Interview w/ a Marketing Rep for the Video Game Industry

Interview with a Marketing Representative For The Video Game Industry

Considered working as a Marketing Representative For The Video Game Industry? This interview will take you through the ups and downs you can expect in the position, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn and more. This is a true career story as told to MarketingJobs.org and is one of many interviews with marketing professionals which among others include Internet Marketer and Video Game Marketing Manager.

What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field?

I work as a marketing representative for the video game industry. I have been doing this for just over three years.

How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail?  Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?

Considering my job title includes video games, most people think my job is laid back and not very hectic. That couldn’t be further from the truth. A typical day starts with me loading my vehicle with products ranging from pens and paper all the way up to life-size cardboard cut outs of video game characters.

Most would probably be surprised to know that I very rarely carry any video games with me. I only have them when I need to change the game in a demo machine.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?

I would rate my job satisfaction at a 6. Honestly, the main characteristic of my job that I don’t enjoy is the travel. I am very rarely home two days in a row, since I am in charge of a very large portion of the state.

If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?

I don’t pretend that my job is anything life changing. I am not a doctor, or a police officer. I got into this position because, like most teenagers fresh out of high school, I liked video games. The thought of being in a career that centered around them seemed like a winning proposition. But, it is an entry way into the career that I aspire to have. A video game programmer!

Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?

The only thing that really stands out about my career at this point is my age. I have been a top performer since I began this career, and at age 20 I was rated as the most efficient in my section of the country. I am very proud of that accomplishment.

How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?

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The way I got this job was kind of interesting. I was in the local video game store that I frequented during school, and was looking for a specific title. It was the holiday season, and of course everything had been picked through by every small child in the store. Needless to say, finding one game in that mess was truly a daunting task.

I began taking games off of the shelves, trying to see if what I was looking for might be behind another title, and when I found that it was not, I would put the games I had picked up back in their proper position. Before long I found myself alphabetizing the section that I was in. Unbeknownst to me, the District Manager of the chain was in the store.

After watching me do that, he approached me and offered me a job as seasonal help for that store. It would be less than a year before I moved into the position of marketing representative.

What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this hard-learned lesson?

This position taught me the hard way that store owners can be very animated. Especially when it comes to anything that may affect their pocketbook in an unexpected way.

What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?

The most important thing I learned after school about the workforce is to be punctual. There is nothing worse than being on a schedule that you are forced to amend because someone else is not being respectful of your time.

What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?

The strangest moment I have had on the job had to be when I was present during a hold up. A customer was upset because his step-son had traded in some videogames that belonged to him. The customer came in to get the games back, but he didn’t want to pay the money back that the child had received.

When the employee explained that he would need to return the money, he began yelling and pulled a gun. Since I was towards the back of the store, and had witnessed all of this happening, I was able to slip into the back room and call the police. By the time they arrived the customer had already left.

Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?

I feel good at the end of the day when I can look at product in a store that wasn’t there when I walked in the door. It makes me feel as though I am good at my job, which is really the most I can ask for in a position like this.

What kind of challenges do you handle and what makes you really want to pull your hair out?

Of all the things you’ve done at work, what are you most proud of? The most rewarding moment I have had was when I was invited to my former boss’ retirement party. Since he was the one who saw me in that store and gave me the opportunity to work for him, it was special to me that he still felt as if he made a good decision to give me a chance.

How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance?

The biggest issues I have to deal with are when store operators don’t adhere to the rules for setting up the marketing materials I provide them. If it is reported to me I have to drive back to their stores and fix the problem, and then explain it to them again. It can get tedious. The most challenging moments are when I have to drive for hours, just to complete five minutes of work that could have been completed by anyone standing there.

My job is moderately stressful, but not to the point that I think about quitting on a consistent basis!

What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?

I make roughly $30,000 salary, plus reimbursements for mileage. I definitely think I deserve to be paid more.

How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?

I average 4 weeks of vacation a year. I definitely feel I could use another 4 weeks.

What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?

This is an entry level position, so basic reading and writing skills are necessary. Some accounting background isn’t bad either, especially when it comes to calculating mileage.

What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?

A word of advice to an aspiring video game marketing professional. Beware of the general public. Since on many occasions I am wearing a polo with the name of the newest video game coming out, I tend to get bombarded in stores. This can be especially irritating because I don’t have time to learn much about the games I am helping to promote.

If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?

I definitely want to be programming video games in five years. I already have lots of ideas!