Comments on: Thoughts on the Interview Process in the Game Industry While I've never run a company so my opinion may not be the most informed, I would think that a company that would refuse to fly in an interviewer (granted not necessarily business class) would be a company that I would probably want to avoid. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few phone interviews or "take-home" tests before that actually happened, but if a company is asking me to uproot and move there without willing to put forth a modest investment amount first to fly me out there then that doesn't send good signals. Not to mention that it seems to fail Wolfgang's point about needing to evaluate their personality and fit with the culture of the team since any additional information you can get from a face-to-face interview would be invaluable in determining if they would work well. There is a commitment of time and money on both sides for an interview process and if one party is unwilling then I would imagine that things might not be that different in an actual employment setting. While I’ve never run a company so my opinion may not be the most informed, I would think that a company that would refuse to fly in an interviewer (granted not necessarily business class) would be a company that I would probably want to avoid. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a few phone interviews or “take-home” tests before that actually happened, but if a company is asking me to uproot and move there without willing to put forth a modest investment amount first to fly me out there then that doesn’t send good signals. Not to mention that it seems to fail Wolfgang’s point about needing to evaluate their personality and fit with the culture of the team since any additional information you can get from a face-to-face interview would be invaluable in determining if they would work well. There is a commitment of time and money on both sides for an interview process and if one party is unwilling then I would imagine that things might not be that different in an actual employment setting.

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By: Wolfgang Engel/2011/03/29/thoughts-on-the-interview-process-in-the-game-industry/#comment-2146 Wolfgang Engel Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:17:56 +0000 Lots of very good insight and advice! Note to students looking for entry-level game jobs in the US: Don't expect to fly business class. In fact, don't expect to be flown in at all unless you're looking at a huge company with lots of extra cash. I'm in Seattle, which has a bunch of small companies and a bunch of students and other job-hunters, so companies here can usually afford to be picky. Flying people in may very well be the norm in other cities. But very job I've ever interviewed for, on either side of the process, strongly preferred local candidates (except for Microsoft!). Also, I agree with Chris about interviewing superiors. Over the years I have outlasted two different Directors who were hired without input from their future leads and who turned out to be terrible fits with the team. Thanks for the great post. Lots of very good insight and advice!

Note to students looking for entry-level game jobs in the US: Don’t expect to fly business class. In fact, don’t expect to be flown in at all unless you’re looking at a huge company with lots of extra cash.

I’m in Seattle, which has a bunch of small companies and a bunch of students and other job-hunters, so companies here can usually afford to be picky. Flying people in may very well be the norm in other cities. But very job I’ve ever interviewed for, on either side of the process, strongly preferred local candidates (except for Microsoft!).

Also, I agree with Chris about interviewing superiors. Over the years I have outlasted two different Directors who were hired without input from their future leads and who turned out to be terrible fits with the team.

Thanks for the great post.

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By: Wolfgang Engel/2011/03/29/thoughts-on-the-interview-process-in-the-game-industry/#comment-2140 Wolfgang Engel Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:09:33 +0000 Great article, Wolfgang :) I agree with a lot of it, although it's interesting that you recommend people don't interview their future managers/directors; that's not one I entirely side with. True, it would probably be inappropriate for junior/midlevel employees to be involved in such an interview, however senior people should have their egos well-enough adjusted to be able to contribute fairly to the process. I've interviewed future bosses a couple times now and it hasn't posed a problem, and I know many others who've done the same. Nonetheless, a very well written post :) Great article, Wolfgang :)

I agree with a lot of it, although it’s interesting that you recommend people don’t interview their future managers/directors; that’s not one I entirely side with.

True, it would probably be inappropriate for junior/midlevel employees to be involved in such an interview, however senior people should have their egos well-enough adjusted to be able to contribute fairly to the process. I’ve interviewed future bosses a couple times now and it hasn’t posed a problem, and I know many others who’ve done the same.

Nonetheless, a very well written post :)

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