The importance of networking within the creative industries

 What do we mean by networking?

Not to be confused with computer networking, which is where a computer is connected to a network, today we are going to discuss another type of networking, business networking. 


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Professionals will network to expand their business acquaintances within their specific discipline area.

Why is networking important in the creative industries?

Networking within the creative industries, and more specifically, the gaming industry is vital to progress in your career. It has many benefits for your professional life and personal development. Some of these benefits include:

  •    Discovering new job positions
  •    Generating new ideas
  •    Meeting new people
  •    Growing your confidence
  •    Building your reputation
  •    Finding opportunities to collaborate with other professionals
  •    Keeping up to date with advancements in your industry
  •    Receiving constructive criticism that you can implement going forward

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How do you get started?

Getting started is the hardest part, once you begin to build your contacts they will grow exponentially through the industry. There are various online platforms you can use to start networking. One of the most useful of these is LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is a fantastic professional networking platform. It is a great way to keep up to date with what is going on in your industry, make lasting connections and attract potential employers. You can include your previous education history and job experience on your profile as well as your skills. There is even a feature in which others can give you a recommendation.

Once you have created your LinkedIn account you can begin to share projects you are working on to show your skills. You can connect with other industry professionals and follow companies in your industry.

Researching your discipline area before you start networking

When you want to integrate yourself into your chosen industry it’s important to know who is who within your chosen field. As a games development student, I would recommend following well-known games studios such as Nintendo, Bethesda and Rockstar Games. These studios will often post any job positions they have available, possibly tips on navigating their interview process and maybe even summer intern positions for students.

Networking Strategy

There are many ways to network within the gaming industry. As I mentioned above you can connect with others on LinkedIn, attend online or in-person events related to the gaming industry or join communities.

Some notable events within the gaming industry are:

Game Jams

Various game jams are held online allowing participants to team up with others and create a game in the specified time, usually between 2 days and a week. The requirements for each game jam vary but more often than not they will also provide a brief or theme that your game must adhere to. 

Itch.io often holds these events and they are a great way to meet like-minded individuals as well as develop your game development skills.

In-Person

GamesIndustry.biz advertises a wide variety of games industry events all over the world. It’s useful to keep an eye on what events are taking place and attend any that you can.

Communities

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Depending on your chosen career path, there are lots of opportunities to be had by joining a community. These websites can help you enhance your skills and meet other professionals in your industry. Here are a few that I have found:

If you work using a specific game engine you could also join their community:

How should you conduct yourself?

Whether you are networking at online or real-world events you should always conduct yourself professionally. If you are posting online, you should keep it business-related, more personal posts should be kept for other platforms such as Facebook. If you are attending an in-person event you should maintain a professional demeanour at all times.

Tips for promoting yourself professionally

When attending a real-world event there are things you can do to promote yourself. Here are some ideas for gaming industry events:

  •         Use business cards so that people know how to reach out to you in the future
  •         Take a laptop to allow potential employers to see your work and maybe even play your games
  •         Have a link to your online portfolio or showreel ready to show potential employers

Conclusion

In conclusion, to network successfully in the gaming industry you should take steps to get yourself and your work out there, promote your work whenever the opportunity arises, always act professionally and adhere to the correct social etiquette, join communities where possible and start making connections. Good luck!

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