Navigating the Creative Industry – My Experiences

The games industry is small. People talk. And yet, somehow, the recruitment process remains one of the least transparent parts of a career in this field.

This isn’t a guide on how to write a CV or ace an interview. It’s a collection of real experiences — things that actually happened, shared because I wish someone had told me this earlier. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned professional looking for a change, I hope this saves you some time, frustration, and unnecessary self-doubt.

Studio Experiences

Studio A: Silence After Interest

A recruiter at a major triple-A studio reached out, the conversations went well, and then: nothing. I sent two or three follow-up emails. No response. Not even a “we’ve gone a different direction.”

It wasn’t just frustrating. It was unprofessional. In an industry this small, a recruiter is the face of the studio. Silence communicates more than they probably intend.

Takeaway: If a studio goes quiet after expressing interest, follow up once clearly, then move on. Their silence is information. And if you end up there later, you’ll remember how they treated candidates.

Studio B: The NDA Pressure

After multiple calls with another triple-A studio, they kept pushing for work samples I couldn’t share. The project hadn’t been announced. The work was under NDA; I told them this repeatedly. Their response: ”We could have a quick call so you can just briefly show it.”

Think about that. A company looking to hire trustworthy people, actively trying to get someone to breach a legal agreement. I’m certain they wouldn’t appreciate it if their own staff did the same.

Takeaway: A studio that pressures you to violate an NDA is showing you exactly how they operate. Walk away cleanly and without guilt.

Studio C: The Visa Oversight

Two interviews in. Good conversations. Then I had to chase the recruiter for a status update, only to find out they’d run into complications hiring me because of the visa process. Something they could have identified in the very first call.

Weeks of my time, and theirs, wasted on something that should have been a 5-minute check at the start.

Takeaway: Early in any process, ask directly: ”Are there any relocation, work authorisation, or visa constraints that could affect this role?” It protects everyone’s time. If a studio doesn’t have that answer upfront, that tells you something too.

Studio D: The Low-Ball Offer

A studio in a major European city extended an offer that barely covered basic living costs, let alone healthcare, in one of the most expensive cities in the world. I was more junior at the time, but the number was still disconnected from the reality of actually living there.

Takeaway: Always research cost of living against the offered salary before getting emotionally invested. Tools like Numbeo exist. Use them. Knowing your number going in puts you in a much stronger position and prevents the gut-punch of an offer that insults the city you’d be moving to.

Recruiter Experiences

Recruiter A: The Mentor Mirage

About ten or twelve years ago, I came across someone offering paid “mentor sessions” for newcomers to the industry. The pitch: guaranteed connections, 10+ years of recruitment experience, interview prep, resume polish, introductions to major studios.

When it came time to deliver on those introductions, they vanished.

It cost people money and, more importantly, time and trust during a vulnerable moment in their careers. To this day, I haven't seen this person deliver on the introductions they promised, and I haven't seen them working at any major studio since. In hindsight, there was probably more to the story than I knew at the time.

Takeaway: Vet anyone offering mentorship or career connections with the same rigour you’d apply to a job offer. Ask for specific examples. Ask who they’ve placed and where. Legitimate mentors welcome those questions.

Recruiter B: “It’s a Done Deal”

For a role at one of the largest studios in the US, the recruiter was enthusiastic to the point of being unprofessional. Phrases like ”it’s a done deal” and ”they’re lucky to have you in the process.” I went through the interviews. The team was great. Then I found out the job description didn’t actually match the role that was being filled.

Not only unprofessional; it’s a waste of the hiring team’s time and the candidate’s.

Takeaway: Treat recruiter enthusiasm as a yellow flag, not a green one. Ask direct, specific questions about the role’s responsibilities, team size, and reporting structure before investing in multiple interview rounds.

What I’ve Learned Overall

The recruitment process in games asks a lot of you: your time, your portfolio, your emotional energy. Not every studio or recruiter treats that investment with the respect it deserves.

A few things that have helped me:

• Communicate your constraints early. Visa status, location, availability, salary expectations: raise these in the first conversation. It’s not impolite, it’s efficient.
• Set your boundaries. It's okay to say no, or to step away from a process if something feels off.
• Your NDA is not negotiable. Any studio worth working for will understand this immediately.
• A recruiter’s enthusiasm is not an offer. Verify everything in writing.
• Research the studio independently. Glassdoor, LinkedIn, people in your network who’ve worked there. The small industry works both ways; information travels.
• Silence after engagement is an answer. Don’t chase indefinitely. One clear follow-up, then redirect your energy.

The industry is small. Your reputation matters, and so does theirs. Don’t be afraid to hold studios and recruiters to the same standard they hold you.

© 2026 Stefan Groenewoud — All views are my own, not those of my employer.