Pocket Gamer Connect Helsinki 2024: Connecting Talent with Opportunity in the Gaming Industry

The Careers Zone at Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki is a unique matchmaking hub designed to create meaningful connections between job seekers and growing game companies. Powered by Games Factory Talents, the Careers Zone is a standout feature of the conference, fostering an environment for professional growth and opportunity within the gaming industry.

Empowering Job Seekers and Companies

The Careers Zone integrates both on-site networking opportunities and exclusive access to the Talents.Games matchmaking tool. This combination allows job seekers to showcase their skills and explore roles that match their profile, while companies gain access to a curated talent pool of seasoned professionals in fields like game development, marketing, art, design etc.

Attendees benefit from tailored, match-based meetings with recruiters from growing and hiring game studios, ensuring that each interaction is targeted and relevant. This focus on relevance is what makes the Careers Zone a critical bridge in the gaming job market, connecting top talent with opportunities and facilitating valuable industry relationships.

This intuitive system ensured that attendees with the right skills were presented with relevant job opportunities, making the networking experience both efficient and productive. The recruiters could also easily view attendees that match their open roles and book meetings online or onsite.

The response from both job seekers and studios was very positive!

The ease of use and the precision of the Talents.Games platform enabled numerous successful connections, resulting in many attendees finding new opportunities or advancing their careers. The presence of industry experts like Oleg Paliy, who offered personalized CV and LinkedIn profile reviews, further enhanced the experience, providing valuable guidance to job seekers.

A Proven Success in the Gaming Industry

Mirroring the successful model seen at HIT Games Conference Barcelona, the Careers Zone in Helsinki offered additional support services such as CV and LinkedIn profile reviews, helping candidates put their best foot forward.

The expertise of industry veterans like Oleg Paliy, who provided personalized advice, enhanced the experience for many job seekers, increasing their visibility and attractiveness to potential employers.

The success of the Careers Zone is reflected in its impressive numbers:

• 207 applications received
• 103 candidates admitted
• 59 successful matches made
• 45 expressions of interest
• 11 CV reviews conducted on-site
• 10 on-site interviews held

A Targeted Approach to Recruitment

The high rejection rate—only 103 of the 207 applicants were admitted—was an intentional decision. If there were no matching job opportunities published by participating companies, admitting a candidate would not be beneficial. This selectiveness ensures that admitted candidates are well-aligned with available positions, creating a higher chance of meaningful connections and successful outcomes.

Importantly, candidates who were not admitted are still at an advantage. By having their profiles in the Talents.Games system, they become part of a talent pool that Games Factory Talents can draw from for future events. This means that if relevant opportunities arise at subsequent matchmaking events, these candidates can be invited back without the need to recreate their profiles, giving them a head start in the recruitment process.

Advanced Tools and a Supportive Environment

The integration of the Talents.Games platform played a crucial role in the Careers Zone’s success. This intuitive and user-friendly tool enabled:

• Candidates to create detailed profiles showcasing their skills, specialties, seniority, and career aspirations.
• Recruiters to post job listings and discover potential matches with precision.

The result was a seamless and efficient networking experience, with job seekers presented with relevant opportunities that aligned with their expertise. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from both job seekers and studios underscores the effectiveness of this targeted approach.

By integrating match making tool (Talents.Games) and offering expert advice, the conference highlighted the critical role of targeted recruitment and professional growth in driving the industry forward.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the successful implementation of the Career Area at the HIT Games Conference 2024, powered by Talents.Games, serves as a blueprint for future events. It demonstrated how the integration of advanced matchmaking platforms and expert advice can effectively bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, setting a new standard for career development in the gaming sector.

Building for the Future

For job seekers in the gaming industry, having a presence in the Talents.Games system offers long-term benefits. Even if a candidate is not immediately matched with a role, their profile remains active, allowing for potential matches in future events without the need for reapplication. This proactive approach underscores the importance of maintaining a profile within the system, as it increases the chances of finding the perfect fit when opportunities arise.

The Careers Zone at Pocket Gamer Connects, powered by Games Factory Talents, is more than just a recruitment initiative—it's a community-driven effort to elevate the careers of gaming professionals and drive the industry forward. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, events like these demonstrate the power of targeted recruitment and the value of connecting the right talent with the right opportunities.