If you want to work as a video game developer without direct experience, your resume needs to accomplish two main things. First, it must demonstrate that you have the necessary qualifications for the role. Second, it must show that you possess all the skills required to succeed in the position.
Writing a resume with limited relevant work history can be daunting. However, in many tech roles, including video game development, your skills may be more important than your work experience. Major game studios have stated that they care more about a candidate’s ability to do the job than their employment history. This means the focus of your video game developer resume should be on highlighting your skills and qualifications, rather than just your work experience. You can gain relevant experience through personal projects, which show your ability to execute a full project and take initiative.
At a minimum, a video game developer resume written by someone with limited work experience should contain the following:
- A summary
- Your education
- Any experience you have, including any personal projects you’ve worked on
- Your skills, including any certifications or licenses you have
Note: If you need any form of assistance with your CV/Resume, you can contact us today. An expert will review or revamp your resume and help you improve it to better capture the key things that will help you stand out.
The Best Format For A Video Game Developer Resume
The format of your video game developer resume is crucial, as it determines what hiring managers will notice first. When choosing a professionally-designed template, consider what your potential employer needs to see from you.
In video game development, your skills are the most important factor, such as the programming languages and game engines you know. For those with limited work experience in the field, leading with your skills may be the best approach. Later in your career, you may benefit from a format that balances your skills and work experience.
It’s important to keep in mind that many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort through resumes. These systems look for specific keywords based on the job description. If your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, it may never be seen by a human reviewer.
Overly complex resume formats can also confuse ATS software. Thankfully, Fasthire CV’s resume templates are designed to beat ATS, ensuring your layout won’t undermine your chances of success.
3 Video Game Developer Resume Profile Summary Examples
The resume profile summary is typically the opening section and one of the first things a recruiter will see. It should be a concise summation of your strongest qualities and tailored to the specific job requirements – you can’t use the same summary for every application.
For those with limited work experience, the profile summary should focus on your skills and educational achievements. Later in your career, you can shift the emphasis to your experience and the skills/qualities it has demonstrated.
Here are 3 examples of video game developer resume profile summaries:
- Aspiring video game developer with a BEng in Computer Science from University College, London. Skilled in programming, game engine implementation, and 3D modeling. Looking to take the first step into a career in video game development.
- Video game developer with a 3.8 GPA from Stanford University. Professional, dynamic, and driven to achieve the highest standards. Deep understanding of game design principles combined with in-depth coding knowledge.
- Newly-graduated video game developer with a 3.7 GPA. Extensive personal experience in designing and building mobile and PC-based games. Proficient in C++, C#, Unreal Engine, and Unity.
How Not To Write A Video Game Developer Resume Profile Summary
Your resume Profile summary should be clear, direct, and focused on highlighting how you meet the requirements for the role. It should show the recruiter at a glance why you are a strong candidate. Avoid being overly wordy or personal – that type of narrative is better suited for your cover letter.
It’s important to keep in mind that some recruiters don’t believe a summary is necessary on a resume. If you’re struggling to craft an effective summary, it’s okay to leave it out entirely.
For example, what not to do, the following profile summary is too personal and rambling:
“I grew up playing video games with my friends, and have always been fascinated by the game design process. This drove me to get my bachelor’s degree in computer science, which further kindled my passion for video game development. I am hoping to transfer this enthusiasm into a career, to fulfill my childhood dream.”
Instead, the profile summary should be concise and focused on your relevant skills, qualifications, and fit for the role.
How To Describe Your Experience On Your Video Game Developer Resume
If you don’t have extensive past work experience, don’t be discouraged. You can still highlight relevant experiences from internships, personal projects, or game jams. The key is to focus on describing what you accomplished in those experiences, not just listing your responsibilities.
Describe Your Experience Effectively
When writing about your experience, emphasize the results and impact of your work, not just the tasks you performed. Demonstrate how your efforts led to successful outcomes, as this will be more compelling to recruiters.
This is because recruiters will be looking for hard facts about your past successes. If you can show evidence that your work got results in the past, recruiters will be more ready to believe that you can get those results again.
The key is to showcase the value you provided through your past experiences, even if they weren’t paid positions. Focus on results, not just responsibilities.
How To List Skills On Your Video Game Developer Resume
Usually, when you’re listing your skills on your resume, the job description for the role you want will act as a useful guide. It will typically contain a list of the skills you’ll need to demonstrate.
But it’s worth remembering that there are some skills that recruiters will expect you to have by default – and they may not be listed as part of the job posting.
For general information about the skills on your resume, check out our Career advise
Top Video Game Developer Resume Skills In Demand
| Hard Skills for UX Design | Soft Skills for UX Design |
|---|---|
| Programming languages (e.g. C++, C#, Java, Python) | Communication |
| Game engines (e.g. Unity, Unreal Engine) | Creativity |
| Software development tools (e.g. Git, Visual Studio, Jira) | Collaboration |
| Game design principles (e.g. level design, user experience, gameplay mechanics) | Time management |
| Animation and visual effects | Organization |
| Audio programming and sound design | Willingness to learn |
| Familiarity with platforms (e.g. PC, console, mobile, VR/AR) | Leadership |
| Algorithms and data structures | Training and coaching skills |
The Most Important Soft Skills For Your Video Game Developer Resume
The Most Important Soft Skills for Your Video Game Developer Resume
While technical programming skills are essential for a video game developer role, hiring managers will also be highly interested in your soft skills. These interpersonal and problem-solving abilities can give you a significant advantage in your work.
If you don’t have extensive direct work experience, highlighting your strong soft skills can help demonstrate your readiness for the video game developer role.
Some of the most crucial soft skills for a video game developer to showcase include:
- Communication: The ability to explain complex technical information in a clear, accessible way to team members, stakeholders, and players is vital. Strong communication skills allow you to distill complicated concepts into easy-to-understand explanations.
- Creativity: Video game development requires creative thinking to produce innovative, engaging gameplay and visuals. Showcasing your creative problem-solving abilities can set you apart.
- Collaboration: Video game development is a highly collaborative process, involving coordination with designers, artists, producers, and cross-functional teams. Highlighting your skills in working effectively with others is key.
While technical skills are the foundation, these critical soft skills demonstrate your well-rounded abilities to excel in a video game developer role. Ensure your resume highlights your strengths in these areas.
Sample Resume For a Video Game Developer With No Work Experience.
Here is an entry-level CV for a Video Game Developer that you can use as a guide.
Free Video Developer With No Experience Resume Downloadable Word Document Sample
Click here to download a sample of a resume for a video developer
Conclusion
For aspiring video game developers, the focus should be on demonstrating your skills rather than relying solely on extensive prior experience. If you can effectively showcase your understanding of the different facets of video game development, you can be a competitive candidate even without a long work history.
In fact, with the high demand for video game developers currently, there has never been a better time to break into this field. The job market presents a great opportunity for those looking to get started in video game development.
Services like Fasthire can be extremely helpful throughout the application process. With Fasthire, you can fully customize your resume to present the best representation of your skills and qualifications to recruiters. This can give you a valuable head start toward achieving your career goals in video game development.
The emphasis is less on past work experience and more on effectively communicating your video game development expertise. With the strong demand in the field and the right tools to craft a compelling resume, aspiring video game developers can find success in breaking into this in-demand profession.
