MacGDA launches job shadow program
The McMaster Game Development Association’s main focus is to create a community of game developers within the Hamilton area and to provide them with the opportunities to develop skills, expand their networks, and discover new possibilities within the game development world. With this purpose in mind, MacGDA has launched a new initiative called the ‘Job Shadow Program’.
WHAT IS THE JOB SHADOW PROGRAM?
The Job Shadow Program is a new program created by MacGDA that allows our students to engage in an experimental learning experience with the help of the active role of our partners. This opportunity will be open to 3rd and 4th year students of any program at McMaster who are in the process of exploring their career options in the game development field after their education.
As a participant of the Job Shadow Program, you will have 1 to 5 days to help students understand what goes on in a real game development studio as well as the technologies they will be using and the career paths that are available to them. This is an excellent opportunity for you to show students the great aspects of your company, as well as preparing them with the tools they will need should you want to have them as part of your team in the future.
WHY SHOULD YOU DO IT?
As a mentor for the Job Shadow Program, you will experience an opportunity to:
– Network and engage with McMaster’s future emerging talent into the workforce
– Be well-informed of classroom knowledge and current teachings in degree programs
– Experience the interests, ideas, and enthusiasm of our students
– Brand your organization at McMaster University and among students
WHEN AND WHERE WILL THIS HAPPEN?
The Job Shadow Program will take place at your workplace during the week of February 16th to the 20th (the week of spring break for students). Mentors will be able to choose how many students and how many days they wish to participate in this program.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Students are now starting to apply for the Job Shadow Program with a resume and a brief paragraph to explain their skills and experience in the game development field while our partners are signing up to be mentors by telling us how many student they want to take in as well as their preferred dates. The deadline for mentor registration will be mid-January and for students, the end of January.
Once we have our full list of applicants, our mentors will be able to choose the students they wish to take in for the duration of the program. This process will happen in the first week of February. During the second week of February, the mentors will have selected their students and contact information will be shared. Any administrative paperwork (NDAs, Contracts, etc), should your company require it, will be completed in this time. Finally, on the week of February 16th to 20th, students will report to your office to experience what your company can offer.
WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THE STUDENTS?
The students of the Job Shadow Program are expected to:
– Be open to learn and absorb the knowledge of the workplace
– Report to workplace and act professionally within it
– Represent McMaster students in a respectful way
– Provide a small testimony of your company to display on our website
WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM YOU?
The mentors of the Job Shadow Program are expected to:
– Provide students an accurate representation of the work environment
– Answer some of the questions that students might have about the workplace and the game development field
– Make the students feel at home! Let them see what you do and how well you do it!
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED?
To take part in our initiative to build up the next generation of game makers and producers,
you can register to be a mentor in the Job Shadow Program using the following link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pCSoF4fTdSPGPrPIUiApjO1ckuyCXBHFFW7Yr0-NN48/viewform?usp=send_form
Thank you for helping us create the strong gaming community we have today.
For any question or inquiries, you can contact:
AbdulRahman Khodr @ khodra@McMaster.ca 905-920-6756 or
Chris Ko @ koh4@McMaster.ca 905-902-6468