I hadn’t planned on making the first post on my new game development blog something quite so grim feeling, but a friend and former co-worker of mine learned recently that his first gig in the business is about to come to an end, and it seemed timely, so here goes.
The Risks We Accept
As game developers, we work in an appallingly unstable field. For every studio founder who’s been with the same company since the days of the Atari 2600 there are a hundred developers who’ve found their position obsoleted at least once in their career. It’s all too common, and personally I suspect it’s one of the key reasons our business sees the awful turnover it does.
But it only makes sense. Most developers operate in the red, their fates out of their own hands, and – especially in the console and PC world – putting in their entire war chest against every new project. When you combine those kinds of conditions with the mercurial nature of the market, and throw in a preponderance of studio leaders who are learning as they go (and often all the wrong lessons, to boot), it’s actually a bit surprising that we don’t see more studio closures and down-sizing than we do.
So long story short, as a game developer, you should expect to lose your job from time to time, and it behooves us all to be prepared for that eventuality.
The First Time Hurts
The first time it happens is inevitably the most painful. It’s not that the first one is a bigger betrayal, but like pain and drugs, you eventually build up a tolerance. And lest there be any question about it, you have been betrayed! Not – one is to hope – out of malice, but let’s face it: in order to arrive at this crossroads, someone was derelict in their duty to plan and run a prospering business, at the very least.
It’s also the hardest to recover from, because either everyone you’ve ever worked with now works for the one company who obviously doesn’t want you, or else they’re all out of a job as well and in no position to help. In this industry, networking is of paramount importance, and unfortunately you’re shit out of luck because your network is not only smaller than it will ever be, but powerless to do anything.
But it’s ok. Take a deep breath, go through the stages of grief. And above all, be patient. If game development is where you want to make your career, this is practically a right of passage. Many have gone this way before, and you’re (probably) going to be fine.
The Second Still Sucks
If it’s any consolation, it gets a bit easier every time. Your network grows, giving you ins at more places, and your resume improves, helping you get past the first test at the rest. If you’re lucky, you’re also a bit more prepared, thanks to a combination of financial advantages and the experience to see the end coming.
Depending on how you’re liking the place you work, it can even come as a relief.
But like a fall, the part the comes after is nobody’s idea of a good time. Job hunting is a pain, and watching your savings sink into such mundane expenses as food and a warm place to sleep is emotionally taxing. It becomes an exercise of will to find your motivation, and that’s exactly what you need to muster if you want to stick with a career in game development.
Doomsday Prep
Given that it’s all but guaranteed to happen, there’s a lot you can do to be ready for the inevitable, whether you’re a heartbroken first timer or a jaded veteran of many such disasters.
Prepare Financially
It’s often hard, especially as a young developer starting out, but save some money for a rainy day. My own rule – though I couldn’t actually manage it for a few years – is to keep a year’s worth of living expenses available in my accounts, and it’s one I’ll recommend to anyone. A job hunt can easily take six months, and you should do your best to be prepared for that, even if it means living with a bit of austerity.
Build Your Network
Aside from making sure you have somewhere to live and enough money for food, the single most important thing you can do for your career is make friends. They may not be able to help you after your first layoff, but having people who are eager to recommend you will open countless doors in your future. Deliberately building relationships, especially with your boss and the more experienced people around you is vital.
Work Like You Mean It
And while you’re at it, make sure you’re making a good impression on everyone else. While the people who work in your discipline are your best potential advocates, even a coworker you barely know can shut you out of consideration some day if you’re seen as lazy or incompetent. Work with passion and dedication, and make yourself visible (in a good way – I’m looking at you drunken Christmas party guy). It helps.
Never Burn Bridges
Finally, and most emphatically, don’t let emotion – especially the emotions that surround losing your job – get the better of you. Having a yelling match with your (now former) boss or signing up to do a belligerent AMA may feel good in the moment, but they can permanently cripple your career. It’s a tiny, incestuous industry, and your reputation will proceed you, especially if it’s a reputation for starting trouble.
Sticking It Out
Getting laid off is as easy as falling down. There’s not a whole lot you can do to stop it most times. Standing back up is harder, but I’ve got some advice on that front too.
Don’t Freak Out
Like the book says, “Don’t panic.” If you’re like most people (or like me, at least) the first few days after losing your job will be rough. There will be anger, frustration, recrimination, and possibly tears. Expect and accept this, and it’s a lot easier to deal with. That said, it’s also better to avoid making big decisions until you calm down – prematurely moving, selling things, or doing anything else rash can be something you come to regret.
Connect With Friends
Commiserating with your buddies is perhaps the best way to help yourself get over the shock of a layoff. Assuming your buddies are also your ex-coworkers, it also serves the insidious purpose of reinforcing your network within the business. Force yourself to take a break, and go drown your sorrows with the only people who truly understand: the other people who just lost their jobs.
Get Your Shit Together
Like your first day at work, you should start your first day of unemployment with a sense of purpose and direction. Creating or updating your resume, writing a couple of practice cover letters, and spending some time updating your portfolio or other example work will set a productive tone that lasts through your entire job hunt. They’re also a great way to channel some of the inevitable nervous energy.
Do The Paperwork
And once you’re done with that, there’s more paperwork. Go sign up for unemployment – it’s insurance that your employer paid for, and you’re owed it – but also keep an eye out for severance and insurance papers. Read and understand them, since you’ve got all this free time now anyway, and embrace the sense of closure that comes from making the choice to sign or shred the last vestiges of your old life.
Set Yourself A Schedule
To manage all this, and the bits yet to come, treat unemployment like work. When you have no job, your job is to get a job, and you should get up every morning and try to do just that. But just like any other job, it’s important to strike a good work-life balance. Take your weekends (nobody’s reviewing your resume on Saturday anyway) and evenings, just like you always have, and try to keep things on a regular routine.
Be Prompt But Patient
Depending on when you get laid off, there may be a larger or smaller number of opportunities in front of you. Hiring is generally most active between March and August, so if you lose your job in the fall you may have to stick it out through the holidays before things open up. So plan accordingly, and stick with it. Don’t let opportunities pass you by, but take comfort in the fact that more are always appearing.
Do The Legwork
Ultimately of course, you’ve got to job hunt. Don’t rush it though. It’s better to put in a couple of good applications a week than a dozen half-ass ones, and it’s entirely worth your time to prepare for interviews (on the phone or in person) in depth. Learn about the companies you’re talking to and spend your time developing your skills on your own initiative, and you’ll find you come out of unemployment a better dev.
Back In the Ring
Eventually, if you’re patient and persistent and diligent, you’ll find yourself in a position to get back on the job. Whether you take the first offer that comes your way or hold out for just the right match is a function of your situation and the opportunities you see in your future, but either way you should be looking for a place where you think you’ll have a brighter, better career, and that prepares you well for next time…