New feature today called "Kick the Graduate", where you (the reader and FOT team member) get to judge the career goals and positioning of a new graduate as they aspire to land a choice job in the Talent game right out of undergrad or graduate school. First up is Nathan Mallory, who penned the following note to me over at the Capitalist:
"I am not writing to you to apply for a job, nor in the hope that you might be able to find one for
me. I am a 28 year old recent JD/MBA graduate searching for a job to begin my career, and in a moment of frustration at my lack of success I did a Google search and found your "HR Capitalist" blog. My reason for writing this email is seeking any advice you could offer regarding my lack of success. You seem to be knowledgeable, friendly and sympathetic to some of the problems facing job seekers, so it is my hope you can spare me a few minutes, or at the least receive a few moments in your day not dealing with your own desperate job candidates.
I am pursuing a career in the video games industry, armed with several decades of school, two graduate and two undergraduate degrees. I have applied to positions at fifteen or so companies, for jobs ranging from Associate Producer to Legal Assistant, and not a single one has sent even a follow-up email or telephone call. The result is that after much searching and a few moments of desperation, I am right back where I started, not knowing whether my resume is bad, my cover letter is unprofessional, or whether I am unqualified due to lack of experience or over-education. (As a side note, it amazes me to think that a company could simultaneously disqualify you for having too much education but not enough experience. It's very frustrating for a new grad.)
I've attached copies of a resume and cover letter typical of the kind I have sent out. I would be extremely grateful if you could take a look at them with your HR expertise, and let me know if I am doing anything horribly wrong. That said, I'm not ignorant of the recurring theme from your blog that you do not appreciate anyone wasting HR's time, so I will not be upset if this request falls squarely into that category."
Ordinarily, I don't do advice in response to reader mails on this blog or the Capitalist. However, when a JD/MBA presents himself for help into an industry like the video games industry, I can't resist offering him up (with his permission) and allowing you to tell him the following:
–How he can modify his resume to maximize his chances of landing any job, including one in the video game industry,
–What he needs to have available in addition to the resume to maximize his chances of landing an entry-level spot in the video game industry,
–What you would tell him about the realism of his dream to land a spot in the video game industry, and any alternative career objective at this stage in his career that you would recommend, plus
–Anything else you got….
Make sense? Pop up Nathan's resume by clicking here, and help the graduate out by hitting him up with your notes in the comments section of this post.
Kick the graduate/Help the graduate. Same thing. Shoot straight and give him the tough love if he needs it… I've got Jason Pankow, who gets paid for talking to enthusiastic kids for XBOX, warming up in the bullpen to come in once everyone else throws their best pitch…
I’d suggest moving the education to the bottom of the resume, it’s the first thing the recruiter will see and it’s not really relevant to they type of position he’s seeking – it is also making him appear unfocused since I don’t really associate a BA in Pschology with a BA in International Studies: East Asia, it makes it seem like he doesn’t know what he wants to do.
I’d move the summary of qualifications to the top, and take out the passion for video game design part – I don’t care what you’re passionate about, I care about what you can actually do. This resume does not tell me that Nathan can actually design games, just that he wants to (I’m passionate about ballroom dancing, that doesn’t mean I can be a dance instructor). If Nathan has any experience designing games (unpaid or not) I’d suggest referencing that in the the Summary of Qualifications. The passion about designing games thing may be more appropriate for a cover letter.
Back to education – I’d take out all the Study Abroad stuff – again, it’s putting the focus on education when the education really isn’t relevant to the job he’s interested in.
Though I no longer do day-to-day recruiting, there are some things that jump out at me right away:
On the resume, I would start with objective/summary of qualifications, then work experience, then education. If the education is not totally matched to the job, I do not think it is the best thing to start out with. Normally, I drop the objectives, but when you are changing fields I think it is reasonable to leave one on there. If you think too much education is scaring people, I would also drop off the information on your summer abroad programs, it does not tell me anything about you or your skills right off the bat, so it does not add value to me. If you are saying that you are fluent in Japanese, say it, don’t just tell me you spent the summer in Japan. One last note about bullets, try to tell me what you accomplished instead of what your job description was (example, as IT manager, instead of saying you headed contract negotiations with service providers, can you say that you saved the company X amount of money by renegotiating contracts or rebidding contracts? What impact did your job duties have on the company that made it more successful, efficient, etc. i.e. – why you instead of anyone else that has done that job – what made you rock?)
