Navigating game developer resumes can be tough. This article guides job seekers with proven resume examples and strategic advice. Learn how to highlight your coding skills, game design experience, and team projects effectively. Use the right keywords to get noticed by hiring managers. Discover common mistakes to avoid and tips to make your resume stand out in the competitive gaming industry.
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Here's what we see in the best game developer resumes:
Use Numbers To Show Impact: The best resumes use metrics. Show how you increased
List Relevant Skills: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are
Show Your Projects: Show projects you’ve worked on. Use phrases like
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On your resume, where you place your education can impact how you are seen by a hiring manager. If you are new to game development use your recent educational background to your advantage. Position your computer science degree, game development courses or related qualifications near the top. This shows you have fresh knowledge relevant to the job.
If you have been working in game development for a while, show your experience first. Your hands-on experience will speak louder than your education at this point. Any specialized training or certifications should still be mentioned but can be placed after your work experience. Always remember to focus on what matters most for the job and structure your resume to highlight those qualifications first.
Include links to your online portfolio or GitHub where you showcase your projects. This gives employers a clear idea of your skills.
Show finished games, projects, or code snippets. Mention any game jams or hackathons you have participated in and the role you played.
For a game developer with less than 10 years of experience, your resume should be concise and fit on one page. This shows you can prioritize the most relevant experiences and skills needed for game development. Focus on recent projects, technical skills, and any direct game development work.
If you have more than 10 years of experience and hold a senior-level position, two pages are acceptable. Use the first page for your strongest qualifications. Remember, clarity is key to ensuring hiring managers see your best work without straining. It's better to have a clear and readable resume than trying to fit everything on one page with a small font or margins.
List specific programming languages and tools relevant to game development like Unity, Unreal Engine, C++, or JavaScript.
Highlight any experience in areas such as AI, physics, or graphics programming. Employers look for these specialized skills.
Understand how to make your resume stand out to applicant tracking systems (ATS). These systems scan your resume before a hiring manager sees it. You need to format your resume in a way that the system can read it easily.
Here are two key tips for game developers:
These steps can help you show your skills and experience clearly to both the ATS and the hiring manager.
You must show employers how your skills match their needs. Make sure your resume speaks directly to the job. This means using the same language they do and giving clear examples. It shows you understand what they're looking for in a game developer.
When creating your resume, it's important to highlight the technical skills that show you can handle the tasks of a game developer. Here's a list of skills that you might want to include:
You do not need to include all these skills, but focus on those that match the job you want. For example, if you want to work on mobile games, you might emphasize your knowledge of
Place these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This makes it easy for hiring managers to see your qualifications. It also helps with applicant tracking systems (ATS) that companies use to filter resumes. ATS often scans for specific keywords related to the job, so including relevant skills can help your resume get noticed.
When you apply for game development roles, showing that you've moved up or led projects is key. Employers want to see you can handle more responsibility over time.
Think about times you guided a team or project. Even if you were not the boss, showing you took charge on tasks matters. You might have:
As you write your resume, think about the impact you've had in your role. Use numbers to show this impact. Numbers help hiring managers see your value quickly and clearly.
Here are some ways you can do this:
Think about your work. Even if you're not sure of the exact numbers, you can often estimate. For example, think about how many more levels you were able to design after streamlining a process, or the increase in player engagement metrics due to a feature you developed. If you helped to reduce customer support tickets by creating clearer in-game guidance, estimate the percentage decrease. Always be as accurate as possible, and ready to explain how you calculated these figures if asked.