Resumes, Cover Letters and Websites

PresentedBy

Jim RiversHiring Manager

What is a resume?

Definition:• A summary of a candidates educational and work experience, for the

information of possible future employers.

Resume formats

Functional Resume• The functional resume is used to emphasize a focus on skills that are

specific to the type of position you are seeking.

• This format directly highlights specific experience summaries and professional achievements as its primary means of communication.

Resume formats

Chronological Resume• A chronological resume enumerates a candidate's job experiences in

reverse chronological order, generally covering the last 3 - 5 years or industry related experience.

• The main body of the document is the Professional Experience section.

• The chronological resume works to build credibility through experience, while demonstrating career growth over time.

Which one works for you?

Functional resume• If you lack Industry experience but have solid school, modding or

internship experience this is a great option.

Chronological resume• If you have Industry experience and you want to showcase your career

growth over time.

What should I put on my resume?

Do’s • Tailor your resume to each company you apply too• Keep your resume limited to 1 page unless you have the experience to

back it up• Make downloading easy – WORD .DOC or .PDF Formats• Make sure that you spell check EVERYTHING and then have other people

check it again• Make sure you have your web link on your resume• Keep updating the information and style of your resume

What should I not put on my resume?

Don’ts• Do not bulk up your resume because you lack experience• No logos or artwork on your resume• No crazy FONTS – Veranda, Arial and Times New Roman is fine• Do not send your resume as a .JPEG or .AI • Put the wrong companies name on your resume• Hobbies, Marital status, Political Status, Social Security Number, Drivers

License Number, Birthday or Picture of yourself

What should I put on my resume?

Contact Information

Should always be at the top of the page and include the following:

• Name – Avoid using nick names

• Address – Simple

• Email – Your name @ Whatever . Com

• Website – Keep it professional

• Phone – Have a professional answer

What should I put on my resume?

Objective or Summary ?Objective • Your objective should be simple, specific and brief and relate to the position you are

applying for• No more than two or three lines • It should highlight what you have to offer the company, such as a specific skill or

experience • A recruiter is more interested in what you can give the company than what you hope

to get from it

Summary• A summary statement is a one- to two-sentence overview that captures the essence

of your skills and experience. • It highlights what makes you a qualified candidate as well as what makes you different

(and better) than other applicants.

What should I put on my resume?

Skills• Listing skills can help you stand out. It can also add important keywords to your resume. Hiring managers often

use skills as keywords when searching resume databases.

Helpful tip:• Use tables to organize and categorize your skills then you can hide the edges for a better appearance.

Example:

Programs:• ZBrush• Photoshop• Softimage XSI• 3D Studio Max

Engines or Editors: Never Winter Unreal Hammer GECK

What should I put on my resume?

Achievements• An achievement is the successful completion of something. • An achievement that has been accomplished by your hard work, ability, or

perseverance in previous jobs or activities. • Try to summarize your achievements in no less than 5 but no more than 10

bullet points.

Example:• Created, animated or designed a level or scene• Responsible for the day-to-day mentoring of new artist’s• Built a level 70 character in World of Warcraft in under a week

What should I put on my resume?

Industry or Work Experience• List your experience chronologically• Your most recent job first • Include your title (Title should be in bold), the company name, location, and

dates of employment. • Titles you have worked on (if applicable)• A brief description of your accomplishments with bullet points

Example:Level DesignerObsidian Entertainment, Irvine CA2003 – PresentTitles completed: Alpha Protocol, Neverwinter Nights 2• Create immersive, innovative, and gameplay-driven environments using a proprietary tools and in-house assets• Bring life to levels through lighting, effects, dynamic events, and scripting• Define the creative vision and fun factor while executing design and working through design revisions

What should I put on my resume?

Education • List your most recent education first and work backward. • State your degree, major, minor (Spell it out)• Start and completion dates of attendance• School's name and location• We don’t need to know your GPA

Example:Bachelor of Science in Gaming Simulation, 2002-2006 ?University of Whatever – City, State

Example Resume: Chronological John Doe1515 Imaginary Way #CHuntington Beach, CA 92646Cell: 714-555-1212jdoe@gmail.com www.johndoesdesigns.com

Objective or SummaryI am striving to be the best game designer in the industry.

SkillsSoftware Engines or Editors Languages3D Studio Max Never Winter C/C++MayaGECK Open GLPhotoshop Unreal Direct XZBrush Hammer Visual Basic

Industry ExperienceLevel Design InternshipObsidian Entertainment, Irvine CA2009 – PresentTitle worked on: Alpha Protocol• Terrain sculpting and painting, placement of game objects on the world map• Creation of secondary locations

EducationBachelor of Science in Gaming Simulation, 1996University of Whatever – City, State

What is a Cover Letter?

Definition:• A cover letter is an accompanying letter or email that introduces you and

your resume to a potential employer indicating your interest in the position or company.

What should I have in my Cover Letter?

Do’s• Passion for what you do• Fan-boy a bit but don’t go overboard• Research the company you are applying too• Be confident • What can you bring to the team

What should I not have in my Cover Letter?

Don’ts• Life story• Put the wrong companies name on your cover letter• Don’t beg or plead • No more than 1 page

Example - Cover LetterDate

Your NameAddressCity/State/Zip

Employer's NameEmployer's TitleCompany NameAddressCity/State/Zip

Dear,

Introduction : Create interest; attract attention!

The Body: Discuss why you want to work for this company

Closing: State that you would like an opportunity to be interviewed

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Your Name Printed

Websites

Definition:• A collection of related web pages, images, videos or other digital assets

that are addressed with a common domain name

What should I have on my website?

• Your name and contact information• What are you

– Designer, Artist, Animator or Programmer• Links to your resume (Downloadable please) in .PDF or Word .DOC

formats• Easy accessibility • Your best work

What should I NOT have on my website?

• Works in progress• Work that is not yours• Work that SCREAMS COLLEGE or your MOM said it looks great• Quantity over quality• Work that does not apply• Anime• Don’t make us hunt for your work!

What should I have on my website?ArtistsWhat type of artist are you• Concept, Environment, or CharacterGalleries• Organized by type or genre

– Fantasy– Sci-Fi– Current– Period– 2D– 3D– Modeling– Rigging

Concept Artists • What is the difference between being a Concept Artist or a Illustrator?

What should I have on my website?

Animators• Single compiled reels are outdated

– Make a variety of individual clips by type• Run cycles, Action cycles and conversations• Showcase the 12 principles of Animation

• Most current and best work on top• Please have your videos in QuickTime • Make your videos easy to open

What should I have on my website?

Designers• What kind of designer are you?

– Creative, Level, Systems or Scripter• Top down maps• QuickTime fly thru or screen shots• Documentation

– What you did on the project• Level designer, systems or creative

– Overview of game– Systems or scripts

• Link to Mod site

What should I have on my website?

Programmers• What kind of programmer are you?

– Gameplay, Engine, AI, Graphics or Tools• Links to games made• QuickTime examples of your programs in action• Links to blogs you participate in about programming

Questions?

Special Thanks to

• Lindsey McQueeney – Big Huge Games/38 Studios• Stacey Frias – Foundation 9/Double Helix• Angela Baker - Insomniac Games• Sumer Ortiz – Blizzard Entertainment• Tina Cruz-Williams – Foundation 9/Backbone• Wendy Jones – Ncsoft/Carbine Studios