£DOE + Benefits
North West
Established in 1989 - Aardvark Swift has since evolved to become Europe's leading specialist recruitment agency for the games, mobile entertainment and toy industries.
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How should I prepare for the interview?
When attending interviews - will my travelling expenses be covered?
What should I wear to the interview?
Are there any questions I should ask at interview?
Do you have any top tips?
How long will the interview last?
Is it a good idea to mention salary at interview?
What if I can’t attend my interview or I’m running late?
What shall I do after the interview?
Firstly research as much as you can about the company that you will be seeing. We will provide web site addresses and additional info but spend some time doing your own research too. Renting a copy of their latest release is often a good idea if you haven’t already played some of their titles. Aim to know at least know some information about their development history and current announced projects etc.
Prepare some questions in advance, such as what the future plans of the company are, planned projects, milestones, how many applicants for this role … etc?
If taking samples of work with you it is always best to take them on a laptop to ensure they are easy to demo. Alternatively try to test them on different spec PCs. If it takes half an hour of configuring to get the demo to run on their systems the impression you make will not be as impressive.
Plan your route and allow for unexpected delays. It’s on old cliché but a first impression is a lasting one, try to be 5 minutes early rather than rushing through the door with seconds to spare. If you arrive in plenty of time you will feel relaxed and composed and will give a far better impression of yourself.
This varies from company to company though we can advise on an individual company’s policy when we arrange the interview. Generally, few pay travelling expenses for a 1st interview. It is more likely for a company to reimburse 2nd interview expenses, so retain all your receipts. If you've been unemployed and claiming benefit or a training allowance for a period of 13 weeks or more, your local employment centre will often cover the cost.
In General our advice here is casual but smart. We wouldn’t recommend a suit in most instances, especially for development roles. A decent shirt and a smart pair of trousers and jumper are normally best. This dress code will also help you feel more at ease and relaxed at the interview itself.
The final questions that you should ask are "Do you have any reservations about my application" – Ask this because as soon as you leave there is no second chance to overcome any objections. "Where do we go from here" - should be your last question. It is not an aggressive close but a decisive one that warrants a reply. This should provide an indication of how well the interview has gone. It could be that you are offered a second interview there and then or that you will not have an answer for two weeks but at least you will have a good indication of how things stand and time scales.
The most important thing is to be friendly and enthusiastic. Even if the company is not what you expected use the opportunity to develop your interview technique. Every interview is worth giving 100% effort to – this is a very small industry and creating a good impression and showing buckets of enthusiasm can have far reaching benefits.
- Body language is also very important and can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending upon if you use it to your advantage. Your hand and arm movements shouldn’t be too large, try not to fiddle or wring your hands. Upturned palms are a sign of honesty and openness. Make sure that your posture is alert and relaxed, don’t slouch – lean forward and show interest in what your interviewer is saying.
- Eye contact is vital and there is a very fine line between maintaining eye contact and staring – this might be one to practice before you attend! But seriously, look ahead not at the floor, keep eye contact with the person addressing you and don’t forget to smile. Be relaxed, don’t forget that it is just as important that you like them as it is that they like you.
- When answering questions try not to ramble. A short but precise answer is far better than 5 minutes of irrelevant rambling.
- If the question is complicated then take time to gather your thoughts. You can even say “I need to think about that for a moment…” – the interview will respect your honesty and you will probably give a more detailed, relevant and impressive answer.
This varies from company to company and your consultant will try to give you an idea beforehand based on past experience. Most interviews last about 45 minutes to an hour. If the interview has a technical component or an exercise this will normally take 1 - 2 hours in total. We will advise you on the content of your interview prior to sending you a written confirmation. We will also include a map and information on the company conducting the interview and refer you to their website for additional background information.
Not unless specifically asked for, and even then it is best to refer that question to your recruitment consultant. Salary discussions often place a candidate in defensive mode trying to justify figures. As a third party we can negotiate on your behalf. If you do raise the issue of remuneration it will inevitably appear that it is one of your prime motivating factors even if this is not the image you wish to portray to a potential employer.
Other topics to avoid at first interview are sick pay and holidays – this suggests that these are your primary motivators. Such topics will be covered in an offer letter or at a second interview.
Call your consultant the minute that you find out that you cannot attend. We will not have a problem with this and will be much happier to cancel an interview (even at short notice) than to receive a call from an irate client when you don’t turn up.
If you are running late call us and advise of an ETA – we will call ahead and explain this to the company.
As soon as possible after the interview contact your consultant and give him / her feedback on how it went. This is essential if we are to get feedback for you. If you cannot call then send an e-mail, but we can’t contact the client until we have heard from you.
Don’t be tempted to contact the company directly. Many companies use agencies because they don’t have the time to deal with lots of individual enquiries – if you have specific feedback that you would like to pass on then send it to your consultant and they will be more than happy to forward it on for you.
When attending interviews - will my travelling expenses be covered?
