Happy International Women's Day!
International Women’s Day is an annual global event celebrating the achievements of women and calls for continued action to promote gender equality and parity around the world.
As part of our International Women’s Day activities we have put together this blogpost to highlight some of the awesome women working at the studio, as well as provide some insight and advice for young women interested in having a career in games.
Women are one of the underrepresented groups in the games industry, with around 30% of the industry identifying as female (Ukie Census 2022), compared to the overall workforce where the percentage of women is around 48%. Here at Payload Studios we are proud to have some amazing women in the team and we hope to have more joining in the future!
What's it like working in the games industry?
The games industry is a creative, varied and fun place to work! But don’t take it from us, we asked some of the women working at Payload Studios about why they enjoy working in the games industry.
“[I enjoy] Being surrounded by talented people who genuinely love what they do!” – Natalie, Marketing Manager
“I enjoy the variety of my job. There’s always fun things happening and the studio has a happy and relaxed environment.” – Roseanne, Facilities Manager
“I love that I am able to work in an industry that I’m passionate about. Due to the inclusive nature of the industry I feel like I can also be more myself, and the fact that I get to work with a lot of great people.” – Sammi, QA Lead
“The collaborative nature of the games industry is one of the aspects that I enjoy the most. Being fortunate enough to work on a project that requires various disciplines working together to succeed creates a close-knit team where everyone’s input is constructive and heard. This results in the creation of something innovative and exciting! It is an incredibly rewarding job, made possible by seeing your work come to life in the game engine and being able to see people interacting with and enjoying it…. Every day, I find myself learning something new from people with various levels of experience, who are consistently happy to share their knowledge with me to help me grow as an artist.” – Hatty, Junior Artist
Tips for Getting Started in the Games Industry
Getting your first break in the games industry can be a challenge so we’ve put together some tips!
Our team had various pathways into the industry. For some it was studying a games related course, while others developed transferable skills or had a whole different career before focusing on games. Here are a few things that the some of the women at Payload wish they had known earlier:
The Games Industry is For Everyone
“When I was at school I had no idea I could work in games. Even when I joined the industry, I didn’t see a lot of other women and it wasn’t always a very inclusive or diverse place. Since then things have changed and there are so many amazing people working to improve the industry and ensure the people who make games represent the people who play them. If you love games then this industry is for you!” – Khally, Director of People and Culture
“Women in this industry are finding a way to evolve together and it’s possibly one of the most inspiring things I’ve seen. So many women and allies of women coming together to create waves of change.” – Cheryl, Senior QA Tester
There Are Lots of Different Roles in the Industry
“I never realised that there was such a mix of roles. I thought I lacked the technical know- how to enter the gaming industry but I was wrong. Gaming is the friendliest industry I have worked in and people are very welcoming and non-judgemental” – Roseanne, Facilities Manager
“When speaking to students, or people wanting to work in games, I always try to showcase the different types of roles available. It’s a much broader range than people imagine and if you find something you’re good at and enjoy there’s usually a way to apply it to the games industry.” – Khally, Director of People and Culture
If at First You Don’t Succeed, Develop Transferable Skills
Getting your first break into the industry can be tricky but some of our team developed transferable skills in other industries.
“You can gain valuable experience in roles outside of games studios. If you develop transferable skills and continue to pursue your passion for gaming outside of work, you’ll be in a strong position to apply for that perfect role in future.” – Natalie, Marketing Manager
“To anyone thinking about getting into the games industry I would say don’t be dissuaded from applying for a role due to lack of experience. Most skills and experience from previous jobs can cross over into gaming and there are more roles than you’d imagine that could be a fit.” – Roseanne, Facilities Manager
Networking Can Be a Big Help
“There are loads of online and in person games-focused events and going along to them can be a great way to meet people. It can be daunting (I still find it challenging!) but having friends and connections in the industry can be a great support and also help you hear about opportunities that you might have otherwise missed.” – Khally, Director of People and Culture
“This isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but networking! I’m not a big fan of it myself, but the connections I made led me to great opportunities. To be completely honest it’s just a fancy word for making friends, so be yourself and you’ll definitely meet the right people along that way!” – Sammi, QA Lead
Try to Be Confident and Be Kind to Yourself
“As a woman, I think the best advice for any females wanting to step into the games industry would be to go for it! Although the industry is currently male dominated, this is something that is changing and will only continue to change, if we carry on applying for roles in this industry. Through my personal experience, I have always been supported in my role and been encouraged to speak up and express my opinions and ideas, just as much as anyone else.” – Hatty, Junior Artist
“The one thing I wish I’d known or was told when I first started in QA is… Take the small challenges first, set limits, put some solid time down in a new building/role before thinking about more complex matters and most of all, remember yourself comes first and try to re-enforce this everyday.” – Cheryl, Senior QA Tester
“In the past I have definitely lacked confidence but one of the most useful things I’ve learnt is that even the most successful people feel insecure sometimes and noone has all the answers. It’s ok not always to feel super confident but the important thing is to try not to let that stop you exploring great opportunities, such as applying for a new job. Also as uncomfortable as it can feel, don’t be afraid to talk yourself up and celebrate your achievements!” – Khally, Director of People and Culture
“I got my start working at a testing house. It was outside of London and I had to commute long hours and pretty much spent most of my wages on travel. I persevered until I got the experience which led me to opportunities working with AAA companies. With that I say take the opportunity and from there, give it your best, make friends and most importantly enjoy yourself!” – Sammi, QA Lead
A big thanks to all our Payloaders who shared their insights and experience of working in the game industry!
To find out more about International Women’s Day you can visit their website here. To find out more about the different careers available in the games industry you can have a look at the Into Games website here.
If you’re interested in learning more about working at Payload check out our careers page.