Here's how you can showcase your skills and market yourself effectively to potential employers as a beginner.

Your portfolio is the cornerstone of your job application. As a game developer, include a variety of work: completed projects, code snippets in Unity or Unreal Engine, and any art or design elements. Tailor it to the job by emphasizing relevant skills and projects. Quality trumps quantity; a few polished pieces speak volumes about your potential. In our work with Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, I look for candidates who showcase diverse, high-quality work. Demonstrating your ability to create engaging experiences on these platforms will significantly enhance your appeal to potential employers.

Showing your portfolio is extremely important, and your knowledge of current tools and skills, but you will also want to showcase how to tell a story from concept art whether you are looking to work in level building, user interface/UX, character design, weapons, coding, or world building. You need to show you can think like a game developer whether it's open world, a platformer, roguelike, or other types. What kind of games are you passionate about creating? It's not enough to know the tools. Let your passion come through in your pieces. Show that you can think like the developer and the player, as well as method on how you would playtest your creations.

Review your portfolio periodically as an outside viewer would; far too many sites for candidates have broken links, missing files and assets from college projects, etc. Control your content so it is always available, make it bite-sized and digestible for interviewers. Have your own career site as well as social media platform links. Publishing your 60 page game backstory manifesto is acceptable - but excerpts of dialog better highlight your best work. A video clip of your gameplay I can see in 30 seconds beats me having to download a game and is more likely to get you the screening interview. Your site should load *fast*.

Use git or any other version control systems to store your projects, even if it's a small project or an unfinished one - add a link to your CV anyway. Build your page on itch io if you have any playable demos so people can download it and try it out or just browse trough your screenshots and gameplay videos.

Make some small game-ish things. It might help to use some common game engine, but I wouldn’t say it’s mandatory. From a coder perspective, the more tech you develop yourself, the more you have to talk about in an interview. Your real life experiences will always come across sincere if you’re honest about what you actually achieved.

I got my first game development job by networking. Discord communities are great spaces to meet new, fellow developers, but always be genuine in your connections without always looking for what the other person can give you. People can tell when you are only in the relationship for what you can get out of it. Instead, work on sharing your joy and it will attract the right people to you. That said, it's okay to let people know your career goals. Be honest about what you want to do and where you want to go in game development. As long as you don't go in with expectations that every interaction leads to a job, you'll find people are more than willing to help with guidance, advice, and general career information.

Networking is crucial in the game industry. Attend game jams, industry conferences, and local meetups to connect with professionals and fellow developers. Engage in online forums and communities related to game development. Be genuine and curious about others' work while sharing your own experiences and ambitions. These connections can lead to mentorship opportunities, collaborations, or even job offers. In our projects with Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, I've seen how valuable networking is for career growth. Building a strong network opens doors and enhances your visibility in the industry.

Networking is there to develop familiarity with others, and learn how other people think. You don’t have to be an extrovert to get something out of networking. Just be there, be present, and listen.

Continuously improve your skills by learning new tools and technologies prevalent in game development. Familiarize yourself with popular game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, and programming languages such as C# or C++. Engage in online courses, tutorials, and workshops to stay updated and demonstrate your commitment to professional growth. Showcasing a trajectory of learning and improvement is very appealing to employers, including those in our projects with Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite. Employers seek adaptable and proactive team members who are committed to enhancing their skills and staying ahead in the industry.

A lot of the social media standards of where to share are changing, but some good ones I'm seeing right now are still Art Station as the top place to share your work and get seen by the game development community, but Cara is also a wonderful option as well, particularly if you want to work in concept art or level design. It's an active platform with a web and mobile component and works a lot like Art Station and Instagram combined. If I were just getting into the industry, I would have a professional website with my portfolio pieces, and be active on Art Station and Cara. Discord is also one of the best places to share your work in progress, build community, share portfolio links, and find job listings.

Utilize social media platforms to share your work and engage with the game development community. Platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Reddit, and ArtStation can be powerful tools to showcase your projects and get noticed by industry professionals. Post regular updates on your progress, share insights on game development, and participate in relevant discussions. A strong online presence can significantly expand your reach and attract potential employers. Sharing your work on these platforms demonstrates your skills and dedication, making you more visible to potential employers in the industry.

I once got a business card from a contractor that was also a flash key with some portfolio work of his on it. First time I ever saw that - it was so cool. Not sure I’d just plug it in anywhere without anti-virus, but it certainly made an impact on me. How else could you reduce the effort required to get someone to your portfolio? A QR code perhaps? You have to think this way or what you hand someone - however good- may end up in their laundry, forgotten.

Showcase your skills and market yourself effectively to potential employers as a beginner by building a strong portfolio that highlights your best work, including personal projects, game jams, and any collaborative efforts. Create a professional website to host your portfolio and provide easy access to your projects and contact information. Use social media and platforms like LinkedIn to network with industry professionals and share your work. Participate in online forums and communities related to game development. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences. Engage in continuous learning and share your progress to demonstrate your commitment and growth.