Work experience can be a great way to find out first-hand what it's like to work in the gaming industry and here at Hutch we love sharing our workplace with the next generation of industry professionals. Earlier this year, university student Michael joined us for two weeks' of work experience and we asked him to spill the beans on what it was like to join the Hutch family...

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I’ve finished a four-year stint at university, where I studied Hispanic Studies and History. Now, it’s quite obvious that my degree title has nothing to do with working at a company that makes mobile games, but, ever since I was young, I've wanted to work in the gaming industry. This time I’ve spent doing work experience at Hutch has been really eye-opening in terms of showing me that - although I can’t write code, or design levels, or 3D model - I still have many skills that I can bring to the table. Just, perhaps, a table that you wouldn’t necessarily think of first, when you picture a game studio.

What kind of tasks / work have you been doing at Hutch?

Since starting my experience here, I’ve primarily been working with the Business and Commercial teams and sitting in meetings. Within these teams there are various disciplines, such as: the People Team, the Studio Team, Production/Senior Production, Data Protection/Legal, Recruitment, and more!

I’ve certainly been kept busy, but it’s really great to be able to use this time to figure out the things that I’m good at and what I find interesting - especially now that I’ve finished uni and I'm trying to figure out my way in the big wide world. At every step of the way, people have made sure that I’m comfortable with everything I’m doing, and have offered me advice in the (many) occasions that I have questions about the work I’ve been tasked with.

What have you enjoyed most about your work experience?

I would say that I’ve really enjoyed just being in this sort of environment. Of course, it’s a business, but it doesn’t have that sort of “corporate” vibe that you think of when someone talks about an office job. There’s no real hierarchy, and everyone is super friendly and willing to help each other out.

Honourable mentions include: the constant supply of hot coffee, the well-stocked free drinks fridge, and the comfortable chairs.

Oh, and the four day work week (with two days working from home) is also nice…

What have you found most useful about your time at Hutch?

The most useful thing has probably been the variety of sit-down meetings I’ve had with different people. In these meetings the tasks of the day/week have been discussed, as well as their order and priority. It’s been really quite insightful in terms of how I should be organising myself, and with the intensity of work that is done here , it's good way of making sure everyone is on the same page.

Was anything different to how you expected it to be?

That’s a good question. I think the four day work week has been a fair bit different to how I had imagined.

When I was first told about it, I pictured that on those four days, the people here would be cold or unwelcoming. Perhaps they wouldn’t want to talk to someone who’s only here for two weeks? Perhaps they would rather be getting on with real work, rather than sitting down with me and explaining what they do. I imagined that I would walk in and the people here would be ‘wired in’ like in the 2010 film The Social Network.

I am very glad that I was wrong!

Do you have any tips / guidance for others doing work experience in the gaming industry?

During my work experience here, and talking to different people, it's truly been eye-opening in terms of what a company in this industry should look like - or any industry for that matter. If I were to provide one piece of advice for people looking for work in the industry or people looking for work experience, I would say: that it’s not just about how you fit the company, it’s about how the company fits you.

Hutch provides a perfect example of how employees can and should be looked after; and about how you should feel as if you are not simply a cog in a machine, but rather you are a real person who has a talent that is worth sharing.

We're looking forward to offering more work experience placements in the future. Keep an eye on our LinkedIn page for more info on opportunities.