Interactive Media Q & A
What's the job really like? And how do you get in? Take a look at the following Q & As with people actually working in Interactive Media.
In your own words, briefly describe your job
''I run an interactive media company working in production and consultancy on the full range of new media platforms and technologies.''
Managing Director, Anthony Lilley
''My main skills lie in the development of Authorware applications. I work at both the interface design level using Photoshop, the program structure and coding, and the input of scripted material. I am also starting to transfer these skills to web design.''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
''Because I work for an interactive production company working in nearly all forms of media, my role as Production Assistant can be really diverse. On different projects I've been; assistant editor, sound runner/sound recordist, composer, designer (some Flash/Photoshop), runner, Mr fixit, and tea maker!''
Production Assistant
How did you get into the industry?
''I had two parallel tracks into this field - one working in the creative side of theatre, TV and corporate video, the other slightly more on the IT side - using computer technology to benefit creative companies and projects including theatres and TV companies.''
Managing Director, Anthony Lilley
''I learnt Desk Top Publishing as a City and Guilds qualification during a YTS course. After doing two DTP jobs for 2 years, I applied to Maxim Training as a CBT author (designing and programming DOS based management training courses).''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
''I got into the industry through a pure chance contact. A director I met knew I had just finished an art course where I had worked with video and asked if I wanted any running work.''
Production Assistant
What training and/or education have you found most useful in progressing your career?
''I have a degree in law which comes in handy for business matters but otherwise my learning has been mainly book and experience based.''
Managing Director, Anthony Lilley
''When I finished my Fine Arts course I was working with video a lot - really had no idea what I was doing, but it got me interested in the indusrty. When I went into post production it was really up to me to take time out and learn the editing programs and other software myself.''
Production Assistant
What are you, as an employer, looking for?
''We look for relevant skills to match our vacancies, e.g. programming languages C/C++/Java or art packages, e.g. 3D Studio Max. We're also looking for good academic qualifications in relevant subjects, i.e. computing, science, physics, maths. For most vacancies we require games experience although there are some generic roles, such as finance, HR and admin where this rule doesn't apply. We have also considered some candidates for senior management roles without games experience. Number of years experience required really depends on the seniority of the role i.e. programmer (1-2); Software Engineer (3); Senior Software Engineer (5+ years). Worst thing in applications? Prior to interview: poorly presented or dishonest CVs; lack of details; poor showreels. At interview: candidates who are not fully prepared, i.e. haven't taken the trouble to look at our website and find out background information on the company; poor results in tests we set (e.g. Java); poor communication skills; lack of interest in the interview; arrogance; 'stolen material' on examples of work; raw inability and unrealistic expectations. We are looking for candidates with relevant experience, skills and an interest in the games industry.''
HR Manager, Kuju Entertainment, Surrey, Siobhan Calfe
''I look for the following from applicants: firstly, creative talent and ideas! (The rest can be taught on the job, if necessary); good presentation skills; an awareness of the market for interactive media; team working and good organisation skills; and, if possible, good references. There is a shortage of sales and marketing skills in interactive media. I'm not looking for sales staff per se, but good production staff who can sell themselves and the company, i.e. producers with client management ability. The worst things I see in applications are: mis-types, bad spelling and bad grammar; hype - it's easy to be found out; too much talk about software skills and not enough creative passion.''
Managing Director, Mousepower Productions Ltd, Wiltshire, Stef Brammar
What do you think employers are looking for at this level?
''Skills to get you noticed and help you to move on are; competence, a willingness to learn, a healthy interest in the industry, and motivation to do the job at hand well what ever it is.''
Production Assistant
In your experience, what are the best ways of promoting and marketing your skills?
''In getting more work, I would put a lot of time into creating a website that accurately reflects my skill set; this is normally the quickest and easiest way to get information across.''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
How do you go about persuading your head of department to give you more responsibility?
''If you want more responsibility, simply asking can't hurt. It shows that you are keen to work and that you are motivated towards the job. Creating more work for yourself by helping other employees out is a way of taking on more responsibility without it being given to you.''
Production Assistant
How do you make sure that you keep up with current developments in your field?
''Working in multimedia, I update my skills by keeping an eye on the internet, particularly some of the big sites: Macromedia, Adobe, Microsoft. Also keep in touch with development sites such as WebMonkey and ZDNet. Read current magazines such as Computer Arts, Internet Magazine, etc. And best of all, lurk on newsgroups for the software that you use most - lots of interesting stuff can appear here before it becomes general knowledge.''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
What advice would you give to someone whose career needed a kick-start?
''Don't rely on what others tell you as being true, especially regarding technology. Make sure you understand it all yourself, and that you at least know how systems and processes interact, even if you don't neccesarily directly use them in your job. Learn to distinguish between those who are enthusiastic but wrong and those who are experienced but probably right.''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
''Keep training yourself in the latest software. The more you know the better chance you have of getting better jobs in the future.''
Multimedia Developer, Richard Balkham
What advice would you give to someone wanting to broaden the range of work they are getting?
''Learn about a range of different software so that you feel comfortable enough to produce something with it. Sell yourself on those skills - if you need to do anything more advanced, you'll pick it up on the job.''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
What has been the best piece of luck for you?
''One of the best things about working in this industry, is continually meeting people from whom I can learn.''
