How to create the perfect game developer resume (with examples)

A resume is the first point of contact between you and the company. It’s the first touchpoint, so to say.

In an industry that’s seeing a massive influx of talent and immense growth, having a great resume can help you stand out.

And that’s what this blog is about. It’s about how to write the perfect game developer resume.

Let’s get started.

Want to write the perfect game developer resume?

Read the job description

Each game development role can have different requirements, preferences, and expectations. Understanding these specifics allows you to present yourself as the ideal candidate for that particular position, rather than a generic game developer.

Job descriptions offer valuable clues about the nature of the role, the technical and soft skills the employer values, and sometimes even the company culture. They guide you on what to emphasize and what to downplay on your resume.

Let's examine two hypothetical game developer job postings to illustrate this point:

These two job postings are both for game developers, yet they have distinct requirements.

If you're applying to Gaming Innovations Corp. (example 1), your resume should highlight your experience with Unreal Engine 4, C++, multiplayer, and VR game development, as well as your ability to collaborate, solve problems, and bring innovative ideas.

On the other hand, if you're interested in Playful Pixels Studios (example 2), you'd want to showcase your expertise in Unity, C#, mobile UI/UX, performance optimization, and your understanding of mobile gaming market trends, along with demonstrating your initiative and adaptability.

Do you see how a generic resume might not hit the mark for either role?

This is why understanding the job description is pivotal. It enables you to showcase your relevant skills, experiences, and qualities, while also demonstrating to the potential employer that you understand their needs and are the right fit for the role.

Moreover, many companies use Application Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter through resumes based on keywords. Using terms and phrases directly from the job description increases your chances of passing through these digital gatekeepers.

We have a comprehensive guide on how to tailor your resume specifically so that it passes ATS. You can read that here.

Think of the job description as your map, guiding you through the landscape of the employer's needs and expectations. By understanding it, you can create a resume that is not just a list of your past jobs and skills, but a strategic document that presents you as the answer to the employer's requirements.

The structure of the resume

The structure of a game developer’s resume isn’t massively different from a normal developer’s resume, actually. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Use simple fonts: ATS can’t read fancy fonts. Stick to traditional fonts

2. Don’t use columns: Again, ATS can’t figure these out. A simple layout is best

3. Don’t use tiny characters: Once you get past the ATS, humans have to read your resume. In order to cram in as much information as possible, some developers use tiny font sizes. Don’t do that.

4. Brevity matters: Don’t say something in 50 words if you can say it in 20

The Contact Information is your introduction; it's how potential employers identify and connect with you.

Your Objective or Summary serves as an opening statement, setting the tone for your resume.

The Skills section showcases your technical and soft skills, underlining your competencies.

Your Work Experience reflects your professional journey and the impact you've made. The

The projects segment allows you to highlight your practical experience, demonstrating what you've achieved with your skills.

Education reveals your academic background and learning milestones, while Certifications provide validation of your expertise from recognized bodies.

Let’s through each section above in detail, with examples.

Contact Information

The first section of your resume is quite simple. It’s just your contact information. Here’s how you structure it right.

• Full Name: This should be the most prominent text on the page. It tells the employer who you are.

• Phone Number: A contact number where you can be reached.

• Email Address: Ensure you use a professional email address. Ideally, it should be a combination of your first and last name. Avoid using unprofessional or outdated email platforms. johndeveloper91@example.com is good. coderdawgjohn67893@example.com is not.

• LinkedIn Profile: You need to have a LinkedIn profile. It’s important, it’s crucial, it’s vital — add as many synonyms as you want. You cannot skip having a LinkedIn profile. You can read more about creating amazing developer LinkedIn profiles here.

• Portfolio Link: As a game developer, a link to your portfolio or a personal website showcasing your projects is a neat way to set yourself apart from the competition.

• Location: While not always necessary, your city and country can be helpful, especially for roles that have a location preference.

Objective or Summary

Your resume's Objective or Summary section acts as a succinct introduction to your professional persona. It gives potential employers a snapshot of who you are as a professional, what you bring to the table, and what you're aiming for in your career.

The Objective is traditionally a brief statement outlining your career goals and what you hope to achieve in the role you're applying for. It's typically used by entry-level professionals or career-changers.

The Summary, on the other hand, is a concise overview of your professional achievements, skills, and experience. It's ideal for seasoned professionals like experienced game developers, as it allows you to showcase your accomplishments and key areas of expertise.

Regardless of whether you opt for an objective or a summary, this section should be compelling and tailored to the specific role you're applying for.

Use it to echo the most important requirements from the job description and illustrate how you fulfill them.

One thing to note about the objective or the summary is that they’re intended to be short, quick descriptions. Your summary shouldn’t be more than four or five sentences long.

Here are a couple of examples:

Skills

This is where it starts getting very important. The basic idea here is to align your skills with the skills that the job description mentions.

This doesn’t mean that you just lie and say you have all the skills that they mention in the job description. No.

The way to write your skills is to highlight the skills that the job description mentions. You are trying to tell your potential employers that you have the skills that they’re looking for. That’s the gist of it.

If you want to read more, there’s a comprehensive guide on game developer skills here.

But, essentially, there are two types of skills for any game developer:

Technical skills:

Technical Skills are your hard skills related to game development.

These include proficiency in programming languages (like C++, C#, JavaScript), understanding of game engines (such as Unity, and Unreal Engine), knowledge of graphics (like 3D modeling, and texture mapping), expertise in AI programming, understanding of network and multiplayer game programming, and familiarity with AR/VR technologies, among others.

The specific technical skills you highlight should mirror the ones mentioned in the job description, demonstrating that you have the necessary expertise for the role.

Soft skills:

Soft Skills, on the other hand, are your interpersonal or "people" skills.

