I got an interview with a game developer - salary question.

[JonZ_]

I guess like most of the interviews, at some point the interviewer ask how much I want per year. My interview is Wednesday and the company is about 2000 employees at charge. I am applying as a UI artist position and my recent job of the same type had me a wage of 35k/year, which is barely sufficient for me to live. I wouldn't mind to keep that salary to keep going if it could secure my hiring through years.

I am tempted to ask more (about 40k or more) but I am afraid to ask too much despite of having some experiences. I don't want it to be a reason to the company to lay me off after the probation in any case of any unsatisfactory conditions like poor performance for the price or like lately, recession reason (especially for this reason).

I don't know how to think about all this.

[TZA]

this thread might help
http://www.cgpad.org/forum/concept-artist-job-t255.html

also, the recession isn't really effecting the game market whatsoever, or so i've read

[Qitsune]

35-40k sounds about right to me, and don't worry, even if you ask lower, they won't give you less (or more)than their salary scales dictates. Good luck on the interview. Btw as far as I know, they don't lay ppl off after probation.

[JonZ_]

Thanks for your thoughts

this thread might help
http://www.cgpad.org/forum/concept-artist-job-t255.html

also, the recession isn't really effecting the game market whatsoever, or so i've read

For now. This recession is very much kicking, I felt it and cost me. Of course this market is living thanksfully because laid off people can't do nothing more than entertaining themselves but who knows how far it will go... When people will no longer able to afford an apartment, certainly there will be an impact.

And when you sign up with a dev, they usually want you to sign a clause that won't allow you to go to another game dev for a certain amount of years, which I find scandalous in this economic situation.

[Dusty]

I guess like most of the interviews, at some point the interviewer ask how much I want per year. My interview is Wednesday and the company is about 2000 employees at charge. I am applying as a UI artist position and my recent job of the same type had me a wage of 35k/year, which is barely sufficient for me to live. I wouldn't mind to keep that salary to keep going if it could secure my hiring through years.

I am tempted to ask more (about 40k or more) but I am afraid to ask too much despite of having some experiences. I don't want it to be a reason to the company to lay me off after the probation in any case of any unsatisfactory conditions like poor performance for the price or like lately, recession reason (especially for this reason).

I don't know how to think about all this.


When I started at my first game developer in 2000, I was started at 42k as an entry level with zero experience other than art school. I dunno about UI, but 35k sounds incredibly cheap to me...especially considering that was 8 years ago.

I'd definitely try to shoot a little higher....and if they go a little under, well at least you have some wiggle room.

And when you sign up with a dev, they usually want you to sign a clause that won't allow you to go to another game dev for a certain amount of years, which I find scandalous in this economic situation.

After leaving or getting laid off? I highly doubt that. If that is the case, I would never sign that. How would they expect you to make a living if you couldn't go to another developer after quitting or getting laid off? I mean, conflict of interest clauses are common, but that pretty much only means while you are working at the company. I've heard of some developers saying that if you worked for them on a baseball game, you can't go to another developer to work on another baseball game for a certain amount of time, but to restrict you from working at ANY developer would be ridiculous.

[JonZ_]

35-40k sounds about right to me, and don't worry, even if you ask lower, they won't give you less (or more)than their salary scales dictates. Good luck on the interview. Btw as far as I know, they don't lay ppl off after probation.


If it can allow me to survive through all this I'm all at their disposal. The recession change rules for a lot for many corporations, I just can't be certain. And I can tell you an experience I had with a studio firing me after being on their 3 month probation roll, so I'm not confident I could be secure. But if I'm within the standard salaries of my skills, I can rest a bit at ease.

BTW thanks to you ;)

[JonZ_]

When I started at my first game developer in 2000, I was started at 42k as an entry level with zero experience other than art school. I dunno about UI, but 35k sounds incredibly cheap to me...especially considering that was 8 years ago.

I'd definitely try to shoot a little higher....and if they go a little under, well at least you have some wiggle room.



After leaving or getting laid off? I highly doubt that. If that is the case, I would never sign that. How would they expect you to make a living if you couldn't go to another developer after quitting or getting laid off? I mean, conflict of interest clauses are common, but that pretty much only means while you are working at the company. I've heard of some developers saying that if you worked for them on a baseball game, you can't go to another developer to work on another baseball game for a certain amount of time, but to restrict you from working at ANY developer would be ridiculous.

Montreal, QC is known for lowest wage in entertainment industries, I must move to west Canada or in the US to have a greater pay AFAIK, but I can't afford that. And as for the employee exclusivity clause, it a common practice in Montreal too, just googling the major company located in Montreal and I got my answer. I signed one at my previous job but it a different market so it doesn't affect me. But mostly all Montreal game company have this clause, and you must sign it for their 'protection', I suppose there's ambiguity concerning quitting or lay off, but it there.

