5 Game Industry Networking Oopsies (and how to avoid them)

When meeting someone who might have the power to hire you, it can be tempting to steer the conversation towards landing a gig. If you’re meeting new people at an event or convention, focus instead on just making genuine connections with folks. You’ll leave most events without a job offer, and that’s ok! The work comes later.

You should have a website where it’s incredibly easy for potential clients to see/hear your best work with as little friction as possible. Have business cards ready, but know that just as often you can trade Twitter or Instagram @’s, or even just write down the names of people you met so you can Google their contact info later.

Networking in games is less formal than in other industries. People want to work with people they know and like, so your goal is literally to make friends. No need to spend time on people who rub you the wrong way; you wouldn’t want to work with them anyhow.

Your networking will be way less effective if you only focus on meeting people who can hire you. Anyone you can meet and get along with in the game industry is a valuable connection, from QA testers to environmental artists, to people who do the same job you do. You never know where your next referral will come from!