This was my first GDC and I was so excited for everything. Meeting people, talking about games, talking about work that's happening around, listening to the talks of big people. Everything was overwhelming.
On the first two days of GDC, I attended various sessions. Sessions on Math for Game Programmers, Physics for Game programmers and especially the AI summits. I got to know a lot about lots of stuff. Also, the other important thing to do at GDC was networking. I was finding it difficult initially to approach people and talk to them. But as time passed, I started getting into the groove ;).
I wanted to know few important things from the people, especially engineers working in the industry and I wanted to talk to people about that. I always thought that as an engineer it is very difficult to portray how good of an engineer you are from your resume. So I asked a lot of people about what could be done regarding this. I got a lot of valuable information. Most of the stuff that people told me was to create a website, portray work on the website, have code samples, have playable demos on the website.
I also talked to people about how can I develop myself in the one years time that I have before I graduate. I got various kinds of answers for this question. Few people said that work on some technical stuff and create something that could be awesome like an AI technique or a good collision system and few people said that they just look into the playable demos of the games. I will be concentrating on all the things that I have learnt from all the big people and that will surely make me stand better in the crowd next year.
One of the many other reasons to be at GDC was to try and get an internship opportunity. I was talking to people, especially near the job pavilion regarding this and most of the companies did not have internship positions. But I was amazed by the number of people out there looking for jobs. That was a real eye opener. I was living in this shell of University of Utah. I surely understood that this is not easy industry to get into.
When we apply for a job, there are thousands other than you applying for the job. So even if I am a really good engineer, getting someone's eyes on my Resume is really hard and that is when I understood the importance of networking. If I know someone and I am in contact with them, they know whether I am a good engineer or not. They can at least forward my credentials to the HR. By doing this, at least I have someone reading my Resume and that's mostly what I aim for.
How can I make good relations with someone by talking to him/her for 5 minutes?
I cannot. But at least while I am talking I can make a mark so that they can remember me. Even if they don't I get their contact information so that I can ask them for help regarding my Resume and who knows while helping me they might find a good candidate for their open positions.
During the interview, it's completely my battle. I will be responsible for winning or losing the battle. That is the time when I can show the interviewer how could of an engineer I am. But getting into the battle is really tough and that's what networking in GDC has helped me to do.
I might not have got responses from everyone. I am not even saying that I have 10 internships lined up for me. But I surely got some valuable advice on my Resume and on my website (Yes. I created a website as soon as I came back from GDC. Here's the link: vaibhavbhalerao.com. Take a look. All your suggestions are valuable too. :D)
Going to GDC was an amazing experience. I have learnt so much from GDC. Not just about programming. But also about how to present myself in front of people. And I think, that's an very important lesson.
On the first two days of GDC, I attended various sessions. Sessions on Math for Game Programmers, Physics for Game programmers and especially the AI summits. I got to know a lot about lots of stuff. Also, the other important thing to do at GDC was networking. I was finding it difficult initially to approach people and talk to them. But as time passed, I started getting into the groove ;).
I wanted to know few important things from the people, especially engineers working in the industry and I wanted to talk to people about that. I always thought that as an engineer it is very difficult to portray how good of an engineer you are from your resume. So I asked a lot of people about what could be done regarding this. I got a lot of valuable information. Most of the stuff that people told me was to create a website, portray work on the website, have code samples, have playable demos on the website.
I also talked to people about how can I develop myself in the one years time that I have before I graduate. I got various kinds of answers for this question. Few people said that work on some technical stuff and create something that could be awesome like an AI technique or a good collision system and few people said that they just look into the playable demos of the games. I will be concentrating on all the things that I have learnt from all the big people and that will surely make me stand better in the crowd next year.
One of the many other reasons to be at GDC was to try and get an internship opportunity. I was talking to people, especially near the job pavilion regarding this and most of the companies did not have internship positions. But I was amazed by the number of people out there looking for jobs. That was a real eye opener. I was living in this shell of University of Utah. I surely understood that this is not easy industry to get into.
When we apply for a job, there are thousands other than you applying for the job. So even if I am a really good engineer, getting someone's eyes on my Resume is really hard and that is when I understood the importance of networking. If I know someone and I am in contact with them, they know whether I am a good engineer or not. They can at least forward my credentials to the HR. By doing this, at least I have someone reading my Resume and that's mostly what I aim for.
How can I make good relations with someone by talking to him/her for 5 minutes?
I cannot. But at least while I am talking I can make a mark so that they can remember me. Even if they don't I get their contact information so that I can ask them for help regarding my Resume and who knows while helping me they might find a good candidate for their open positions.
During the interview, it's completely my battle. I will be responsible for winning or losing the battle. That is the time when I can show the interviewer how could of an engineer I am. But getting into the battle is really tough and that's what networking in GDC has helped me to do.
I might not have got responses from everyone. I am not even saying that I have 10 internships lined up for me. But I surely got some valuable advice on my Resume and on my website (Yes. I created a website as soon as I came back from GDC. Here's the link: vaibhavbhalerao.com. Take a look. All your suggestions are valuable too. :D)
Going to GDC was an amazing experience. I have learnt so much from GDC. Not just about programming. But also about how to present myself in front of people. And I think, that's an very important lesson.
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