Planned Success leads to Success?

I'm going to place my trust in the above statement. For the last few months I have tirelessly researched the methods of gaining a job within the industry, and I have come to a few conclusions. (The list is not in order of importance because each of them are integral.)

1. It isn't the specific degree which counts, but the hard evidence of your efforts.

Developers are searching for candidates who have gone above and beyond their expected efforts. Simply because you have a degree in computer science doesn't give you a 100% application success rate. You have to show your sideline work in Videogame development. Your name on the credits of a burgeoning HL2 mod, or the play tester of an Indie game. It's all those little things that make the difference.

This also answers the question of attending a college in Game Design. I've grown wary of searching for that perfect game school which will mold me into a developer. They merely teach you the principles of good design philosophies, which can easily be gained without a tuition by analyzing your favorite titles. Of course these schools can give you test runs in Maya, C++, and other fundamentals, but these also can be accomplished on ones own time, with considerably less money lost.

I won't entirely discount these schools because some individuals need the focused curriculum to succeed. I could very well be one of these individuals. Though before reaching such a conclusion I will gain my English major.

2. Good communication skills are IMPORTANT!

Game design just like all creative industry requires incredible coordination and clear communication between team members. Before gaining a position in this complicated network, you will need the interpersonal skills to open the path. Networking is a huge part of the game and the most important tool for the greenhorn to gain a job, and for the established dev member to keep his/her job. This ties into my next point.

3. Push, push, push until success has arrived.

A few days ago I had submitted my resume and cover letter to a respective company. Most unknowingly sit back and wait for the doors to open to their success. Wake up from such illusions because you, personally, must open the door. On Wednesday I will call the developers up and ask them about my resume.

Worried that you'll appear pushy? Don't, because a pushy person will still be more memorable than the one with no presence at all. Just don't cross the line of being a car salesman. Developers are very busy people, and taking too much time from their schedule reveals that you're an inconsiderate nitwit.

----------------------------------------------------------

I have to face all of these issues if I ever hope to make it in the biz. On the first point, I have yet to participate in any game related endeavors. However, I have begun to search for mods to change this deficiency.

The second rule is evident in these blog posts. By posting here, I am growing stronger in expressing myself.

As for the final bit of advice, I have submitted to my first QA tester position. Sure I'm unexperienced, and frankly frightened about the undertaking, but I will still push forward. Tomorrow will be my first conversation with the Lead Tester of Black Lantern Studios. If I receive a no from them, I'll simply pick myself up and try again elsewhere.

The moral of the story being this, "Try your best to improve yourself, and everything else will come with time."

I'm going to link a collection of internet sources that have been useful to me. Many thanks to all the founders provided in the links below.

http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html
http://www.igda.org/breakingin/
http://gamecareerguide.com/

Good Luck to all those fellow game industry newbs fighting with me!