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by Kirk Bangstad
kirk.bangstad@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist

If you’re trying to jumpstart your video game design career, attending industry conferences like the Austin Game Conference is a good way to meet potential employers.

There are a number of ways to find a job in the video game design industry. Many video game design school graduates send portfolios to the major gaming studios, or first work for smaller studios to get some practical experience. If you haven’t had a lot of luck finding a job through the normal application process, you should think about attending a video game design industry conference.

One of these conferences takes place in Austin, Texas each year, and draws close to 2,500 attendees from approximately 20 countries. This conference in particular is a biggie for the industry because Austin is home to over 60 video game companies, making them one of the top video-game producing cities in the U.S.

Conference Designed to Boost Video Game Design Careers

These conferences are designed to let participants network with one another. Many sessions are very informal and allow people to speak with and get to know each other in relaxed environments. Some conferences are set up for employers to view and critique video game designer’s portfolios. These opportunities are invaluable because participants get a chance to show their work to potential employers, and they can get valuable feedback about their skills in a supportive atmosphere. The industry isn’t that big yet, so it is important for your video game design career to meet other people like you. You never know when an acquaintance will tell you about a potential job opportunity.

Do your video game design career a favor and make it to one of these large industry conferences. The upside of making connections will far outweigh the travel and hotel costs.

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About the Author

Kirk Bangstad is a singer living in Chicago, lllinois. Having received his B.A. in Government at Harvard, Kirk previously worked as a management consultant.