They include problem-solving, team collaboration, communication, creativity, adaptability, and project management, among others. These skills are vital for any role because they influence how you interact with others, manage your work, and adapt to new situations or challenges.

They may not always be outlined in the job description, but they are always valuable in a professional setting.

Below are two examples of how to tailor your skills according to the job description:

These skills are vital to mention because they align with the job's responsibilities. C# and Unity are key tools for mobile game development, so proficiency in these areas is crucial.

Similarly, problem-solving and collaboration skills are needed to work effectively within a team and tackle any challenges that arise during development.

These skills are critical to mention because they are specific to the demands of a senior VR-focused role. Proficiency in C++ and Unreal Engine, as well as experience with VR game development, are essential for creating high-quality VR games.

Meanwhile, leadership, communication, and creativity are key soft skills that can enable effective team management, clear articulation of ideas, and the development of innovative game concepts.

Communicate your work experience effectively

The Work Experience section of your resume is the heart of your professional story. Here, you present your career trajectory, the roles you've held, the responsibilities you've undertaken, and most importantly, the impact you've made.

Listing your job responsibilities is important, but it's the achievements within these roles that truly resonate with potential employers. When describing your previous roles, focus on the value you brought to the team or project. If possible, quantify your achievements, as this provides tangible evidence of your capabilities.

Let's examine how to construct a compelling Work Experience entry:

1. Job Title: Start with your job title. This immediately tells the employer what kind of roles you've held in the past.

2. Company Name, Location, and Dates of Employment: Following your job title, include the name of the company, its location, and your dates of employment.

3. Responsibilities and Achievements: Begin with a brief overview of your responsibilities. Next, list your achievements, quantifying them where possible. This could include successful projects you've completed, performance metrics you've improved, or new processes you've implemented.

Here are examples of well-written Work Experience entries for a game developer:

Why are these entries good?

1. Quantifiable achievements

2. Highlights recognitions received

3. Does not ignore soft skills

4. Shows a growing career trajectory

5. Highlights the candidate’s role in the team

Projects

Projects are crucial if you’re new to being a game developer. They act as a booster if you’re an experienced dev. What you’re trying to show with your projects is that you can create something from scratch and take it to completion. Projects are ultimately a testament to your skill.

Keep the project section simple and to the point. Here’s how you could structure it:

• Project Title: This should be succinct yet descriptive, giving an idea of what the project is about.

• Brief Description: This includes what the project is, what its purpose was, and who it was for (if applicable).

• Used Technologies: List the technologies, tools, and programming languages you used during the project.

• Results: If possible, include measurable results of the project, such as downloads, user ratings, or any awards received.

Here are examples of effectively presented game development projects:

Education

If you’ve done a degree with a focus on game development, the education section is simple. However, if you don’t have a relevant degree, you should be putting some time and effort to write this out.

For starters, not every game developer has a degree in game development. If you’re an Arts major, for example, and have taught yourself gaming, make sure that you emphasize your self-learning.

So, this could include courses, certifications, exams, etc.

Certifications, for example, can be an excellent way to supplement your skills and demonstrate your dedication to your craft as a game developer.

They can show potential employers that you've invested time and effort into honing your abilities and staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and practices in game development.

Here are a few certifications that are recognized across the gaming industry:

• Unity Certified Programmer: This certification validates your skills and knowledge in Unity software, one of the leading game development platforms.

• Unreal Engine Certified Developer: This certification proves your proficiency with Unreal Engine, another popular game development tool.

• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate: This certification validates your skills in implementing AI solutions, an increasingly important aspect of modern game development.

With all that in the background, here’s how you could write your education section:

These sections are effective because they emphasize the candidates' formal education in a relevant field (digital media arts and visual arts, respectively), highlighting specific courses that might be applicable to game development.

They also showcase the candidates' drive and initiative to learn game development on their own, highlighting their relevant certifications and self-taught skills.

Mentioning their participation in game jams or other relevant projects demonstrates practical experience and application of their skills.

Essentially, you’re negating the fact that you don’t have a relevant degree. You’re showing your potential employers that you’ve done enough to be as good, if not better, as anyone with a relevant degree.

A few tips to make your game developer resume stand out:

Highlight Your Passion for Gaming:

Being a game developer isn't just about having technical skills; it's also about having a passion for games. Employers want to know that you love what you do and that you keep up with the latest trends and releases in the gaming world. You can mention this in your Summary or Objective statement or even in the Interests section, if you choose to include one.

Showcase Your Creativity:

Game development is a creative field. Be sure to demonstrate your innovative thinking and creative problem-solving abilities, whether it's through the projects you've worked on, the games you've developed, or the unique solutions you've implemented.

Include a Portfolio Link:

If you have an online portfolio showcasing your work, be sure to include a link to it on your resume. You can read more about creating game developer portfolios here. This can be under your contact information or in a separate section altogether. It can include screen captures of your games, code samples, and other pieces that demonstrate your abilities.

Demonstrate Team Collaboration:

Games are often developed by teams rather than individuals. Showing that you can work effectively within a team is essential. Highlight any projects where you collaborated with others, and mention specific roles you played within these teams.

Conclusion

Writing an amazing game developer resume isn’t very hard. Ultimately, it’s about positioning yourself as the best candidate for the job. Make sure your resume is ATS friendly, use the right keywords in the right context, tailor your resume for each job you apply for, and showcase your achievements. Interview calls shouldn’t be too far away.

Now, if you’re actually looking for game developer jobs, make sure you check out Simple Job Listings. All jobs on Simple Job Listings are remote, most pay amazingly well, and a significant number of jobs that we post simply aren’t listed anywhere else.

Visit Simple Job Listings and find your dream remote game developer job. Good luck!