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Getting a job is never easy when you want to do it for the first time or when you want to switch professions so you're starting from scratch, with no prior experience nor connections in the industry you're targeting. You're on the outside looking in. When you got nothing else to rely on but yourself and how you present your skills to the new employer, the focus obviously must be on you, but your choice of where to apply will also make a big difference too.
DashTickets.nz, a leading New Zealand magazine ran by gaming industry professionals who have been employed by major companies and who have done the employing themselves, have prepared this guide for us, coming from decades of experience in the gaming industry. They gave us top six tips on how to get a job for the first time or start a new career.
Recruiters can spot an overly ambitious CV from a mile away, and then the entire list will look untrustworthy. Tone it down, underpromise and overdeliver. The CV that lacks experience for a specific job role can still paint a full picture about you if you do it right. Less is more - let the recruiter use his imagination to try to conclude who you are and what you can do.
Recruiters are annoyed by people who spam all job offers with the same CV, then look at what job interviews they landed, and then ignore the ones they didn't care about. This is bad in so many ways. Apply to the job you really want. Write a customized cover letter and make it clear that you're addressing that job role specifically. Address the recruiter by name if you know it. Again, don't overdo it by being overly ambitious, be polite and say why you want the job.
Having a narrow scope is the number one way to be unemployed for a long time. Look at the ads, try to examine each job role and try to imagine yourself in that job. It might be something you never even considered doing, but that could actually be a good job and a good career path for you.
It's a numbers game. Many people are aware of that and they spam the job roles endlessly. This isn't the way to go - focus only on the jobs you really want, but be persistent about it. The search may take months or even longer. Actively monitoring all open positions, examining them, and then applying to the ones you're interested in is a recipe for success. DashTickets.nz, Doing it as a one-off thing won't get you anywhere.
If there's a company you really want to work for, you don't have to wait for a job role to come out. Many companies are constantly hiring, so you might as well email them with your CV and cover letter and ask if they have a job role you could fill.