unfamiliar software. Cover letter make a big impression to employers and should be short and to the point. They should also be visually appealing and be fully tailored to the opportunity as employers can tell when the letter is copy and pasted. Doing research to the opportunity expresses a willing to work attitude and increases the chances of you being successfully hired. Scott also mentioned to be nice, and to take rejections in your stride. Rude potential employees are never hired. Interestingly, Scott recommended applying for higher positions if you believe your work is up to the standard. Employers can still consider employing you if they believe you are fit for the position. Regarding employment, Scott stated that you should always ask about paid overtime and the frequency of it as this is a way of asking indirectly about crunch. He also recommended the site Glassdoor, which is where employers who have since left the company can describe their honest experiences working with the company. Frequent bad reviews can be a red flag towards working with that company. He also noted that some employers will ask for you to complete some work in the interview as a test of your abilities.