What should I wear to the interview?
Are there any questions I should ask at interview?
Do you have any top tips?
How long will the interview last?
Is it a good idea to mention salary at interview?
What if I can’t attend my interview or I’m running late?
What shall I do after the interview?
How should I prepare for the interview?
Firstly research as much as you can about the company that you will be seeing. We will provide web site addresses and additional info but spend some time doing your own research too. Renting a copy of their latest release is often a good idea if you haven’t already played some of their titles. Aim to know at least know some information about their development history and current announced projects etc.
Prepare some questions in advance, such as what the future plans of the company are, planned projects, milestones, how many applicants for this role … etc?
If taking samples of work with you it is always best to take them on a laptop to ensure they are easy to demo. Alternatively try to test them on different spec PCs. If it takes half an hour of configuring to get the demo to run on their systems the impression you make will not be as impressive.
Plan your route and allow for unexpected delays. It’s on old cliché but a first impression is a lasting one, try to be 5 minutes early rather than rushing through the door with seconds to spare. If you arrive in plenty of time you will feel relaxed and composed and will give a far better impression of yourself.
When attending interviews - will my travelling expenses be covered?
This varies from company to company though we can advise on an individual company’s policy when we arrange the interview. Generally, few pay travelling expenses for a 1st interview. It is more likely for a company to reimburse 2nd interview expenses, so retain all your receipts. If you've been unemployed and claiming benefit or a training allowance for a period of 13 weeks or more, your local employment centre will often cover the cost.
What should I wear to the interview?
In General our advice here is casual but smart. We wouldn’t recommend a suit in most instances, especially for development roles. A decent shirt and a smart pair of trousers and jumper are normally best. This dress code will also help you feel more at ease and relaxed at the interview itself.
Are there any questions I should ask at interview?
The final questions that you should ask are "Do you have any reservations about my application" – Ask this because as soon as you leave there is no second chance to overcome any objections. "Where do we go from here" - should be your last question. It is not an aggressive close but a decisive one that warrants a reply. This should provide an indication of how well the interview has gone. It could be that you are offered a second interview there and then or that you will not have an answer for two weeks but at least you will have a good indication of how things stand and time scales.
Do you have any top tips?
The most important thing is to be friendly and enthusiastic. Even if the company is not what you expected use the opportunity to develop your interview technique. Every interview is worth giving 100% effort to – this is a very small industry and creating a good impression and showing buckets of enthusiasm can have far reaching benefits.
- Body language is also very important and can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending upon if you use it to your advantage. Your hand and arm movements shouldn’t be too large, try not to fiddle or wring your hands. Upturned palms are a sign of honesty and openness. Make sure that your posture is alert and relaxed, don’t slouch – lean forward and show interest in what your interviewer is saying.
- Eye contact is vital and there is a very fine line between maintaining eye contact and staring – this might be one to practice before you attend! But seriously, look ahead not at the floor, keep eye contact with the person addressing you and don’t forget to smile. Be relaxed, don’t forget that it is just as important that you like them as it is that they like you.
- When answering questions try not to ramble. A short but precise answer is far better than 5 minutes of irrelevant rambling.
- If the question is complicated then take time to gather your thoughts. You can even say “I need to think about that for a moment…” – the interview will respect your honesty and you will probably give a more detailed, relevant and impressive answer.
How long will the interview last?
This varies from company to company and your consultant will try to give you an idea beforehand based on past experience. Most interviews last about 45 minutes to an hour. If the interview has a technical component or an exercise this will normally take 1 - 2 hours in total. We will advise you on the content of your interview prior to sending you a written confirmation. We will also include a map and information on the company conducting the interview and refer you to their website for additional background information.
Is it a good idea to mention salary at interview?
Not unless specifically asked for, and even then it is best to refer that question to your recruitment consultant. Salary discussions often place a candidate in defensive mode trying to justify figures. As a third party we can negotiate on your behalf. If you do raise the issue of remuneration it will inevitably appear that it is one of your prime motivating factors even if this is not the image you wish to portray to a potential employer.
Other topics to avoid at first interview are sick pay and holidays – this suggests that these are your primary motivators. Such topics will be covered in an offer letter or at a second interview.
What if I can’t attend my interview or I’m running late?
Call your consultant the minute that you find out that you cannot attend. We will not have a problem with this and will be much happier to cancel an interview (even at short notice) than to receive a call from an irate client when you don’t turn up.
If you are running late call us and advise of an ETA – we will call ahead and explain this to the company.
What shall I do after the interview?
As soon as possible after the interview contact your consultant and give him / her feedback on how it went. This is essential if we are to get feedback for you. If you cannot call then send an e-mail, but we can’t contact the client until we have heard from you.
Don’t be tempted to contact the company directly. Many companies use agencies because they don’t have the time to deal with lots of individual enquiries – if you have specific feedback that you would like to pass on then send it to your consultant and they will be more than happy to forward it on for you.
