Virtual reality (VR) is exploding in gaming. Statista projects a compound annual growth rate of 13.72% in VR revenue from 2023 to 2027, with VR user penetration expected to increase from 28.8% in 2023 to 32.6% in 2027. All signs point to greater hiring needs for VR professionals, with titles such as VR developer.
Hiring in all departments is a top concern for video game companies and gaming studios. According to a 2022 report by Bain & Company, “supplying talent” is now the top priority for gaming executives.
When you need to streamline hiring for VR experts, as well as other gaming professionals like augmented reality (AR) pros, hire a gaming recruiter with VR experience to find the best talent. Use the following tips to attract relevant professionals for your open VR roles.
1. Determine the Scope of Work
First, evaluate what kind of position you want to hire for. Is it full-time, or would a gaming contractor be a better fit for a project? Could a short-term role transform into contract-to-hire if you find the right professional?
Create a project or role description that includes the scope of work and the required skills needed to complete the job. For VR professionals, in addition to virtual reality experience, core skills typically include:
- Expertise in programming languages, such as C#, JavaScript and C++
- 3D animation, design and modeling skills, including software knowledge with platforms like Maya and Blender
- Knowledge of 3D-rendering engines, such as Unreal and Unity
- Expertise in software development life cycle (SDLS) models, including waterfall and agile
- Experience working with cloud services platforms, such as Amazon EC2 and AWS Elastic Beanstalk
- Knowledge of VR SDKs and APIs, including Oculus, Google VR SDK and Amazon Sumerian
- Scalable web app development skills, using tools like Node.js
You may also include essential soft skills, like communication and collaboration. Talk with the role’s future team members about what required skills they recommend to include in the job description.
If the role is a gaming contract position, decide how long the project will last. Also, include details on if the position will be supervising anyone else, and include who the position reports to.
Make sure to write a gaming job description that features relevant keywords for the role, so job seekers can easily find your open positions. Talk with a gaming recruiter if you need content writing and/or editing help for your gaming position job descriptions.
2. Be Transparent
In a competitive talent landscape, job seekers and passive candidates will want to know details on why they should consider the job. We recommend increasing transparency in the hiring process, so your gaming studio attracts VR professionals who are well-suited for the role. We advise to include:
- Salary range: In some geographic areas, businesses are legally required to include salary information. Even if you’re not legally required to do so, a salary range helps you attract candidates you can afford.
- Benefits: Today’s candidates continue to value benefits like health insurance coverage, paid leave and retirement matching, with healthcare ranking as the top employee benefit an organization can offer, according to the 2022 SHRM Employee Benefits Survey. If the role is a contract job without benefits, add in perks available to contractors, such as free food at work or time off.
- Hiring expectations: You can also improve the hiring process by providing transparency into what candidates can expect from the hiring process. On the job description, include hiring timelines, how many interviews a candidate can expect to go through, any projects they’ll be required to present and/or complete, etc.
Information like this can help candidates decide if your company is worth their time to apply to. You’ll increase the likelihood of getting qualified candidates who actually want to do the job you’ve posted.
3. Add Company Details
Today’s candidates are also interested in what makes a company stand out to competitors. As you create job descriptions, include information about what differentiates your company and what makes it an attractive place to work. Include info on:
- Company mission and vision, as 56% of workers wouldn’t consider a job at a gaming studio that has values they don’t agree with
- Company culture, such as values that exemplify your team
- Philanthropic efforts, including charitable giving and volunteer opportunities
- Work environment and scheduling, including remote/hybrid work options and asynchronous schedules
In tight labor markets, your studio may be sourcing passive candidates who are already working somewhere else. Company details can show off why your studio may be a better place to work.
Work with an Experienced VR Gaming Recruiter
At ggLocators, we specialize in hiring gaming studio roles, including VR and AR professionals. We can tap into our extensive network of top VR gaming talent to provide you with the best options for your open full-time, contract-to-hire and contract gaming roles.
Contact ggLocators to learn how we can help you create effective job descriptions and hire talented VR professionals quickly.
