How to break into the industry: Tips!

I should mention first off that I’m not some kind of expert on this topic! I landed a few internships at games magazines and websites (PC Gamer, Future, GameSpot), freelanced a bit and I now have a job in Publisher Relations at Climax Studios, but there are of course plenty of people who have been in the industry much longer who can probably give you better advice on career progression, what subjects to study at university, etc… However, I also spent an agonizing year trying to do what many of you are trying to do – get your first paying job in the industry and I think I have gained some insight into the process. Also, a lot of you guys have asked me for advice, so I figured you guys might appreciate any tips I could give you! I’ll mainly be talking about games journalism, because that’s what my internships were in, but to be honest it’s mostly just generalised job searching advice. I’m also not saying that everything I suggest is The Right Way or that if you follow it then you’ll get that job/internship you’re looking for. Ultimately it comes down to you and what you can do. But every little bit helps right?

First things first though, I’m not going to lie, the games industry is incredibly competitive and the jobs aren’t that plentiful – particularly at games magazines and websites. Sure people do come and go, but junior positions are rare to come by and almost any role these days requires experience. With the economy being what it is now and the difficulties that many magazines are going through, those golden opportunities are few and far between. That said though, it’s not all doom and gloom! I got a job in the industry didn’t I? Understand that it will be difficult, but it’s not impossible if you’ve got the will. Thick skin helps too.