Game design and your resume

[Matt Gwinn]

I am on the verge of quiting my current job and have started to rework my resume.  I would like to include my game design experience, but I am not sure if it is appropriate when applying for jobs outside the game industry as Errant Knight Games is not a registered company, I receive no paycheck nor does Errant Knight Games pay taxes.

However, I feel that designing, laying out and publishing my own RPG, doing ashcans for Charnel Gods and Wyrd in addition to the marketing and promotional work involved in selling Kayfabe are far more fitting to my resume than say working security at Adrian College or doing 3 months worth of telemarketing which are both on my resume.

How do the rest of you handle your game design tasks in regards to your resume?

By the way, the jobs I am applying for are all Graphic Design related.

,Matt G

[Clay]

By the way, the jobs I am applying for are all Graphic Design related.

Then I'd say that your book design work in particular should go on the resume. It's directly relevant, and shows personal initiative.

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Matt,

I think the graphic design connection makes Errant Knight a very suitable element of the resume. Just how it fits in there depends a lot on resume standards for your field, and the position in question.

It certainly is a stronger fit than such a tactic would be for me ... except that I do indeed put Adept Press and Sorcerer onto my academic resume, in the final section regarding "Miscellaneous" or "Personal" material. Speaking as someone who's served on a lot of academic job-search committees, after reading all the academic jobs, classes, and articles listings, it's kind of refreshing to come across such things at the end. ("Hey, this guy runs a fondue website! Cool!")

Best,
Ron

[Blake Hutchins]

Not to mention the entrepreneurial gumption involved in website creation, independent design and publication, etc.  Employers tend to look favorably on that kind of initiative.

Best,

Blake

[Clinton R. Nixon]

I always put Anvilwerks on my resume and highlight the writing, editing, organization, and web development aspects of it, including the development of the Forge. All the jobs I apply for are web development jobs, so those aspects apply.

[Matt Machell]

I know for a fact that putting Realms on my CV helped me get my current job (editing web design books). It gave me something different to talk about at interview, and proved I had certain skills.

Like any CV points, it's just a case of being careful how you phrase things.

Matt

[Eugene Zee]

Matt,

In my line of business (graphics staffing) I see tons of resumes and interview many graphics and design people.  My advice to you would be this.

Don't put down Knight Errant in the experience catagory, if employers see that and ask you about it (you should assume they will) it might hurt you to show that as as the company you worked for.  If you were looking for a higher management role it might help but here it likely won't.  Instead mention it as the company that you do your design business through (ie. your corporate presence).  It is a subtle difference but it makes a big impact.

However you should definitely put down your experience with other game companies and your sales and marketing experience with the indie booth.  Include your telemarketing experience as well as that can be brought to bear.  Leave the security out you have enough if you write it correctly to do without it.

One more thing.  Use the stuff you have done to put together a portfolio (if you haven't already).  Try to do as many pieces in full color as possible.

If you want more advice email me and we can talk offline.  I'd be more than happy.  ezee@darknebulae.com

Otherwise good luck, my friend.

Regards

[Zak Arntson]

On my resume, I have a section for "Publications" where I list my freelance work. I'll add my creator-owned stuff when I finally publish (which reminds me, I have to add my website when I revamp my resume). I agree with others above that it shows initiative, creativity and guts (writing, whether creator-owned or for-hire, is tough to do!).

I've had different reactions, some glossed right over it, others have commented on it ("I used to play D&D in college"), while some interviewers at a video game company (natch!) asked me why I didn't just design RPGs professionally (I politely told them it's not something you can make a living at).

My current boss told me, after she saw a mention of D&D on my resume, that she would have freaked out (her image of it _before_ meeting me was a fringe, occult, anti-Christian activity; she now knows it as a harmless pastime), though luckily she wasn't involved in hiring me.

So, numerous interested & some positive reactions versus one bad reaction (and only because of the explicit mention of "D&D"). I'd say plug it in there.

[talespinnerstudios]

I include a CV of my written work, from press releases to games I've done work for, with my resume.  Any time I list RPG, I instead put Interactive Gaming Project.

People who play games will recognize titles, the ones that don't know the size of your press runs.  I've gotten jobs based on stuff I've written for RPGs, as well as galleys I've done in Quark and game art I've done in PhotoShop.

Hi Ron, I finally jumped on board. :)  I'll be here more often, too.

Caias Ward

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Caias, welcome!

Whoops. Off-topic. Moderate self.

Back to the resume discussion, chop-chop.

Best,
Ron

[Dav]

I tend to leave my game desgin experience off the resume`.  However, I apply for jobs that have little, or no, connection to game design.

What I do include, however, is the fact that I have authored a novel, as well as written "techincal manuals" for various products (sneaky, but technically true).  That, and the fact that I am co-founder of a few companies...blah-blah (they don't have to see the books, so they don't know how "profitable" it is...)

However, looking at the scope of jobs you are looking for, why do you feel they wouldn't be relevant?  It would seem that this is exactly the type of stuff that applies under the whole "Experience" heading.

Include it.

And bring samples to the interview.  

People like things to occupy their hands while you talk.

Dav

[Ben Morgan]

My freelance artwork experience so far has not been entirely relevant to helping me land a job in the Network Support field, but I do consider it an accomplishment, so it has earned a line in the Other Skills section of my resume (as does the consistent maintenance of my own site).

If at some time I do decide to step up my campaign to get a job in Graphic Design (which i plan to eventually), I would make it a point to elaborate on that whole section a bit.

[Ben Morgan]

My freelance artwork experience so far has not been entirely relevant to helping me land a job in the Network Support field, but I do consider it an accomplishment, so it has earned a line in the Other Skills section of my resume (as does the consistent maintenance of my own site).

If at some time I do decide to step up my campaign to get a job in Graphic Design (which i plan to eventually), I would make it a point to elaborate on that whole section a bit.