Resumes, Cover Letters and Websites

1. Resumes, Cover Letters and Websites Presented By Jim Rivers Hiring Manager

2. What is a resume? Definition: • A summary of a candidates educational and work experience, for the information of possible future employers. 

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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:

11. 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

12. 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 Designer Obsidian Entertainment, Irvine CA 2003 – Present Titles 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

13. 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

14. Example Resume: Chronological John Doe 1515 Imaginary Way #C Huntington Beach, CA 92646 Cell: 714-555-1212 jdoe@gmail.com www.johndoesdesigns.com Objective or Summary I am striving to be the best game designer in the industry. Skills Software Engines or Editors Languages 3D Studio Max Never Winter C/C++ Maya GECK Open GL Photoshop Unreal Direct X ZBrush Hammer Visual Basic Industry Experience Level Design Internship Obsidian Entertainment, Irvine CA 2009 – Present Title worked on: Alpha Protocol • Terrain sculpting and painting, placement of game objects on the world map • Creation of secondary locations Education Bachelor of Science in Gaming Simulation, 1996 University of Whatever – City, State

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. Example - Cover Letter Date Your Name Address City/State/Zip Employer's Name Employer's Title Company Name Address City/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

19. Websites Definition: • A collection of related web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are addressed with a common domain name

20. 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

21. 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!

22. What should I have on my website? Artists What type of artist are you • Concept, Environment, or Character Galleries • 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?

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. Questions?

27. 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