Also, with anyone changing career/fields, I suggest that the cover letter break out in detail why you think that your skills will cross over well from what you have done to the job you are applying for.
Hope this helps!
Basically the objective and the rest of the resume don’t match. It’s like a Holiday Inn Express commercial – I’m a Lawyer/business person who likes Japanese but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express and now want to be a Video Game Geek and spend all day drinking Red Bull and babysitting 19 year old game designers.
My suggestions: 1. Change the objective to something more open ended that would work with either the JD or the MBA. 2. Keep the objective, but change the body to create an awareness of those skills a Producer needs (Project Mngt., budgeting, multitasking, massive production, etc.). 3. Go back to school and get your Phd and begin teaching kids 5 years your junior (up side is you get to stay in college and the benefits are nice). 4. Maybe spend a few years working as a lawyer or a business person, get some experience and then go after your Video Game dream.
I agree with Erin on the Study Aborad stuff – the only connection that might make it work is if you actually spent some time in Japan working for a gaming company – but it doesn’t.
Good Luck.
1. Remove the objective and address this in a cover letter. See this great post by Allison Green about the objective in the resume. http://www.usnews.com/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2009/3/9/objectives-leave-them-off-your-resume.html
2. Explain in more detail in your cover letter how your experience can help the company you’re looking to work for. Give examples of work that you’ve done that directly applies. You might also briefly address why you’re looking to make this change, because it is very different.
3. I agree with the other comments that education belongs on the bottom.
Good luck with the job hunt!
Nathan.
I’m from the school which teaches, if you need a resume, then it’s not your dream job. So, let me get this straight. You’ve got a bazillion years of school and could probably make a basic living at a number of places. But you really love video games. Exactly what part of the whole industry is a mystery to me as I type this. But, assuming you don’t have any insurmountable commitments which hold you back (kids, mortgage, spouse, for example) then you need to scout out all things in gaming and make your life game-man. Trade shows, industry events, magazines, blogs, forums, all of it…you need to immerse yourself in it. With economics being in the shttr right now, you may have to suck it up for a year or two. But that should not stop you. Cold call the decision-makers in the gaming companies and tell them you’d like to be an intern, part-time for one month, for free. Tell them the only thing you want in return is for them to show you the ropes. If they like you, at the end of thirty days, they’ll offer you a job making about $30K/yr. It’s not much but your goal sounds like a foot in the door, and this is how you get it. Grow some stones and start calling these people…it helps to have a succinct set of discussion points and questions already printed out. If you’ve never cold called, you’re going to be very nervous and you will screw up…don’t worry about it. Just keep calling. After a day of doing it, you’ll start to get comfortable and will probably sound like a true insider. Oh, and use this tip: drop the negative talk…drop it all together. Don’t use it in your head and don’t use it out of your mouth. “…regarding my lack of success” – You wrote that same thing twice in one paragraph. Nathan! No good! Experiment with phrases that say the same thing but in a positive way: Maybe you can help me achieve my potential. “I’m not yet achieving the kind of success I had hoped so I’m exploring ways to improve my chances for success.” This may sound fluffy and hollow. It is real. People judge you by your words and phrases. You judge yourself as such, as well. Stop the negative self-talk and stop the negative mouth-talk. Read Tony Dungy. Good luck (and move to L.A. or San Ramon.)
One more suggestion, your last position was your most technical. I’d switch the order of your responsibilities to emphasize the IT related accomplishments first and put the counseling & negotiation bullets toward the bottom. I also agree with the general comments above about the education placement and the need for a compelling cover letter. Good Luck!
I owe a great thanks to Kris for helping me obtain this invaluable feedback from HR insiders, and I absolutely appreciate every word of it. I just thought I would comment here to provide a tiny bit more context in the form of the cover letter I sent with that resume, since several comments had referenced it.
I have also created a substantially revised version of my resume, consolidating the education section and including other things that might make it more relevant and informative for the prospective employer. It’s obviously not the subject of Kris’ post, but it is available here if anyone would like to take a few kicks at that one.
