MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Research performed by open learning provider Train2Game in association with Develop has highlighted a lack of relevant skills among recruits to the game development industry.
The survey aimed to examine the game development industry’s attitudes towards education and recruitment. Its findings suggested that over half of industry respondents perceive a considerable gap in skills existing within their areas of business – with over 80 per cent citing a lack of experience among prospective employees as the main barrier to their recruitment.
Elsewhere the survey’s findings suggested that: 68.4 per cent of industry respondents hired a maximum of just two entry level staff per year, with 56.4 per cent offering work experience or internships to students.
Attention to detail, creativity and team playing were named as the most valuable skills people look for in entry level staff. 55.8 per cent of respondents agreed strongly that developers need to be more involved in ensuring students have relevant industry skills.
52.5 per cent of those surveyed stated that entry level staff could expect to progress to a more senior position within 18 months of starting at a company.
Fair starting salaries for different entry level positions in the industry were quoted by the highest percentage of respondents as around £16,001 to £19,000 for designers, £18,001 to £20,000 for programmers and £19,001 to £22,000 for animators.
“Companies involved in an industry as dynamic and fast-moving as game development clearly need a steady flow of talented new recruits to ensure they can keep up with the competition,” Train2Game course director Tony Bickley of DR Studios said.
“The results of our survey highlight the need for aspiring game developers to demonstrate a good level of knowledge and expertise in their chosen field, in order to help fill the perceived skills gap and really make an impression on potential employers.”