Managing Director, Anthony Lilley
In your own words, briefly describe your job
''I run an interactive media company working in production and consultancy on the full range of new media platforms and technologies.''
Managing Director, Anthony Lilley
''My main skills lie in the development of Authorware applications. I work at both the interface design level using Photoshop, the program structure and coding, and the input of scripted material. I am also starting to transfer these skills to web design.''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
''Because I work for an interactive production company working in nearly all forms of media, my role as Production Assistant can be really diverse. On different projects I've been; assistant editor, sound runner/sound recordist, composer, designer (some Flash/Photoshop), runner, Mr fixit, and tea maker!''
Production Assistant
How did you get into the industry?
''I had two parallel tracks into this field - one working in the creative side of theatre, TV and corporate video, the other slightly more on the IT side - using computer technology to benefit creative companies and projects including theatres and TV companies.''
Managing Director, Anthony Lilley
''I learnt Desk Top Publishing as a City and Guilds qualification during a YTS course. After doing two DTP jobs for 2 years, I applied to Maxim Training as a CBT author (designing and programming DOS based management training courses).''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
''I got into the industry through a pure chance contact. A director I met knew I had just finished an art course where I had worked with video and asked if I wanted any running work.''
Production Assistant
What training and/or education have you found most useful in progressing your career?
''I have a degree in law which comes in handy for business matters but otherwise my learning has been mainly book and experience based.''
Managing Director, Anthony Lilley
''When I finished my Fine Arts course I was working with video a lot - really had no idea what I was doing, but it got me interested in the indusrty. When I went into post production it was really up to me to take time out and learn the editing programs and other software myself.''
Production Assistant
What are you, as an employer, looking for?
''We look for relevant skills to match our vacancies, e.g. programming languages C/C++/Java or art packages, e.g. 3D Studio Max. We're also looking for good academic qualifications in relevant subjects, i.e. computing, science, physics, maths. For most vacancies we require games experience although there are some generic roles, such as finance, HR and admin where this rule doesn't apply. We have also considered some candidates for senior management roles without games experience. Number of years experience required really depends on the seniority of the role i.e. programmer (1-2); Software Engineer (3); Senior Software Engineer (5+ years). Worst thing in applications? Prior to interview: poorly presented or dishonest CVs; lack of details; poor showreels. At interview: candidates who are not fully prepared, i.e. haven't taken the trouble to look at our website and find out background information on the company; poor results in tests we set (e.g. Java); poor communication skills; lack of interest in the interview; arrogance; 'stolen material' on examples of work; raw inability and unrealistic expectations. We are looking for candidates with relevant experience, skills and an interest in the games industry.''
HR Manager, Kuju Entertainment, Surrey, Siobhan Calfe
''I look for the following from applicants: firstly, creative talent and ideas! (The rest can be taught on the job, if necessary); good presentation skills; an awareness of the market for interactive media; team working and good organisation skills; and, if possible, good references. There is a shortage of sales and marketing skills in interactive media. I'm not looking for sales staff per se, but good production staff who can sell themselves and the company, i.e. producers with client management ability. The worst things I see in applications are: mis-types, bad spelling and bad grammar; hype - it's easy to be found out; too much talk about software skills and not enough creative passion.''
Managing Director, Mousepower Productions Ltd, Wiltshire, Stef Brammar
What do you think employers are looking for at this level?
''Skills to get you noticed and help you to move on are; competence, a willingness to learn, a healthy interest in the industry, and motivation to do the job at hand well what ever it is.''
Production Assistant
In your experience, what are the best ways of promoting and marketing your skills?
''In getting more work, I would put a lot of time into creating a website that accurately reflects my skill set; this is normally the quickest and easiest way to get information across.''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
How do you go about persuading your head of department to give you more responsibility?
''If you want more responsibility, simply asking can't hurt. It shows that you are keen to work and that you are motivated towards the job. Creating more work for yourself by helping other employees out is a way of taking on more responsibility without it being given to you.''
Production Assistant
How do you make sure that you keep up with current developments in your field?
''Working in multimedia, I update my skills by keeping an eye on the internet, particularly some of the big sites: Macromedia, Adobe, Microsoft. Also keep in touch with development sites such as WebMonkey and ZDNet. Read current magazines such as Computer Arts, Internet Magazine, etc. And best of all, lurk on newsgroups for the software that you use most - lots of interesting stuff can appear here before it becomes general knowledge.''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
What advice would you give to someone whose career needed a kick-start?
''Don't rely on what others tell you as being true, especially regarding technology. Make sure you understand it all yourself, and that you at least know how systems and processes interact, even if you don't neccesarily directly use them in your job. Learn to distinguish between those who are enthusiastic but wrong and those who are experienced but probably right.''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
''Keep training yourself in the latest software. The more you know the better chance you have of getting better jobs in the future.''
Multimedia Developer, Richard Balkham
What advice would you give to someone wanting to broaden the range of work they are getting?
''Learn about a range of different software so that you feel comfortable enough to produce something with it. Sell yourself on those skills - if you need to do anything more advanced, you'll pick it up on the job.''
Interactive Designer/Developer, Matthew Hill
What has been the best piece of luck for you?
''One of the best things about working in this industry, is continually meeting people from whom I can learn.''
Managing Director, Anthony Lilley