Work the Show, Don't Let the Show Work You

Attend as many of GDC sessions as possible that are within your scope of interest. GDC offers conference sessions with some of the best and brightest minds in the games business. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn from those who are successful.

Introduce yourself to the speaker before or after the session. Generally speaking, game industry professionals are very approachable.

Remember that the spirit of GDC is designed to encourage learning and innovation via collaboration. Don't be intimidated to converse with the speakers, as they'll be willing to help when they can.

Don't sit at home! Attend Suite Night, The Career Pavilion Booth Crawl, company parties and other sponsored events. Take advantage of the opportunity to interact socially with industry professionals. The game industry employs some really cool people that like to have a good time. Get out there and have some fun.

Identify someone who is better connected than you, and hang out with that person. This will allow you to meet new people that could lead to a new step in your career.

Gather Business Cards and Take Notes

Set up the close: if you are job searching at GDC, your primary goal is to make contact with decision-makers. Your secondary goal is to collect information that will help you advance your job search and make new contacts.

Collecting business cards of the people you meet at the show is a crucial step to the success of your job search.

Once you are done with the conversation, flip the card and write down some notes to remind you of the details discussed, and the reasons why you plan to follow up with the person later.

Act Professional

There are times in life that you can play and there are times in life when you need to work. Fortunately, the games industry affords us all the opportunity to succeed with a healthy blend of both. In order to maximize your job search it needs to be all business. Step up your hygiene routine, dress appropriately, and treat potential employers with respect.

Arrive to the speaking tracks on time and try not to leave early. Some speaking tracks are less crowded than others, and you don't want to be a distraction.

Show appreciation to the speakers by staying engaged throughout the session. You'll be rewarded when the session is less crowded, by having the opportunity to talk freely with the speaker.