How to become a leader in the video game industry
Want to break into the video game industry and grow into a leadership role? Francisco Inacio, Lead Programmer on Squad, shares expert tips from his journey from the University of Hull to a senior role at Offworld Industries.
How to land an interview in the video game industry
Education vs work experience
No matter how good or bad you are, your CV is your gateway to getting into the industry. To get your first interview, you can work on the presentation of your CV, but also remember to acquire the skills you need to stand out. Education is very important, but equally important to a lot of employers is work experience. I look for people who have a solid educational background, but also relevant experience in the industry.
Personal projects
If you do not have that career experience in the video game industry, then make sure you have evidence of some personal projects you have worked on. Show that you have that passion and are willing to do things in your own time.
Specialised experience
Gaining specialised experience or knowledge of areas such as rendering, networking, Tools & DevOps, Unreal Engine 4 and Unity can really make you stand out on paper.
Don’t take it personally
Last but not least, never take it personally if you do not get an interview. There are a lot of candidates out there. You can be brilliant at what you do, but there might just be someone who is better suited to that role. It is never personal, it’s business.
How to ace the interview
Make sure it’s a two-way dialogue, but don’t be arrogant
People sometimes say an interview is a one-way interaction, but actually I like to spin that around and make it two-way. Yes, the company is looking for someone, but you are also looking for a company. Be confident in what you say and do, ask the questions you need but do not be arrogant.
Admit when you don’t know something, but try anyway
It is perfectly OK to admit that you do not know everything. This shows humility. It is important for the interviewer to see you try and solve the problem, even if you do not know the answer off the top of your head.
Take time to think before answering
Do not rush in an interview. Always take a moment, if asked a difficult question, to think before you give an answer.
It’s not a matter of whether you can do it, it’s about how long it will take you
You do not need to be able to do everything right from the off. You do, however, need to be willing to learn new skills. I like to say it’s not about whether you can do something right at that moment, it’s how long it will take you to learn it if you cannot.
Take notes and learn from it
Some interviewers like to see you taking notes during an interview. It’s the little things sometimes that have a big impression. It shows you are engaged and are taking the process seriously and want to improve and learn from it.

Habits to gain and break
Things you should do:
- Be humble and collaborative
- Try things before asking for help
- Try to find solutions to problems
- Get your code tested and reviewed by others
Habits to avoid:
- Don’t be arrogant and competitive
- Don’t ask for help all the time, take the time first to try and find the solution
- Don’t assume your code will work just because it works locally
How to stop being a junior
Don’t just wait to be told what to do
One thing I have learned is everything can feel very scary when you first start out. Sometimes you might hold back because you think you cannot do something. No one has all those skills to start with – it is up to you to say yes, and take a leap of faith and develop those skills on your own, but with support from your team.
Start taking on bigger tasks with more responsibilities
Each time something shows up that seems a scary task that no one wants to take on, it is a great area for growth. Taking on bigger tasks more regularly, with added responsibility, is a great way to show your company that you are an ambitious, valuable member of the team.
Become the person that people approach for help and advice
You need to become the guru in your team, who people turn to for help on projects. Become an expert and play to your strengths.

How to become a leader
Be a bridge between team members
Being able to connect people in your team, to enable them to have more collaboration with each other, is a really important skill in being a manager or leader.
Know your team and what everyone’s best strengths are
You need to know the people in your team, where everyone’s best strengths lie, and who the best person is to turn to for help with a specific task.
Be the oil that keeps the machine running
As a leader, you need to be able to do whatever is needed to keep the machine running. Prompt your teammates to see if they need help or are struggling, and if no one else can provide advice to them, then maybe you need to take that on yourself.
Build trust and mentor others to help them achieve their goals
You need to be more than just a boss – being a mentor to your team, helping them develop, learn new skills and achieve their goals is what really makes a leader.

About Francisco:
Francisco graduated with a distinction in MSc in Games Programming in 2012 and then a PhD in Interactive Computer Graphics. He is now the Lead Developer at Vancouver-based Offworld Industries.
Want to know more?
Ready to start your journey in the video game industry? Explore the BSc Computer Science for Games Programming course at the University of Hull.
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Last updated 08 August 2025, 13.49
Francisco Inacio
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