Gaming industry - interview attire?

HangTime

HangTime

HangTime

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Historically I have always worn a suit and usually a tie to interviews. However, I've mostly worked in the corporate sector.

In the gaming sector, I wonder if a suit might come across as a bit 'too corporate' and one should go for something slightly less formal like chinos and a presentable long-sleeved shirt?

Personally I don't place a lot of importance on what an interviewee wears so long as it is not extreme (t-shirt with offensive logos etc), but I know others don't feel the same way and might have preconceptions based on what one is wearing.

Thoughts?
 
I can't imagine myself interviewing without a suit.

Without knowing the vibe of the office or the standards they set internally I'd still say suit, if when you start the C-suite wear chinos crack on.
 
Depends on the role, grade and the company - creative or engineering roles are typically less formal than, say, a leadership role at one of the corporate giants, so your more casual option would be fine. When I've conducted interviews, unless it's particularly offensive then attire isn't nearly as important as technical ability and enthusiasm for the role, company and industry.
 
15 odd years ago did some interviews for gaming industry jobs and wore a suit as did most of the other candidates I saw. But that was 15 years ago.
 
Wear a suit and tie, then make a joke of it as your ice breaker.

Nothing worse than unknowingly underdressing when it is so simple to just wear the universally accepted outfit.
 
I have a cousin who works for a gaming company (CI Games) and is relatively high up. He honestly dresses like Russell Brand at all times. The last I saw of him on Instagram he had some fake dreadlocks and a septum piercing. If you worked in the world of high fashion, you'd probably think he looked cool. He probably interviewed in exactly the same attire.

If I were hiring, I wouldn't be worried about how the person was dressed, as long as they were clean and well presented.

Semple said:
I think safest bet is always a suit, even if the office attire is very casual.
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Some people would think you'd completely misjudged the event though.
 
tbh I don't think it would hurt to ask them - might show them that you care about the culture of the place if you explain your reasoning :)
 
dirtychinchilla said:
Some people would think you'd completely misjudged the event though.
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Whilst that is certainly a risk, as dlockers points out below it would really backfire if the person is expecting smart dress for interviewing. Flipping the comment back on your statement though, if you weren't worried about what the person was wearing, then you'd look past a suit even if the typical dress code was casual.

dLockers said:
Nothing worse than unknowingly underdressing when it is so simple to just wear the universally accepted outfit.
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dLockers said:
Could go dressed in your favourite skin (FortNite?) and spray your clan tags on the door (CS; can you still do that?).
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Just LOL :cry:
 
montymint said:
tbh I don't think it would hurt to ask them - might show them that you care about the culture of the place if you explain your reasoning :)
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This 100%.

Culture fit (regardless of whether you agree with it or not) in many cases is a massive part of the hiring process in the games industry. If you turn up wearing a suit - at most gaming studios you'll look completely out of place. You'll likely be mixing with people who are wearing my little pony t-shirts and identify as dragons. (I'm not exaggerating)

In my experience (having done it multiple times) the recruiters will normally advise you to go to the interviews in something like jeans and a hoodie or something, but it depends on the company - it's a very good idea to check first as @montymint suggests.

It'll likely be a very different environment to any corporate setting you've experienced :D
 
Semple said:
Whilst that is certainly a risk, as dlockers points out below it would really backfire if the person is expecting smart dress for interviewing. Flipping the comment back on your statement though, if you weren't worried about what the person was wearing, then you'd look past a suit even if the typical dress code was casual.
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I would, true!
 
HangTime said:
Historically I have always worn a suit and usually a tie to interviews. However, I've mostly worked in the corporate sector.

In the gaming sector, I wonder if a suit might come across as a bit 'too corporate' and one should go for something slightly less formal like chinos and a presentable long-sleeved shirt?

Personally I don't place a lot of importance on what an interviewee wears so long as it is not extreme (t-shirt with offensive logos etc), but I know others don't feel the same way and might have preconceptions based on what one is wearing.

Thoughts?
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Do not wear a suit and tie.

Dress casual.

Source : me, a senior game developer.
 
mid_gen said:
Do not wear a suit and tie.

Dress casual.

Source : me, a senior game developer.
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That's great, but i'm assuming you're not interviewing him?

Can you guarantee the same opinion of whomever is interviewing him.

Anyway the later advice was better, ask about the culture of the workplace so you can dress accordingly.
 
Semple said:
That's great, but i'm assuming you're not interviewing him?

Can you guarantee the same opinion of whomever is interviewing him.

Anyway the later advice was better, ask about the culture of the workplace so you can dress accordingly.
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I'm a hiring manager in the games industry, working at the more 'big corporate' end recently (Ubisoft, Microsoft). My opinion is probably relevant :p

Wearing a suit and tie to a game dev interview is unlikely to lose you the job (although it may contribute if in addition to your suit, you don't convince them that you're actually care about games)....but it's like taking a briefcase to school. On the plus side, you'll have something to look back on and laugh at if you do get the job :D
 
mid_gen said:
I'm a hiring manager in the games industry, working at the more 'big corporate' end recently (Ubisoft, Microsoft). My opinion is probably relevant :p
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Yeah I've been the opposite end of that spectrum lol, (Riot, Valve and Blizzard). Walking into one of those offices in a suit, is like walking into a top end law firm whilst wearing a G2 Esports hoodie or something. :D
 
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