—————–
Dear HR Manager for COMPANY,
My name is Nathan Mallory, a recent law and business school graduate from the University of Oklahoma. I graduated with a JD/MBA in December, 2008, and I would like to apply for your Assistant Producer position. I have an immense passion for game development and intend to pursue a career in the industry, and I believe the great diversity of skills I have gained through both my employment experience and academic opportunities to travel abroad could be a valuable asset to COMPANY.
At all times while pursuing my professional degrees, I have held a strong desire to enter the video game industry. Prior to entering law school, I lived in Japan where I produced game-related video projects for academic use. I have also taken advantage of every opportunity to expand my perspective on the industry’s business and legal challenges as well, including attending production and game design lectures for over five years at the Game Developers Conference and international entertainment law coursework in Japan and the United States. I am also an avid gamer, most notably applying my Japanese language skills to produce independent English localizations of several text-heavy RPG titles prior to their domestic releases (still available at my personal home page, NathanMallory.com), including the multimedia web sites to host them.
In short, I am a talented and extremely flexible graduate with a unique combination of skills and a diligent work ethic. I believe video games are more than mere entertainment; they are powerful statements of creative vision unlike any other form of art or expression, and I would love to begin my career in the video game industry with COMPANY. Please feel free to contact me at any time regarding my application.
Thank you very much, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Sincerely,
Nathan Barrett Mallory
Lots of great advice here so far. One thing you absolutely must have in the creative professions (and I’m including video game producer here) is a strong portfolio of relevant work samples. Without it, no creative director will take you seriously — because you’ve given them no reason to do so. It could be your eye-popping graphics or your elegant code, but you’ve got to have a demonstrable skill set to get into the game: the portfolio is your ante.
Given the field you’re aiming for, those work samples have to be online. Sites like Coroflot, TalentZoo, Creative Hotlist and BigBlackBag all offer various levels of tech support and hosting capacity, if you need it. And as much as I admire your academic chops, I’d play them way, way down — unless you can tell a compelling story about why they make you a great video game producer. Good luck!
Okay, here’s my $.02 (although, it’s probably only worth $.01 in the current economy).
The reason you’re not getting a call back is pretty straigh forward. Right now, you have Zero experience in video games. I have no doubt that you’re wicked smart. It’s not easy to get a JD or an MBA, much less both. But…passing the bar is not the same as shipping a AAA title. Parts of it are easier, parts are harder. All of it is different. I don’t want to be a dream killer, but with this current experience, you won’t get a call back unless you know someone high up the ladder.
Here is my suggestion: reach out to a contract agency. Volt or Filter or someone like that. If this is really your passion, you’ll have to spend some time at the bottom to build your reputation. I once hired a Harvard Law graduate into a Test Manager position with Microsoft Game Studios. She spent years prosecuting domestic violence cases and one day decided that she wanted to test video games, instead. She did some temp work and worked her way up the ladder to eventually recieve a Microsoft FTE position as a Lead Software Development Engineer in Test.
Also, I am going to disagree with the people who say you should keep your passions out of your resume, in this circumstance (and only in this circumstance). With your current experience, you need to show that there is a reason you are interested in a move into video games. The economy is bad. Recruiters are going want to know that there is a reason you are applying other than “I need a job” like 8% of the rest of the country.
Bottom line…you need to build your experience. Without it, your resume won’t get past the key word search.
My suggestions:
1) Research agencies that place contractors with game studios. You can search Google, or just check out the credits next time you beat a game.
2) Write a cover letter that details why you are pursing a career in games and what you can bring to the table other than “pwning newbs.”
3) Network. Consider attending game specific conferences. Most will even have sessions on “breaking in.” GDC is coming up in San Fran the week of March 23rd. Consider going. Add it to your calendar for next year, if you can’t make this year.
3.5) Consider a roll in test. Associate Producers are a dime a dozen, especially right now. Everyone tries to break in there. Good testers are harder to find.
Good luck, dude!
Nathan -
Lots of good advice here, first with the resume advice, and then the money packet from Jason, a FOT staffer who recruits for Microsoft XBOX…
All good advice. Can you really do better anywhere than a lead recruiter for XBOX telling you what to do next?
