2 answers
Liam
Student
Saratoga Springs, New York
1
Question
Updated
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What does it take to actually get your first job in the fields of Computer Science or Game Development #Fall25 #fall25?
Everyone tells you it's all about internships and grades, but in this field of study, aren't prior experience and projects way more important? #Fall25 #fall25
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2 answers
David Allen
Consultant
84
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
David’s Answer
You are absolutely correct: in both Computer Science (CS) and Game Development, prior experience and projects are significantly more important than grades alone for securing your first job. While a strong GPA and relevant degree are necessary for getting past initial screening filters, what gets you the job offer is the demonstrable proof of your technical skills and ability to complete a project. For entry-level CS roles (like Software Engineer or Web Developer), this proof is often demonstrated through a portfolio of 3-5 personal projects (hosted on GitHub) that showcase proficiency in specific, in-demand technologies (e.g., a full-stack web application, a data analysis tool, or an API). For Game Development, the portfolio is even more critical and must include actual, completed games, even small ones from game jams, demonstrating fluency with relevant game engines (Unity or Unreal) and languages (C# or C++), as employers need proof you can successfully ship code in a constrained environment.
The most effective way to combine "experience" with technical skill is through structured, relevant internships, as they provide an unbeatable mix of large-scale, professional codebases, team collaboration experience, and a strong professional reference—all things personal projects cannot fully replicate. However, if you lack an internship, you must compensate by ensuring your personal portfolio projects look and function like professional work: they should have clean, well-documented code, use version control (Git), and ideally be collaborative (participating in open-source projects or group game jams). Crucially, you must also master the technical interview process, which for CS often involves complex Data Structures and Algorithms (LeetCode-style problems), as this demonstrates the theoretical problem-solving skills the degree is meant to instill. For both fields, the trifecta of a Relevant Degree, a Strong Portfolio, and Demonstrated Interview Skills is what it truly takes to land that first role.
The most effective way to combine "experience" with technical skill is through structured, relevant internships, as they provide an unbeatable mix of large-scale, professional codebases, team collaboration experience, and a strong professional reference—all things personal projects cannot fully replicate. However, if you lack an internship, you must compensate by ensuring your personal portfolio projects look and function like professional work: they should have clean, well-documented code, use version control (Git), and ideally be collaborative (participating in open-source projects or group game jams). Crucially, you must also master the technical interview process, which for CS often involves complex Data Structures and Algorithms (LeetCode-style problems), as this demonstrates the theoretical problem-solving skills the degree is meant to instill. For both fields, the trifecta of a Relevant Degree, a Strong Portfolio, and Demonstrated Interview Skills is what it truly takes to land that first role.
Sandeep Khandelwal
Software Engineer
50
Answers
San Ramon, California
Updated
Sandeep’s Answer
You are absolutely right that in Computer Science and Game Development, prior experience and projects are far more critical than grades alone. While good grades prove you can learn, a strong portfolio proves you can actually build and ship a product, which is what employers ultimately pay for.
Think of it as a three-part system, where experience is the main signal. Internships are the gold standard because they provide company-validated, real-world experience and demonstrate you can work in a professional team, follow best practices, and use industry tools. Since the job market is highly competitive, an internship is now almost mandatory for standing out. Personal projects are your way to bridge the gap if you can’t get an internship early on, or to specialize your skills even further if you do. Your portfolio should be more than just class assignments; it needs to be strategic. For a first job, recruiters look for projects that are finished, deployed, and easily viewable on a clean Bitbucket/GitHub profile or personal website.
Focus on building a few non-trivial projects that demonstrate key skills like using APIs, databases, and version control (Git). For Game Dev, your portfolio is your resume, and it must showcase a clear specialization with working demos using industry-standard tools like Unity or Unreal Engine. Remember, your technical skills get you the interview, but communication, adaptability, and teamwork (often learned via group projects and open-source contributions) land you the job. Start networking with purpose—a warm referral from an alum is one of the highest-conversion methods for securing an interview.
Would you like me to find some examples of highly-rated personal projects for a specific field, like AI or Game Programming, to help you start building your portfolio?
Think of it as a three-part system, where experience is the main signal. Internships are the gold standard because they provide company-validated, real-world experience and demonstrate you can work in a professional team, follow best practices, and use industry tools. Since the job market is highly competitive, an internship is now almost mandatory for standing out. Personal projects are your way to bridge the gap if you can’t get an internship early on, or to specialize your skills even further if you do. Your portfolio should be more than just class assignments; it needs to be strategic. For a first job, recruiters look for projects that are finished, deployed, and easily viewable on a clean Bitbucket/GitHub profile or personal website.
Focus on building a few non-trivial projects that demonstrate key skills like using APIs, databases, and version control (Git). For Game Dev, your portfolio is your resume, and it must showcase a clear specialization with working demos using industry-standard tools like Unity or Unreal Engine. Remember, your technical skills get you the interview, but communication, adaptability, and teamwork (often learned via group projects and open-source contributions) land you the job. Start networking with purpose—a warm referral from an alum is one of the highest-conversion methods for securing an interview.
Would you like me to find some examples of highly-rated personal projects for a specific field, like AI or Game Programming, to help you start building your portfolio?