Keeping Connections may be the Most Important Tool to Job Security

If you ever find yourself unemployed, which is not uncommon for any industry in the current era--especially creative ones such as video game development--then you may wonder what steps you can take to find your next position. It has been more and more clear that network=net worth, and the quality of the people that you know and associate with on a daily basis determines the quality of your life. If you want to be able to find a job quickly after having been laid off from a studio, then look no further to your direct circle of industry peers: the people who you get along with at work are also the same people that will most readily give you a raving recommendation. In order to find these kinds of people, constantly offer to take them to lunch and also join other coworkers' lunch outings. Find a group that you can really associate with--which will almost always be those that are in your same department. Then, keep up with them and make it a point to attend parties or lunches or other social events that those people are part of.

Many of my colleagues, especially the less social ones, like to save money by budgeting their lunch and bringing in their own meal from home. While I also do this as well, I make sure to not go one whole week without eating at least once or twice out with my colleagues. It may save you a small amount of money in the short run--say, $30-40/week--but it will most certainly cost you more money in the long run: when you are having trouble finding a new job because nobody at work really got to know you and connect with you on a deeper emotional level. That's right: people are creatures of affection and need social interaction. So, if you want to get ahead in any industry than you'd better learn to have friends in your industry because they are the network that supports each other and starts new studios together. Most studios care more about referrals than any other type of application submission. The only other way around getting a referral is by attending networking events such as conference and job fairs and meeting the HR department, or other team members, directly. You will have far less chance of getting a test or an interview, but at least you will have better chances than the luck-of-the-draw for the other applicants who are merely submitting their application from the company website. So remember: doing your work at your job is great and will keep you at your current job. But, if you want to transition to other companies or excel your career, you will not want to spend all of your time working but balance it by adding a fair amount of interacting with fellow colleagues and building your reputation as someone who is easy to get along with and who is not labelled as a "complainer".

If you would like to know more on the subject, there is an interesting book out there that covers the topic more in-depth. I still have yet to read it but it has been on my wish list for quite a while:

Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
http://www.amazon.com/Never-Eat-Alone-Secrets-Relationship/dp/0385512058

-Ken