5 Steps to Securing a Junior Programming Role

Are you interested in becoming a game programmer? Programmers are the people who create the code that brings games to life: from the design of characters, to the look and sound of game environments, to how many enemies appear on screen at once. To become a full-fledged game programmer, you need to start from the beginning with junior programmer jobs. Becoming a junior programmer is the foot in the door you need to prove your skills in the games industry. Here are five steps you should take to secure any junior programmer jobs.

Step One – Promote Yourself

To build a profile that you can market for junior programmer jobs, you need to make a solid portfolio. Any previous experience, training, qualifications, demos and programs should be included. Create profiles on GitHub and LinkedIn where potential employers can come across your portfolio. Having your own blog can help boost your profile, too; however, you need to ensure all your writings are based on facts and not just opinions. Finally, make sure your CV is up to date and well written.

Step Two – Be Professional

Succeeding in junior programmer jobs takes more than just learning technical skills. It also depends on how well you can work with your colleagues. When you begin working as a junior programmer, make sure your standards align with those of your workplace. If you are unsure of something, be honest; pretending you have knowledge or skills you do not possess will not help you to improve. Manage your time well and establish clear boundaries in order to maintain your professionalism. Finally, have a clear goal in mind at all times that will help develop your career.

Step Three – Join Networks

Your peer group will influence your development as a junior programmer, so choose wisely who you network with. Finding a group of motivated and professional developers to interact with will further advance your knowledge and skills. You may be able to find local groups through meetup.com or live workshops. Social media groups and sites such as Reddit can also be a source of sharing knowledge, but beware of trolls or those who argue for the sake of it. Make sure to check any local developer networks who can offer guidance and knowledge, too.

Step Four – Develop Your Skills

To get ahead in junior programmer jobs you should at least have some knowledge of programming languages, algorithms, data structures and problem solving skills. You can develop many of these skills with competitive coding platforms such as HackerRank. System design skills are also important to learn as a junior programmer. Having system design knowledge will help you develop a well-rounded skill set that is more attractive to employers.

Step Five – Keep Learning

Even after you have made it in the world of junior programmer jobs, you should not settle there if you want to become a senior games programmer. However, rather than trying to absorb everything at once, it is best to create a learning plan so you can focus on the specific skills you wish to develop. There are many different paths for a games programmer. Some focus on character animations, some on sound design, and so on. Whether you want to specialise in one of these areas or follow a more general path, continuous learning is crucial to success.

OPM Jobs

Here at OPM Jobs we match aspiring coders, programmers, developers and many others with a range of technical jobs in games companies across the world. To find out more about our range of exciting game developer jobs, browse our current vacancies or contact us today.