[Dusty]

Ah, well I wouldn't have any experience with Canadian employment or average wages. Sorry :(
I do know that a LOT of American developers will pay for relocation if you are desired enough....something to think about.

Best of luck!

[JonZ_]

Ah, well I wouldn't have any experience with Canadian employment or average wages. Sorry :(
I do know that a LOT of American developers will pay for relocation if you are desired enough....something to think about.

Best of luck!

I'd like to work outside my province. But I get the impression that since English is not my first language, it will make me a poor and expandable worker, communication is an important thing to me.

[dbclemons]

...I am tempted to ask more (about 40k or more) but I am afraid to ask too much despite of having some experiences...

Don't ever be afraid to tell them what you think you're worth. That's the whole point of it. Be honest, but don't be vague either. If they respond that it's too high, then negotiate if you need to. Better still, beat them to the punch and ask them first what the pay range they're offering is. There's no rule that says they must ask first. I once started at a place below what I wanted to, but within a year my salary had almost doubled.

I've worked in Montreal and never signed anything that said I had to wait a certain amount of time before applying elsewhere. That's no one's business but mine.

Don't worry too much either about the language thing. As long as you can understand instructions, it'll be your quality of work that matters.

[JonZ_]

Don't ever be afraid to tell them what you think you're worth. That's the whole point of it. Be honest, but don't be vague either. If they respond that it's too high, then negotiate if you need to. Better still, beat them to the punch and ask them first what the pay range they're offering is. There's no rule that says they must ask first. I once started at a place below what I wanted to, but within a year my salary had almost doubled.

I've worked in Montreal and never signed anything that said I had to wait a certain amount of time before applying elsewhere. That's no one's business but mine.

Don't worry too much either about the language thing. As long as you can understand instructions, it'll be your quality of work that matters.


Thanks, it definitely help for my preparation of my presentation tomorrow.


I'm kinda freaking out :) The last time I spoke to themon phone they kinda wanted me to show more of my portfolio but they already have the best demos of my recent history. I don't know how else I can impress them beside of being me claiming subtilely that I'm the best candidate.

[nonie]

DEFINITELY ask them first. At my first job I went in, with no experience, thinking I was going to ask for $30-40,000. I asked first and they hired me at $65,000! You don't want to sound like that's the only thing you care about, shouldn't be the first thing out of your mouth, but try to get them first!

[Eric Young]

So did you have interview today? How did it go?

[Aaron Death]

Yeah, man, how's that interview going?

[JonZ_]

Hey thanks for caring :)

It went fine, the questions were less generic as I expected, no salary questions, no about what are my strong and weak point and where I see myself in 5 years. They went through the point and I was honest with them, like a happy ambiance. Despite having no experience in game studios, I tried to demonstrate that the workflow is familiar with the kind of work and the rest is just adaptation. I tried to show my strong assets like I am a very self - aware person, I touch to many fields possible and I pay attention to what the client need.

Overall it was ok, one hour. I kinda have concerns about questions I didn't answer well, there was that last question that I couldn't answer, and it was a very personal question about my taste.

I should get an answer soon, but as the time goes I sense the word FAIL coming along :/ I think today is the last day for the evaluation. Keeping my finger crossed.

[dbclemons]

First impressions are always going to be awkward, like a first date. :P Even sometimes when you're relaxed and honest, you never know how the person making the descision will go. Be confident that you did your best, and wait for the reaction. That's the most you can hope for. Hopefully those questions they didn't get to will be address in a call-back. Good luck.

[nonie]

Did they seem relaxed? Usually if they have you in for an interview they're already pretty sure you can do what they need done and are trying to get to know your personality. If they relax with you, joke n stuff, you're in great standing. Though some people are great at hiding whether they like you and sometimes personality doesn't matter too much if you're obviously good at what you do.

It's also very very easy to overanalyze your own performance and dwell on things that didn't go well, try not to let yourself do that. I try to do the opposite and dwell on what went well to keep myself in a better mood :)

[arttorney]

Best of luck Jon. Sometimes they ask a really tough question to see how you handle stress, rather than they really want to have an answer.

[JonZ_]

Did they seem relaxed? Usually if they have you in for an interview they're already pretty sure you can do what they need done and are trying to get to know your personality. If they relax with you, joke n stuff, you're in great standing. Though some people are great at hiding whether they like you and sometimes personality doesn't matter too much if you're obviously good at what you do.

It's also very very easy to overanalyze your own performance and dwell on things that didn't go well, try not to let yourself do that. I try to do the opposite and dwell on what went well to keep myself in a better mood :)



Yeah, they were very personal and very, how should I say, very receptive and kind, I kept a soft and very open dialogue, with a touch of humor time to time. I like to project a charming persona.

[KonnA]

Sorry, little off topic but what developer ^_^

[JonZ_]

I think I am not even allowed to say any names. I signed a disclosure right away before the interview. But it a major one, if not the biggest, just look at Montreal.