It’s no surprise that recruiting trends show one of the most significant shifts in the modern workforce. The pandemic has impacted us all in different ways, but we are still learning about the long-term effects of COVID-19 and what it means for the future of video game recruiting.

For the most part, the unknown surrounds one major question: 

Are remote video game jobs here to stay?

The short answer is ‘yes.’ Remote video game jobs will continue to grow and become a viable option for those in the workforce. However, that doesn’t mean onsite jobs are disappearing.

As video game recruiters, we’ve seen a few trends that determine if a video game job will be remote: 

1. Company culture – Not every team works best remotely, and many times, video game companies decide what will benefit their team more. Some game teams work better in an onsite, studio environment where they can collaborate, while others thrive working in remote settings.
2. Type of video game job – Not all game jobs are created equal. Some game companies are more likely to offer remote work for roles in high demand such as software engineers, game designers, art and animation. This strategy allows for game companies to hire the best candidate available as opposed to settling for the person who lives within a reasonable commute of the studio. In contrast, executives and senior management positions within the game industry will remain mainly onsite positions.

If you are a job seeker that does not thrive in remote environments, don’t worry. Although the future is making more remote options available, there will always be onsite jobs in every realm of the video game industry.

 

Top Cities for Onsite Remote Video Game Jobs 

Geography also plays a significant role in deciding what the future looks like in terms of remote video game jobs. There are certain areas where remote options are more likely to be available.

 

Remote 

1. San Francisco – San Francisco was one of the first cities to embrace telecommuting, even before the pandemic took hold on the nation.
2. San Diego – San Diego is a city known for promoting a healthy work-life balance. The city offers many options for remote workers and flexible schedules.
3. Raleigh – According to Lawnstarter, Raleigh ranks number 1 for at-home workers, with a whopping 8.6 of workers over 16 years old telecommuting.

 

Onsite

1. Charlotte – Most offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, are returning to work after the pandemic, with many businesses choosing to remain onsite instead of keeping their employees remote.
2. Orlando – Orlando is a big commuter city that offers mainly onsite positions, even after the pandemic.  
3. New York City – Surprisingly, New York ranks on the lower side of remote work. According to Axios, only about 13% of job positions offered in the city are fully remote. This could be partly because New York isn’t a commuting city, a significant factor in many larger cities.

 

Client: How to Hire the Right Talent for Onsite and Remote Video Game Jobs 

As a business, it’s essential to ensure you hire the best fit for your position that will thrive in whatever work environment you have. Both remote and onsite positions have their benefits, and it’s up to the company to decide collectively what works best for the future of their businesses.

Once you have decided whether to hire a position, whether it be in-office or remote, here are some questions to ask the interviewee to see if they are a right fit:

• What kind of work environment do you thrive in?
• Do you work better in collaborative teams or on your own?
• Have you ever worked remotely before? What were some of the systems or best practices that you used to be a productive remote employee?

At DAM, we assist with this step by filtering out candidates who aren’t a good fit for the position posted.

Job Seeker: How to Communicate Your Workplace Desires in the Interview Process

It is essential for employers to ask potential candidates the right questions to determine if the individual will be a productive remote employee. At the same time, it is equally important for job seekers to communicate their needs/expectations as a remote employee in the interview process before they are hired.

Game studio executives and upper management often appreciate transparent communication to ensure expectations are clear from both ends. Even when a job posting is remote, it doesn’t hurt to ask questions similar to these:

• Is this position 100% remote? Or will it be onsite occasionally/eventually?
• Does this position offer flexibility when it comes to schedules?
• What is the best way to communicate progress when working remotely to the employer?

As the leading recruiting agency in the games industry, DAM helps job seekers navigate the interview process.

 

How to Work With DAM | Top Recruiting Firm for Gamers

DAM has been a leading video game recruiting company for over 20 years, helping those in the game industry build better teams that make better games. Game industry recruiting is what we do best, and we are here to help everyone navigate and understand the changing recruiting landscape.

Contact DAM here.

Meet the DAM team here.

Learn more about 2021-2022 video game recruitment trends here.