Get a Job in Gaming: a How-to Guide by Katie Chironis

image credit: https://dazeinfo.com/2018/07/10/online-hiring-in-india-june-2018-report/

For people who are interested in joining the gaming sphere, particularly Game or Narrative design, look no further. Katie Chironis is a successful Senior Game Designer at Riot Games & Writer for Elsinore Games. On her website, she goes into great detail on how to prepare yourself, complete a resume, website, and application, networking, interviewing and completing design tests, turning a gig into a career, and having hard conversations.

She even adds a friendly note about how the guide is completely free: "These guides are provided for free because I don't believe things like this should be behind a paywall." She does, however, accept donations to allow her to continue making content that helps people get hired.

Some of the most important information that she really has is in her last section: having hard conversations. It is well-known that men make more than women. Women of color make even less than white women. What people don't consider is how to push those boundaries. Chironis goes into depth about how to discuss hard-hitting items with bosses, etc:

• I’d like to be promoted and/or paid more.
• I’m a contractor. Will I be converted to full time?
• A coworker has been abusive, either towards me or another employee.
• I’d like to transfer to another role or team within this company.
• My work is unfulfilling and/or I’m under-tasked. What’s going on?
• There is some content in our game which I believe is offensive or harmful.
• My manager is asking me to crunch beyond my personal boundaries.

Some of these seem like they might be things that rarely happen. But the reality is, they often happen. Specifically, when content is offensive or harmful, wondering if you're going to get the hours you deserve, or when a coworker has been abusive. Speaking up about topics like this can be scary. In fact, many people wonder if they might lose their job or cause trouble by bringing some of these things up. But the reality is that they all need to be talked about. 

I can't say that all managers, supervisors, or even CEO's will be understanding about any or all of these topics being brought up, but your voice should and can be heard. It just takes proper language and appropriate timing.