Running a business (even a relatively small one like mine) gives you a remarkable vantage point from which to observe certain parts of life and one of the things that I enjoy most about my specific job is the opportunity it gives me to spot/develop talent. It’s thrilling to see someone join the team and grow into a valuable, formidable professional who’s at the very top of their game. In fact no other part of my job is more rewarding.

However, on the flip-side, a source of constant disappointment to me is how few people take the opportunities that we give them.

Being the only game studio in 50 miles we get a very large number of both applications for jobs we advertise and speculative enquiries from students and grads. I personally review every single one we get and pride myself in looking for the potential in everything even when the overall portfolio we’ve been sent is a bit poor. If there’s something that I like, I’ll often respond by suggesting that the person concerned do a bit more work and come back to us in a few weeks’ time or perhaps get them in for a coffee and a chat, give them some tips and send them on their way in the hope that they’ll come back with something really impressive.

But here’s the thing… Almost no-one does!!!

I know that sometimes there are reasons for this: some people might decide that we’re not the right company for them, others have personal issues to deal with, and others still just don’t have what it takes but no-one? Seriously? What’s with that?

So, for what it’s worth, here are some tips in case you get yourself into a similar position sometime:

1. You need to be resilient to work in the creative industries, this means taking-on feedback, acting-on it where relevant and (without being a total pain) being persistent: make sure you get that meeting you want and, when you do, be prepared.

2. I know that getting a cool job in a creative company can seem like an insurmountable challenge at times and it can be tough but bear in mind that:

   1. 90% of the people who approach us are, sadly, not suitable for one reason or another. You only have to be as-good or better than the remaining 10%.

   2. The people who are interviewing you will have almost certainly been through the same thing (they want you to succeed) but they also need you to make it happen.

So, in summary, if you want to be successful (which I would define as getting close to fulfilling your potential, not an arbitrary financial measure) then please, please, please, take your opportunities! They’re all around you all the time, you just have to be listening out for them and put a bit of work in. I assure you, those that do NEVER regret it.