OXFORD

OTHER CAREERS
Joshua Baldwin
Game Designer, Creative
Assembly
Merton College,
Classical Archaeology and
Ancient History, 2013
WHAT: As a designer, I spend my time
working out the story, rules and content
of games. Our projects all revolve around
history, so my time is spent working out
how we can bring a specific period to life
in a way that is engaging and immersive
and then collaborating with coders, artists,
audio designers and translators to make
sure it happens.
WHY: The games industry is one of the few
areas that offers the chance for an entry
level job that is genuinely creative. Seeing
your vision turned into a finished project
that is played and enjoyed by hundreds
of thousands is a feeling that’s hard to
beat. It’s a fresh, flourishing industry full of
enthusiastic people and opportunity.
HOW MY DEGREE HELPED: Analysis
and articulation are crucial, so in many
ways the tutorial system is the perfect
preparation for the day to day work of
a designer. Having to defend your ideas
in front of a world class academic is only
slightly less scary than convincing your
team leader that you need war pigs in
your next game.
ADVICE: The majority of designers
have degrees that are only
tangentially relevant, so lack of
specific qualifications won’t hold you
back. What you will need to do is
demonstrate a deep understanding
and passion for the industry. It’s a
very competitive field, so expect to
spend some time on activities to
set apart your CV such as: writing
critiques of existing titles for blogs
or websites, creating mods and
practicing with industry standard
tools.
AVOID: Rushing. Many people feel
under pressure to get straight into
the perfect job when they graduate,
but it took me a year or so of working
freelance and odd jobs to build up
the CV and portfolio to even get
an internship. We are going to be
working for a good 40 years, so take
some time to choose something you
really want to do!
OTHER CAREERS
Laura Hanna
Actress
University College,
Physics, 2008
WHAT: The most thrilling part of my
job is also the most challenging – the
variety and unpredictability. I rarely
know what I will be working on more
than a few months ahead, but this also
means that I am constantly developing
new skills, working with new people and
to different timetables. And as a result,
personal growth is at the centre of all I
do.
ADVICE: If you are resourceful, intensely
focused and keen to be self-employed,
this can work for you. And of course a
passion for acting is a must! The lifestyle
of an actor is not right for everyone
though as it’s rarely constant and
reliable. Some people thrive on this and if
you embrace it, you can craft your life on
your own terms. Others find it profoundly
destabilising – financially, personally
and emotionally. Several people I have
worked and graduated with have
switched careers – not because they
stopped loving acting, but because
acting itself is just one aspect of the job.
EARLY CAREER: I took the drama school
route, many don’t. I remember meeting
a publisher at a party once who said
that everyone in the world should
go to drama school, just to have two
or three years to really get to know
themselves inside and out . Those
years were precious to me for that
luxury if nothing else.
After graduating in 2008, I worked at
a large, independent TV production
company, RDF (now Zodiak), whilst
applying for drama schools. I
graduated from LAMDA in 2011 and
have worked continuously since,
predominantly in theatre.
TOP SKILLS FOR SUCCESS:
Be nice!
Be proactive – That’s how you get
work and sustain work.
Memory – names and faces! You
meet a lot of people…
TOP TIP: Remember – it’s a marathon
not a sprint.
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