Industry-Led Mock Interviews for Game Students

Interviews are always one of the most stressful parts of the application process, especially for recent graduates, many of whom will have little to no experience of the interview process. At the University of Staffordshire, we help students build confidence by giving them the opportunity to experience what a real interview is like, with real industry professionals, but within a supportive learning environment.

"The mock interviews are one of the events at the university that I am most proud of. The students showcase their knowledge and expertise within the subject area and the commitment from our industry partners demonstrates their desire to support our students in being industry ready." 
Davin Ward, Course Director

On February 7th, 2025, we successfully concluded our latest round of the award-winning scheme, which ran for a fortnight and hosted over 360 interviews covering disciplines from art, design, and programming.

Students engaged in one-on-one interviews with leading members of the UK games industry, where they received detailed and constructive feedback on their CV, portfolio, and interview technique.

"Mock interviews are a game-changer for university students looking to break into the game industry. They offer a real taste of what to expect, along with invaluable feedback to help sharpen skills for the real thing. Hopefully, the experience boosts confidence and provides key insights that students can carry into future interviews! The university’s support in organising everything was fantastic, and I’m sure both students and volunteers found the process incredibly worthwhile!"
Georgina Cornelius, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, Sumo Digital

"It was fantastic to see the talent and passion of the students at the University of Staffordshire. They came well-prepared for their mock interviews, demonstrating dedication and technical knowledge, highlighting their strong potential for the industry and commitment to their course."
John Chalkley, Director of Talent Acquisition, Lighthouse Games

This year, we were joined by over 60 developers from 17 studios such as Bulkhead, Codemasters, D3T, Electric Square, Flix Interactive, Kwalee, Lighthouse Games, Maverick Games, Playnetic, REALTIME, Rebellion North, Red Kite Games, Sports Interactive, Studio Gobo, Sumo Digital, and Tanglewood Games.

"The mock interview scheme at the University of Staffordshire not only benefits the students taking part in the process but also gives games studios a first glimpse at the upcoming talent. The students get a taste of what an interview will be like, which is an invaluable experience, but the interviewer also has the opportunity to take the process further into real interviews - before their competition. It’s a win-win for everyone involved."
Paul Roberts, Game AI Uncovered series editor and Lecturer

While the aim is for students to gain experience of the interview process, it also provides a great opportunity for them to network and create connections that will continue to support them moving forward.

"The mock interviews helped make interviewing in a new field feel less daunting. They reminded me that good interviews are just like having an easy-going conversation. I ended up chatting with one interviewer for so long I missed my train, but hearing his funny stories about games he’s worked on was totally worth it! Thanks to these introductions, I not only got great advice but made friendly connections with game devs who are happy to catch up and help me in the future."
Allyson Frazier, student – MSc Computer Games Design

As always, we are proud of our students and are thankful to all of our industry partners. This scheme is one of the many events we organise to support our students in becoming industry-ready. Our students demonstrate a strong understanding of their chosen discipline and possess skillsets that match the industry’s demands. 

"As always, the students at Staffordshire University showed excellent potential and a broad knowledge of game development. The students were motivated and excited and are a credit to the course."
Michael Savaglia, Senior Programmer, Sumo Digital