Job interviews somewhere far away

    My turn to ask a gamesindustry question

    I have no experience with job interviews on the other end of the planet. All interviews I did always were in the vicinity of a couple of hours driving from my home so Im looking for some info on this subject.

    1. Whats most common, the studio arranging everything for you? Or you having to buy a ticket and all yourself first, and theyll just refund it later on?

    2. They usually pick you up at the airport or you just have to figure it out yourself how you get to their front door?

    3. Most important question: Is it considered rude to try and combine two interviews that are in the same area in the same day? This might give the studio too little time (3 hours max) to do the interview and since they refund the costs, this can get a little hairy? Id have to ask them to split the costs, is that considered not-done?

    4. Anything else that might be important?

    Anyone who has experience with this, or how does your studio handle this?

    1. Studio arranging it for you, unless they are a rinky-dink 5 man studio with no hr department.

    2. This probably depends on the kind of studio, I have seen it done both ways.

    3. No, this is a very reasonable thing to do if you are traveling a long distance, just explain your needs and try to work it out. Maybe just offer to pay for the trip yourself if you are worried about stepping on toes.

    4. Spend some time wandering around the area where you might be moving if you have the chance. Also, ask questions about the area and lifestyle while you are interviewing.

    like zap said

    1. usually studios book a flight for you and..

    2. ..pick you up at the airport or connecting trainstation (or get someone to pick you up, like a cab)

    3. i'd probably consider it rude, yes. in this case - if its not all too expensive - you should book a flight yourself. but maybe it depends on how desperate the company is to hire you. some might actually be fine with that

    4. definitely check out the area around the office and city center. also if you get the chance to talk to a couple of people from the company (like if they take you out for lunch) ask as many questions about the life there as possible. find out how much the average rent is and compare it with your proposed salary.

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    1. Whats most common, the studio arranging everything for you? Or you having to buy a ticket and all yourself first, and they’ll just refund it later on?

    Like zaphod said. If they expect you to pay your own way, they probably aren't worth your while. I had one company that paid for half of my plane ticket, and said they'd reimburse the other half if they hired me. Lame.

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    2. They usually pick you up at the airport or you just have to figure it out yourself how you get to their front door?

    It depends. Most studios will either pay for a car rental for you, or if you'd prefer not to drive they should arrange a shuttle to take you between the airport, hotel, and the studio.

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    3. Most important question: Is it considered rude to try and combine two interviews that are in the same area in the same day? This might give the studio too little time (3 hours max) to do the interview and since they refund the costs, this can get a little hairy? Id have to ask them to split the costs, is that considered not-done?

    If you can get away with it, and you have the energy for it, then I'd say go ahead and do it, just don't tell either one .

    But you have to let the studio determine how long the interview will be. If you're flying in from out of town, I can pretty much guarantee you that they'll take the whole day to interview you. That's been my experience.

    If they say it'll only take 2 hrs or so (for each one), then go ahead and do them on the same day. I don't see it as rude. In fact, if you tell them that you're interviewing with a competing studio, that'll get them to give you an offer much more quickly or risk losing you to the other studio.

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    4. Anything else that might be important?

    Try to dress at least business casual, be confident but not arrogant, and remember that they're not only testing your skills, but your personality and how well you fit in with their team.

    I've done a crap load of interviews (all for programming positions though), so if you have any more specific questions you can shoot me a PM, and I'll tell you how they all went sideways .

    Quote from ChopperDave

    I've done a crap load of interviews (all for programming positions though), so if you have any more specific questions you can shoot me a PM, and I'll tell you how they all went sideways .

    Just out of curiosity, what kind of questions did you get asked during your programming interviews? Did a lot of them give you on the spot questions like Write a modified quicksort that has a worst case of O(n lgn) college type questions, or was it more casual, software engineering type questions?

    I only ask because in a few years when I get my degree, I'll be in many situations like that and I have no idea what to expect. Just looking for a little head's up

    Quote from ChopperDave

    Try to dress at least business casual, be confident but not arrogant, and remember that they're not only testing your skills, but your personality and how well you fit in with their team.

    You know, I've never liked the dressing nice for an interview, and thankfully I found an industry that doesn't give a shit either.

    Every interview I've had games-related I've just toddled in wearing whatever I'd normally be wearing that day. The people interviewing you are going to be dressed about the same, after all. I wouldn't worry too much about it. They're interviewing you, after all, not your closet.

    I'd really try to avoid two interviews in the same day. Some places are just a couple hours, sure, but other companies have longer drawn-out interviews that can last up to an entire day. See if you can work something out where you fly out and interview the first day on one company's expense, then interview the second day and fly out on the other's, maybe? It'll only save them money, after all.

    I'd try not to show up in flip flops and a t-shirt that says "fuck everyone" or something. while it always casual in game studios try to look presentable and smart at least... :roll:

    Well, yeah, there's still some common sense involved. The last few interviews I've had I've worn regular gaming stuff like my HL2 shirt or an X360 long-sleeved t-shirt (the most comfortable shirt EVER)... but the adage of being "that guy" that wears a band's shirt to their own concert holds true here, I think.

    For interviews I go with a shirt or polo-shirt, and some fairly smart jeans or chinos. Nothing OTT like a suit, but not what I'll end up wearing after a few weeks in the office either

    Yeah clothes arent the problem. Ill dress nicely but casual, its about me, not my clothes:)

    The problem is that Im not exactly fond of flying, so I want to minimize the time spend in an aircraft as much as possible. Flying to the same region twice isnt exactly what I understand under minimizing:)

    Your idea of having them only pay one flight and stick around in a hotel is good Kungfusquirrel. Saves them money so I can prolly sell that idea

    Plenty of time to explore the area like that too.

    Thanks for the comments.

    Quote from KungFuSquirrel

    Well, yeah, there's still some common sense involved. The last few interviews I've had I've worn regular gaming stuff like my HL2 shirt or an X360 long-sleeved t-shirt (the most comfortable shirt EVER)... but the adage of being "that guy" that wears a band's shirt to their own concert holds true here, I think.

    yes...don't be that guy. it looks really lame.

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    You know, I've never liked the dressing nice for an interview, and thankfully I found an industry that doesn't give a shit either

    Agreed and agreed .

    Even if you could do two interviews in one day, it'd be pretty draining. If they're in different cities and you have to fly from one to another, then it's not worth the risk. Suppose the flight to your second interview gets delayed or cancelled? Then you're in trouble. Besides, take advantage of the half day you have left, rent a car, and drive around the town. If you like the job but the town sucks, you won't be happy working there. You'll want to know this before you sign anything.

    Fly there, nab a cheapy hotel or hostel for a few nights and give yourself time to recover from jetlag and have a look around between interviews.

    There are few things worse than ending up somewhere you hate because you think the jobs worth it.

    Honestly if i was a recruiter, i woulmdn't really mind about clothes. In fact, i prefer to see someone with his real everyday clothe -even if it is gothic, gangsta or raggae style- than someone coming with a blazer or so

    We're working in video game industry, not in a bank

    Quote from Metal-la-la-la

    Honestly if i was a recruiter, i woulmdn't really mind about clothes. In fact, i prefer to see someone with his real everyday clothe -even if it is gothic, gangsta or raggae style- than someone coming with a blazer or soWe're working in video game industry, not in a bank

    yeah that's probably why you aren't a recruiter...

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