Our recruiter Helen Jönsson shares some advice about applying for roles not directly related to game production, getting the experience needed, the interview process, as well as how you can make your application and portfolio stand out – to name a few!
How do I get a foot in the door to roles that are not directly related to the creation of the game?
Running a AAA game studio like Massive means that we need a lot of talent – and not only on the game projects themselves. We are open for all kinds of professionals, as we have a wide range of positions in-house, ranging from IT and HR to Office and Finance – to name a few!
Different roles demand different types of experience, and not all of them require that you’ve worked in the industry before. In general, I would say that we’re looking for people who are driven and feel strongly about their area of expertise. Every job has its own set of skills we’re looking for, but we are always looking for people with ambition and passion.
Every job has its own set of skills we’re looking for, but we are always looking for people with ambition and passion.
And some quick tips: if you’re looking to start a career in for example Sales and Account Managing, I’d recommend you stay up to date with the latest trend and news in the industry.
And if you’re into Brand and Marketing, it’s good if you have a big passion for games and an interest in what’s going on in the industry to succeed. There are so many various roles within each department as well, and no journey looks the same. Take for example Karolina, who started working in our reception and then fell in love with the studio and came back to work as International Product Manager after graduating in Marketing.
It’s also worth noting that Ubisoft, which Massive is a part of, doesn’t only have development studios, but also dedicated Business Offices around the world.
What I think is most important to take away from this is that there are so many different paths to this industry, and there is not one “correct” way of getting into it. I think that a good way of getting some insights to what you could do at a games studio is to figure out what your passion is and try to investigate through other people in the industry and job ads how you can best apply your experience and background to it.
How can I get the experience needed?
Most important is that you apply to roles that you feel are relatable to your passion and background. We always evaluate your entire experience and skill set when looking at your application!
When you apply, make sure that your experience is visible and that you explain what parts of it can be transferred into relevant experience for the specific job – for example deep-diving into responsibilities and tasks.
At Massive, we believe that a mix of junior, intermediate and senior employees make up the most diverse and dynamic teams. When it comes to junior and intern positions, we mainly look for potential and passion instead of experience.
At Massive, we believe that a mix of junior, intermediate and senior employees make up the most diverse and dynamic teams.
But how do you get the experience needed? And what if you come from another industry? Stay up to date with open job positions, and in the meantime, see if you can get similar experience outside of the industry which you then can transfer to the industry when the time is right. I also recommend including hobby projects and portfolios when you apply.
What do I need to get an internship at Massive?
If you can do an internship during your studies – do it! It’s a great way to get practical experience in your field.
There are so many factors going into internships at Massive, but it’s important to understand that there are two main forms of internships: inside production, and outside production.
For internships in production, we usually find people through collaborations with our partner schools. If you’re looking for an internship outside of production, make sure to stay up to date with our Massive career page as they can be posted there any time of the year.
We have extensive information about internships on our website, and you can also read one of our previous blogs about getting an internship at Massive.
How can I MAKE MY APPLICATION AND PORTFOLIO STAND OUT?
Writing a job application can be a daunting task. What should you include – and not include? And how can you stand out among all the other applicants?
My number one advice is to make your application easy to read and access. If you’re sending in your portfolio, check that it’s linked in both your resume and your cover letter, that the links work, and that you provide passwords and other important information if necessary. We get so many applications to each role, so making it easy for us will help.
My number one advice is to make your application easy to read and access.
Also, if the portfolio is your most relevant experience for the job – put the link at the top of the application! And, ensure that it’s clear what exactly you’ve done in the different projects in your portfolio, especially if you’ve done group projects during your education, for example.
When you write your cover letter, try to explain why you are interested in the specific role at Massive. Don’t be afraid of using the job ad as support. Our ads contain all the important information that we are looking for in applications, so making sure that you’ve explained how your experience and background fit with the qualifications of the job is vital. It can also make it easier for you to explain to us why you are the best candidate for the role.
Don’t be afraid of using the job ad as support. Our ads contain all the important information that we are looking for in applications.
Another thing that I think many people miss is ensuring that all the documentation needed is included in the application. Read through the job ad one extra time before sending in your application, just so you’re positive that you haven’t missed anything important that might hinder your chances!
If you’re a student, we also like to see what you’ve enjoyed working with the most so far in your studies, since we are looking for specialists and not generalists at Massive.
If you apply for a game programmer role, the first thing we want to check off is that you know C++, as our games are mostly developed in this language. Note that some roles have other programming language requirements – check the job ad carefully before applying.
The next thing we do is try to understand your focus areas, and what you’ve learned and liked doing for your portfolio work. Try to include documentation which explains this, and again – make sure your portfolio is easy to access.
WHAT ARE MY OPPORTUNITIES IF I DON’T LIVE IN MALMÖ, SWEDEN?
We received a lot of questions about the possibilities of working “off-site”. Massive only has an office in Malmö, and the jobs and internships we have listed require working on site at the studio. But, we are open to people from all over the world with all types of backgrounds!
At Massive, we are around 50% expats from over 50 different nationalities. We have a dedicated relocation specialist, and a dedicated team which provides support to everyone who moves here from a different country to make the transfer as smooth as possible. This includes anything from housing support to setting up a bank account.
At Massive, we have around 50% expats from over 50 different nationalities.
One good thing to know about working at Massive (and in Sweden in general!) is that you get five weeks of vacation each year, which gives you plenty of opportunity to go back home to visit friends and family.
What is the interview process at Massive like?
Our recruitment process is for us to understand if you could be a great fit not just for the role, but for Massive as a studio. And for you, it’s about getting to know our studio, culture, and values before deciding on whether you feel it’s a great fit for you!
The process almost always includes more than one interview. And if you’re for example applying for a role working with code, we will focus the interview on your C++ knowledge and problem-solving skills. This means a variation of C++ questions and discussions on how you approach different technical problems. You can think of our interviews like a discussion where both parts are trying to figure out if Massive could be a potential fit.
I also want to stress that it’s not about acing any technical questions, but more getting a grip of how you’re tackling technical problems and what kind of C++ experience you have.
You can think of our interviews like a discussion where both parts are trying to figure out if Massive could be a potential fit!
We want to fill our positions as quickly as possible, but it’s always more important that we find the right candidate – someone who can see themselves joining Massive long-term and be part of our Massive family.
