CV & Jobs
Gareth Bellaby
1
CV
• Make
it readable. The person reading the CV
will skim through it quickly in order to filter out
inappropriate applications. Use a clear layout.
Use a clear typeface. Do not use fancy
graphics, coloured paper, odd typefaces, etc.
• As many pages as you need but we'd suggest 1
side for the essential material.
• Brief overview at start.
• Use the Aardvark Swift talk as your guide.
2
CV
• When you list things such as jobs or eduction
you place the most recent first.
• Stress the things that are most important, e.g. 3
years of C++ programming.
3
Course Content
• What
is your degree about? What have you
learnt?
• We describe it as having 3 main strands:
• Software Engineering (programming)
• Computer Games Development
(note
development not design)
• Maths.
4
Software Engineering
• "A Programming degree"
• "A Software Engineering
degree
computer games development"
specialising
in
• Programming
• C++, Three years of C++
• Other languages:
• Java
• J2ME
• C#
• Methodologies (Object Oriented, UML)
• Agile, SCRUM
5
Computer
Development
Games
• Computer Graphics, 3D
• DirectX: 12.
• Game loop
• Entities
• Instancing
• AI for games (note emphasis)
6
Mathematics
•
•
•
•
•
Linear algebra: branch of maths concerned
with vectors and linear transformations.
Affine transformation (rotation, scaling, etc.) is
every transformation which is linear.
Non-affine (projection matrices).
Quaternions.
Other maths, e.g. Manhatten distance, inverse
square law, physics.
7
Jobs
• Recruitment Agencies
• Magazines/Websites
• Company websites
• Aardvark-Swift
• gameindustrybiz
• Datascope
• gamasutra
• Amiqus
• develop
• mvc.
8
Jobs
• Only
one application per company! They
may well reject you out of hand if they
receive multiple submissions.
• Direct application to the company.
• Recruitment agency.
• Some companies may prefer
a particular
agency.
• Some companies may not use agencies.
• Check the agency: they should be active
on
your behalf.
9
Demo
• Immediate visual impact
• Easy to run. No technical
problems (missing
dll's artwork, other files, particular video card).
Test it on a variety of machines!
• Visual Tech Demo:
• no controls on the main interface
• interrupt to allow control
• Laurent's demos are the model you should
be following
10
Demo
• Professional.
• Interactive Demo
• Simple, clear interface
• Use the obvious controls
• William's is a good example to follow.
11
Polish
The work should be polished.
Some of the write-up about polish turns up in
design.
Some turns up at the end, possibly in a chapter
on its own.
Could be combined with the evaluation section.
12
Code
You may be asked to provide code.
They'll look for well written, readable code:
• Properly commented
• Well commented
• Properly laid out
• Consistent notation
• Efficient
• Good application of OO
• Impress with a UML diagram!
13
C++ tests
•
•
•
Companies use programming tests.
This is a general characteristic of
programming jobs: software engineering as
well as games.
Practice
14
Research
• Research the job.
• Research what they are doing and have done.
• Use their phrases in your answer.
• Tailor your CV for the particular job.
15
Interview
Practice all elements of the interview, e.g. questions
and answers, summations, etc.
• May be asked to sit a test.
• The interview will probably be by a panel.
• May be asked to do a presentation.
• May have a social element. Learn to do
small
talk.
• Be confident but not cocky.
• Shake hands firmly. If you sweat with nerves then
wipe your hand before shaking.
• Make eye contact.
16
Questions
How would you implement a look-at function?
What is a Computer Games Development
course?
Are you happiest working in a team or on your
own?
Why do you
development?
want
to
work
in
games
17
Afterwards
• Immediately make notes about the interview.
• Write down every question you were asked so that you
can improve your answer.
• Make
notes about the process, the responses of the
panel, if they indicate anything about the type of person
they wanted, etc.
• If you do not get the job then ring the company up and
find out why. Most people are happy to provide
feedback. It may be that you were very good, but
another candidate just won out for a particular reason.
• The interview is about your performance on the day. It
is not a judgement about your worth.
18