Now in its ninth year, the award-winning initiative is led by Course Director for Games Technologies Davin Ward,Senior Lecturer James Banton and Career Liaison Officer Annie Thompson to help bridge the gap between education and employment.
The mock interviews replicate real-world interview conditions and students are rigorously assessed on their experience, projects, and technical knowledge specific to their field.
This year, 115 students were put through their paces by 64 industry professionals from 17 companies, including; Atom Hawk, Bet 365, Cast Iron Games, D3T, Dambuster, EA, Electric Square, Flix Interactive, Lighthouse Games, Realtime, Rebellion, Red Kite Games, Studio Gobo, Sumo Digital, Supermassive Games, Tanglewood Games and Wushu Studios.
Professor Chris Headleand, Head of University of Staffordshire Games Institute, said: “We are really proud to offer this opportunity to our students in partnership with our friends and colleagues from the games industry. This event would not be made possible without their continuous support. Gaining real world interview experience is so important for graduate confidence.”
The initiative not only prepares students for the competitive job market but also fosters strong connections between academia and the gaming industry.
Paul Murphy, Principal Talent Acquisition Specialist at Lighthouse Games, said: “It was great to spend time with students from the University of Staffordshire through a series of mock interviews and portfolio discussions.”
Jacob Rand, Talent Acquisition Specialist at Lighthouse Games, added: “It’s always valuable to connect directly with students, and the quality of work on show was impressive. We appreciate the university for inviting us to support the sessions.”
Ralph Ridley, Associate Lead Programmer from Cast Iron Games, said: "It was a pleasure to meet many students with great potential and give them crucial experience in interviews, which I know can be quite intimidating to graduates looking for jobs in games."
Alvaro Arias, Lead Game Design from Studio Gobo, said: “I was blown away by the creativity and output of the students I interviewed and it makes me feel hopeful for the future of the industry. There is a lot of talent brewing in there.”
Charlotte Pook, Talent Acquisition Manager at Electric Square, said: "Electric Square and Lively are proud to support Staffordshire University’s educational initiatives, giving students the opportunity to engage directly with professionals actively working in the games industry"
Lauren Sears, Senior Talent & Engagement Specialist at Wushu Studios, said: "We're committed to supporting early talent at Wushu and appreciate the effort that Staffs Uni goes to, not only to engage with industry employers to ensure their students are adequately prepped and industry ready but also with the quality of the games development courses they provide."
After each interview, the students received detailed feedback on their CV, portfolio, and interview technique. Alongside creating new connections with games industry members, many students shared that the experience will greatly improve their confidence when applying for jobs.
MA Games Art student Skye Smith said: “The mock interviews were a great experience to understand how the structure of an interview works as well as gain some experience so you can be well prepared for the next time. I had some wonderful discussions and some really insightful feedback I’ll be sure to action to my CV and portfolio.”
Jaime Harley, studying BSc (Hons) Computer Game Design, added: "I found the mock interviews so useful! As someone that often has a lot of worry and anxiety around interviews, it really helped me improve my skills and confidence, as well as get good 1-1 feedback on not only my portfolio and CV, but some of my projects and how I present myself too. Every interviewer was incredibly kind and gave me chance to ask my own questions too.”
Discover more about University of Staffordshire’s Games Institute or book your place at an Open Day.