5 Reasons Game Industry Job Seekers Should Keep a Blog

You've got the unforgettable portfolio, the killer demo-reel, the professional website, and the perfect resume. You've got self-promotion down to a science. But could you be missing something?

Blogs are quickly becoming the single most popular venue for self-promotion and networking, replacing the personal website in terms of readability. While a blog alone isn't going to rocket you into the forefront of the game industry networking scene, it's a great addition to an already solid self-promotion package.

Drawing Attention To Yourself

There's something about a blog that just seems far more inviting than a stodgy portfolio site. Perhaps it's the personal narrative of a blog that makes readers feel as though they can relate to the author. Perhaps it's the friendly, audience-oriented format that helps promote a connection between blogger and reader. Whatever it is, it's worth tapping into. Start up a blog and write about your daily trials and tribulations as a game industry job-seeker. Share your successes as well as your failures. Chronicle your journey into the industry. Because I guarantee you there are people in your exact position, as this blog should prove. The more you connect with those people, the stronger a network you build. Oh and watch how you talk to that 18 year old wise-ass who thinks he knows everything. He could be your boss some day.

Catching the Industry's Eye

Though the bulk of your readers will likely be job-seekers like yourself, it's quite possible to catch the attention of industry professionals. As blogging has increased in popularity, more and more game developers are tapping into the field for use not only as a sounding board, but as a promotional tool for their own projects. When you stumble across one of these blogs, having your own blog to link in addition to a meaningful comment is a great way to get noticed. And because most game industry jobs are obtained through word of mouth, you benefit from every door you open, no matter how insignificant it may first seem. The benefit of a blog over a personal website is that a blog is by its nature consistently updated, keeping your readers coming back. A website, especially a personal portfolio, is accessible only a few times at most before it loses its appeal.

Instant Promotion

If you build a readership with consistent content and allow them a way to subscribe to your blog via RSS, one thing you can generally count on is their interest in your work. Trust me, I know how hard it is to get anyone to look at work thrown onto a static portfolio. But somehow a blog meets the bite-sized needs of the average online reader. Because no matter how loyal the person, nobody wants to navigate through a gallery that looks like every other gallery on the web when they can have your newest work delivered to their homepage or inbox. And this doesn't just apply to artists. Programmers can toss up small programs and demos, designers can provide analysis documents and playable levels, audio engineers can deliver a new score or a batch of sound effects. The possibilities are endless, and the promotion occurs as soon as you hit the Publish button.

Keeping a Track Record

After a while, your blog becomes a living record of everything you have done to get into the game industry, and that is a powerful tool. Far more powerful than a standard website or even the best resume, because it speaks in a way that static content simply cannot match. Your blog shows a progression, and a dedication that is reinforced by every post. No job application is going to require you to have kept a blog for the past year, but doing so is going to give you something few other applicants will have. And not only are you showing progression, but you're also proving to your future employer that people are interested in what you do and what you have to say, and in an industry where communication is key, commanding the attention of others by sheer relation alone is a valuable asset.

Keeping the Hope

There's likely going to come a time during your job search when you question your own worth, and wonder if you should even bother continuing. Perhaps that time has already come. Perhaps if you're bursting with self-confidence, it never will. But doubt is a very human emotion, and it's something we must all face at some point in our lives. If like myself you have ever doubted your skills - doubted that there's a place for you in the game industry - your blog can be the most valuable life-line your career could ever have. Seeing days, weeks, months, years of past content, all from your capable mind, is a strong reminder of your capabilities in the bleakest of times. But more than that, it gives you somewhere to speak freely. When you're feeling inadequate, you can post your thoughts on your blog, and you can be sure that someone out there is going to relate. And sometimes, that's all it takes. The proof that we're not alone in our situation is one of the most valuable motivators, and keeping a blog is a way reinforce that knowledge.

With today's technology, creating a blog is a simple task. And if you write from experience and target game industry job-seekers going through the same trials and tribulations as yourself, a blog can be one of the best investments into your potential career. So the question then becomes - can you afford the cost of not having a blog?