Getting started in Games User Research — part 2

Getting your first job in games user research

So, after part one you’ve hopefully decided you’d like a role as a games user researcher. Here’s some tips to help you get that first role.

Have the knowledge

Very few companies will be willing to teach you on the job, so learn the basics before you apply. This could be via a degree, but doesn’t have to be.

Know the core research methods well, what their strengths and weaknesses are, what research questions they answer, when is best to perform each. These methods include (but are not limited to) the following.

Research approaches:

• Playtesting (both large and small scale, in-lab and remote)
• Concept testing
• Card sort/Tree test
• Non-player analysis (cognitive walkthrough, usability analysis, heuristic analysis)
• Surveys
• Competitive analysis
• Eyetracking and other biometrics
• Diary studies
• Focus groups
• Interviews
• Guerrilla research
• Analytics (this is a whole other career, but at least the theories behind it, and when they can be useful)

Data analysis, collaborative approaches and data presentation:

• Co-design
• Collaborative data analysis
• Personas
• Workshops
• Data visualisation

Get some experience

But how do you get experience before getting the job?

Find ways to practice your research methods. Maybe you can get a role in mainstream user research first. Maybe you can fit some research into your existing day job. Maybe you reach out to companies and offer some assistance in your spare time (start ups and student projects are often particularly willing to listen to people offering free assistance).

If all else fails, just do it yourself. Choose a released game and assess it. The report doesn’t need to go to anyone (but in an ideal world it would, so you can receive feedback).

Don’t avoid methods due to a lack of resources as others won’t. Can’t afford to pay players for playtests? Do what you can — ask for volunteers, run as many as you can, or go watch players on Twitch. Remember all of these work-arounds risk adding flaws to the data you collect, take them into account in any report you produce.

Be ready to talk about your experiences once you make it into an interview. What worked, what didn’t, what you’d change next time you use the method. If you had to use work-arounds be ready to talk about them, and what potential issues they may have introduced (to the research and the conclusions).

Also consider what next steps you’d take given the opportunity — what further research, and crucially why.

Show your experience with a portfolio

A portfolio is a must if you’re just starting out as a games user researcher. A portfolio allows you to visually demonstrate your experience. If you can show you’ve used a variety of methods (not just one or two), it will really help you stand out.

Make sure your portfolio:

• Takes the reader on a clear journey for each example (the challenge > your chosen approach > the solution & potential next steps). Don’t just show the resulting report
• Is visually appealing (it will only be skim read at best at first)
• Contains a variety of methods, data analysis techniques and data presentation approaches
• Contains great work (don’t pad out your portfolio with work you don’t want people to see, or you’d prefer not to talk about)
• Is short — you don’t need to add in all pages from a report, just some sample pages and the key findings

Polish your CV

People looking at your CV will not have time to read great swathes of text. They’ll want to come to a conclusion about you in 2 minutes — ideally less. So help them put you in the shortlist pile quickly.

Make it easy to scan. Read the job description, look for the key skills they are looking for, and make sure they appear clearly in the CV. White space, bulleted lists, clear headings. Anything that aids absorption will be appreciated.

Tailor your CV for the role. Look at the language used in the job description, use the same language yourself in your CV. There’s likely to be a list of skills and responsibilities — make sure your CV mentions as many as possible.

Practice interviewing

Get to know the language of games user research, try to become comfortable talking about all aspects. For example what is the difference between cognitive walkthrough and heuristic evaluation? Make sure you don’t become mixed up in a stressful interview.

Be ready to talk about your games user research experience once you make it into an interview. What worked, what didn’t, what you’d change next time you use a method. Also consider what next steps you’d take given the opportunity — what further research, and crucially why.

Go find the common interview questions. Games user researchers have shared their most useful interview questions on Twitter. Go find them and be ready for what questions may come your way.

Practice your responses. It’s no good knowing what you may be asked if you stumble over your response all the same. Practice responding to the common questions. Speak to friends, family or simply just to a mirror. You’ll be amazed how much easier it becomes after a couple of attempts.

Two other key things to bear in mind when interviewing:

• Research the company in advance of the interview
• Ask questions (make sure they’re interesting and relevant to the role)

Get a mentor

I’d also suggest you sign up for a mentor on the GRUX SIG mentor scheme — find a profile that appeals to you. I believe the mentor scheme is over-subscribed, but keep at it, there’s some amazing people giving away their time and energy to people for free.

Don’t just listen to me

Check out this insightful talk from Seb Long with more hints, tips and interview questions!

BONUS — Do I need a degree to be a games user researcher?

I don’t want a post-graduate degree to be a barrier to a career such as this. It reduces the potential talent pool and creates long term diversity issues. My personal opinion is you don’t need academic qualifications to be a games user researcher.

BUT without one it can be hard to prove you know games user research enough to get to an interview (where hopefully you can show you know your stuff by talking). If you plan to apply without one it will be really difficult to stand out. Have a great portfolio, because everyone in the inbox with a degree will start ahead of you.

It is possible to learn everything without an expensive and time consuming degree. Some of the best researchers I’ve had the pleasure to work with don’t have degrees. Many often started in research adjacent roles and got involved in research whenever they could before shifting their role full time.

However many companies will simply prefer to hire those with degrees. Particularly those without already existing internal GUR knowledge to guide them. They are more likely to play safe by bringing someone in with a certificate.

Without a degree the onus is on the candidate to show they know what they are doing through their portfolio and experience. This is a challenge, but is absolutely possible. You can do it, others have done so before, you’re not alone.