GCU student reflects on the importance of industry networking and stepping outside comfort zone

A final year GCU student has proven the value of networking and applying yourself by landing a job at a major video games job event.

Fourth year Computer Games (Software Development) student Alessio Scisci is a shining example of the importance of engaging with extra-curricular activities, after talking himself into a job with a Manchester-based games developer at the Games Jobs Live event in Scotland.

Games Jobs Live is a dedicated employment event which focuses on helping people find jobs in the video games industry. Alessio, who truly believes in the benefits of networking and engaging with industry, decided to attend the event with the intention of simply increasing his network. Plucking up the courage to speak to a video game developer, he was offered a call the following day to discuss the idea of working for them as a programmer.

Now reflecting back on his degree, Alessio understands how beneficial networking has been for him and wants to encourage students from all backgrounds to take advantage of as many opportunities as they can.

We spoke to Alessio about the opportunity and why he wants to encourage students to make the most of the opportunities they have whilst studying at university: 

The importance of attending industry events

“When I first started my degree, I was aware that these kind of events existed but events like the pandemic meant that a lot of them had to stop or move online - but I knew they were many of them waiting to be discovered. Our lecturers have been so good at promoting them, sharing them, just generally making sure that students were aware that the events were taking place.

"Having lecturers that are already in that industry has been really helpful, because they have been able to let us know through their contacts about upcoming events and invite special guests that they know will be useful. They’ve been great at encouraging students to get involved in these types of opportunities, which we all know is very important.”

Putting yourself outside your comfort zone

“GCU annually hosts the Global Game Jam, which is a great way for us to network and meet figures in the industry. People who attend the Game Jams are either previous students or simply other people from industry that have worked with our lecturers before.

"I attended an event called Games Jobs Live, which is organised by digital media executive Colin MacDonald. This is a great event which allows game studios to advertise vacancies and they get the opportunity to speak about themselves – who they are, what they’re looking for, etc.

"I believe that the true value in these events is the opportunity to build connections and engage with other established members of the industry. I think some people will expect to go to these events and immediately get a job, but this isn’t a good outlook to have as it might not always happen as easily as that. When I attended the event, I made sure to put that aside and allow myself to simply enjoy it, listen to the speakers and really take in all the advice they were giving. The best piece of advice they gave was to be present, and that’s something I really tried to do.

"Something important to remember in situations like this is that it’s not always sunshine and rainbows – sometimes you need to be in the right place at the right time! You can always increase these opportunities by attending more events and putting yourself outside your comfort zone. At the event, I initially attended it with some friends, but I deliberately made myself branch off and speak to a particular game studio that I knew was looking to hire some team members. I went over with the intention to simply speak about their upcoming projects, previous games and if they required any help with any future plans.

"They said that they needed a programmer and asked what I could bring to the table, but I explained that my professional experience was in other industries. However, these experiences helped me learn the value of teamwork, meeting deadlines and other important skills. After this, they asked if I was available to have a call the following day – which I didn’t expect!”

Advice to current students

“Read a lot of books about it! Some people have the moment of realisation too late in their degree, but it’s so important to start building that foundation as early as you can. Examples of books I read include “Start your video game career” by Jason W. Bay and “Blood, Sweat & Pixels” by Jason Schreier – both amazing books and really taught me a lot. They both give you a really good base into how those interrelationships are formed in the industry and how people face them. Most importantly, they both teach you how to develop yourself as a video game developer. Many of the skills that you learn can be shared with different types of industries, but you need to learn how to specialise in your own area and learn how to stand out.

"From my first year in the course, we were told to always attend events like game jams because they are worth more than what they may seem. People think it’s just about creating a game in a short amount of time and not getting very much sleep, but it’s about the skills you learn, the people you meet and the relationships you build.”

Advice to your younger self

“If I could go back to myself in first year, I would tell myself to attend game jams, live events and to network as much as possible. Some people may just try sending out CV’s and applying for jobs, but putting yourself out there will really help you create those opportunities yourself. That idea may be quite daunting to some people, but it just takes some practice and it pays off in the long run.

"Networking isn’t just about getting opportunities through people that you know, but also about being as honest and transparent as possible when making those connections. No matter what you do in your life, being positive and personable will allow people to appreciate your presence. It’s not about being the best at something, it’s your persona that will always help you shine through.”

By Rachael McAlonan

Got a SCEBE or GSBS story? Email me at Rachael.McAlonan@gcu.ac.uk or connect with me on social media