Good luck brother… Chase the dream….
Personally, I hate cover letters – so I want you to bump your education to the bottom and put that summary of skills at the top. Cover Letters are a necessary evil as some still appreciate them, but don’t count on them being read.
Have you produced anything in the gaming industry? Anything? Highlight, load your resume with tech lingo to push it more in the limelight – give me industry speak. That great big beautiful JD degree is a distraction, so while it’s awesome, don’t make it the focal point of your resume unless that’s where you’re going careerwise.
You need to build some relationships and think about how you can get a foot in the door. Internships, even unpaid, would not be a bad idea. Maybe you need to find someone to be your mentor/guru to give you some guidance on the ins/outs of the business. Start building relationships online though – you got Pankow’s rec’s on here – follow ‘em. And then follow him and some other gaming professionals on Twitter – some are recruiters, some are not:
@jpankow
@gamingrecruiter
@thebattlebegins
@JJumani
@annielohr
@totalgaming
@Binary_Odyssey
@joe_ske
@fodderwall
@jetsetgames
@current_gaming
@r3m1x
And Twitter connections are good, but meeting and making them put a face and voice with a username is better.
Good luck………..
I am an IT Recruiter and I agree with ALL of what has been said.
Resume #2 is a big improvement, but PLEASE drop the educational stuff to the bottom and put much LESS emphasis on it.
Also, you have a referee who works for SEGA! Hello? There is no other mention of Sega on your Resume, how are you connected to this person, can the provide a testimonial for you that you could include on your cover letter?
If you are that interested in gaming, you MUST have built your own games in your spare time? No mention of this on resume either. If not, I seriously question your motivation….
Best of luck!
Flyingscottie
Nathan.
Consider the following hypothetical scenario. As a post 3-L, you should be used to them I imagine.
You have two friends. Friend “A” is “Manager of Product Improvement” for XYZ Video Games. You’ve known him since childhood and there is no doubt in your mind that he just loves everything about video games. The other friend, we’ll call him “B,” is with a similar company, only he’s “Manager of Recruitment.” He played video games as a kid but he wasn’t what you would call a true-gamer. Nevertheless he got a degree and then a PHR certificate and managed to land a good HR job with a well known game company. Every time you get together with A, he tells you the same story: “We’re behind in product development and two of my team members are always calling in sick. I’ve got this deadline and without these two people operating at full capacity, I’m worried we’re going to miss that deadline…that could mean no bonus for me.”
Friend B has a different problem. He’s always talking about how he posts a job on Godzilla.com, a major job board, and then he gets 350 resumes from cooks, gas station attendants, and factory workers who just want to get a good job. But for every 75 piss-poor resumes he gets from Godzilla.com, he may see one that is possibly qualified for his R&D req., which has been open for three months. From time to time he sees sharp people applying for his jobs but they have no direct experience so he has to either send out a ding-letter (if he has time) or in some cases, just not respond at all. He gets hundreds of resumes and simply doesn’t have enough time in the day to respond to each of them.; he’s carrying a total of forty one open requisitions right now.
Up to this moment, you’ve concealed your true gaming passion. But now it’s time to come out of the closet!!! You are allowed to contact one and only one of these two people about your gaming career prospects. Which one would you contact and why?
Here’s another great event to monitor: the SXSW Interactive festival’s “Screenburn” gaming conference, taking place this March 13-17 (http://www.sxsw.com/interactive/screenburn).
I agree with most of these comments. My first impression when looking at the resume is that the order should be reversed. You said that they focus on your lack of experience and over-education….let’s not put the education right in their face then. Highlight your IT experience. Use your cover letter to make a case for your desire to work in the video gaming industry, what makes you qualified to do it, and why you will be successful at it. A note to others who seek out a specific dream job: take a look at what the job’s industry and companies look for in a candidate for the job you seek. Try to tailor your classes and education to meet those needs and get experience with p/t jobs, internships, or even volunteering in that industry before you graduate.
I’m just curious-why did you pursue the JD and MBA?
People deserve good life and personal loans or college loan will make it much better. Because freedom depends on money.