When Opportunity Knocks, Be Ready! Tips From a Talent Marketing Specialist When Pursuing a Career in Gaming

Blizzard’s Arin Goldsmith shares her journey and answers key questions for those aspiring to work in the videogame industry.

As a young girl growing up right down the road from Blizzard’s main campus in Southern California, Arin was very familiar with the company. Whether she was 8 years old and sitting down with her dad to play World of Warcraft or securing her first job as a petting zoo attendant to buy her first “big girl game,” Diablo III, Arin always seemed to be surrounded by all things Activision Blizzard. What she wasn't aware of were all the different ways one could establish a career in gaming.

"I went to an art (high) school, and I was under the impression that there were only two jobs in gaming: Art and being a developer — which to me meant engineering and coding,” says Arin. “I can draw but I'm not a strong enough illustrator to make a career out of it. And I'm too dyslexic to code. I just crossed that off and said that a gaming career was not going to happen.”

Arin decided instead to pursue a career as a Broadway costume designer and attended school in New York. While still in college, she worked on her first off-Broadway show at the age of 19. Beginning to realize the industry wasn’t meant for her, the pandemic hit, closing live performances indefinitely, which allowed Arin to shift gears and pour all her energy into her side hustle—marketing and social media. 

Disenamored of the New York scene and missing her family, Arin began pursuing opportunities back in California.  While working towards a professional certification in digital marketing from Northwestern University, she decided to give gaming another try.

After going through over 100 interviews with no luck, Arin received a message from a Blizzard recruiter, who was inviting her to prepare for a number of interviews.

“To prepare for my upcoming interviews, I looked at their Life at Blizzard social channels, the general career site, and the company culture,” Arin says. “I also familiarized myself with their games like Overwatch and went on LinkedIn to follow some people who I saw were working there.” 

All the work was worth it: Arin received a job offer the next day after her final interview. Now on the other side of the hiring process, Arin works as a Talent Marketing Specialist for Blizzard, where her work includes running Life at Blizzard accounts on Twitter and Instagram as well as the Blizzard LinkedIn page.

A year into her role with Blizzard’s recruiting team, Arin shares some words of wisdom on the first things someone should do if they are interested in a career in gaming, whether they have industry experience or not.

Nail Down What You Want to Do 🔨

“While it may seem simple, this is the No. 1 thing I’ve seen people miss.

Most folks are so excited to break into the industry, they’re willing to do any job to get there. However, that isn’t super helpful to recruiters who might stumble upon your profile.

If you’re interested in art, focus on your art. If you want to do marketing, focus on marketing. While being a jack of all trades can definitely make you a better candidate and ultimately better at your job, presenting yourself as an expert in one subject will make it far easier for you to get noticed and land an interview.”

Do Your Own Projects, Find Mentorship, Make Some Friends 🤝🏻

“Once you nail down what you want to do, you’re going to have to start building a body of work.

Make a cohesive art portfolio, create a mock marketing strategy, code a simple game from scratch, or write an article analyzing the effects of DE&I efforts in the industry — organize something that showcases your thought and work in the field to which you are applying. 

Once you do this, find people in the industry who might give you feedback and mentorship. You can identify people who currently work in your concentration by searching on LinkedIn, finding names through game credits, or posting your work on forums.

Most people, especially those with very small followings, are more than happy to answer questions and provide feedback in their areas of expertise.”

Stay Flexible 💪

“Your entry into the industry may not be smooth or look exactly how you saw it going in your head. Heck, it will probably start in a different industry!

If an opportunity at a great company presents itself but doesn’t exactly match the responsibilities you are looking for, take it!

That foot in the door can lead you to meet more people, get reimbursed for further education in what you’d actually want to do, or maybe even find happiness in a discipline you hadn’t considered.”

Apply anyway. ✅

“Your heroes? They knew nothing about the industry when they first started. No one is born a master in their chosen field. 

Whether you’re an artist, programmer, or project manager - it’s easier than ever to pick up the skills that you need.  The internet offers a wealth of resources. From blog posts to YouTube videos, to certifications — the knowledge to get to what YOU want to do is within reach.

No matter where you apply, there will almost always be a candidate who started earlier, came from a bigger company, or went to a better school. Who cares?

Only YOU can bring what you bring to the table. Whether it’s your passion, creativity, or worldview, highlight what makes you…YOU! Don’t stop and wait several years for someone to give you permission to feel qualified.”

Network and meet people in the industry 🔍

“You can find people who currently work in your area of choice by searching on LinkedIn, finding names through game credits, or posting your work on forums.

Most people, especially those with very small followings, are more than happy to answer questions and provide feedback in their areas of expertise.

As always, I highly recommend following recruiters from Activision, Blizzard, and King on LinkedIn – they’ll always post amazing tips and the latest job openings they’re looking to fill.”

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🗒️ Follow Arin on LinkedIn and TikTok to receive additional career tips.

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