Join the Football Manager QA Team - Now Hiring

[Neil Brock]

We are excited to announce that we are currently looking for passionate individuals to join the QA Department to work on upcoming titles, and as great opportunity to learn and gain experience at a games development studio. 

Quality Assurance at Sports Interactive takes several forms, from specialised functionality testing to more player-centric playtesting and balancing, you will be assessing new and existing features, analysing data, providing valuable feedback, online customer support to our players; and much more. 

As QA Testers you will be expected to work across a broad range of disciplines, platforms and products including, but not exclusive to: 

Art and animation 
User interface / UX 
Gameplay / balance  
Research and data  
Platform and stability testing 

We believe that good QA Testers can come from a variety of backgrounds, including those who are new to the games industry. Our QA alumni are represented widely both inside and outside of the games industry, as well as within the studio at SI. 

The roles are full-time and for a fixed term period only. The roles are based in our brand-new space at Here East, Stratford, with potential to work flexibly as needed as part of the role. 

The fixed term contract will last until the end of March 2023 and is expected to start in July. You will need to commit to a 37.5 hour working week, working Monday to Friday, willing to start between 08:00 and 11:00 am. 

For more details on the role and how to apply, please visit the Careers section of the SIGames website. 

[Hummingbird Saltalamacchia]

I was going to apply as this kind of role interests me but I guess someone like me would stand no chance due to having zero previous experience, plus I have been out of work for almost 6 years. I have played video games since age 7/8 though. Maybe you would preferably only want to hire people with lots of previous experience, although you say the following would be highly desirable, although not essential, would you hire people without any of extensive experience listed? I think I would love doing this type of work but I guess if someone has lots of previous experience they would stand more chance of getting hired than someone who has none. How many hours a day would this be for? I am also a short train and tube journey away from Stratford. 

[ElliottMS]

49 minutes ago, Hummingbird Saltalamacchia said:

I was going to apply as this kind of role interests me but I guess someone like me would stand no chance due to having zero previous experience, plus I have been out of work for almost 6 years. I have played video games since age 7/8 though. Maybe you would preferably only want to hire people with lots of previous experience, although you say the following would be highly desirable, although not essential, would you hire people without any of extensive experience listed? I think I would love doing this type of work but I guess if someone has lots of previous experience they would stand more chance of getting hired than someone who has none. How many hours a day would this be for? I am also a short train and tube journey away from Stratford. 

I can't answer your questions of course but why don't you just go for it and see what happens. You're already attentive and questioning of the game, that sounds like a positive to me. You've got nothing to lose!

[Marc Vaughan]

1 hour ago, Hummingbird Saltalamacchia said:

I was going to apply as this kind of role interests me but I guess someone like me would stand no chance due to having zero previous experience, plus I have been out of work for almost 6 years. I have played video games since age 7/8 though. Maybe you would preferably only want to hire people with lots of previous experience, although you say the following would be highly desirable, although not essential, would you hire people without any of extensive experience listed? I think I would love doing this type of work but I guess if someone has lots of previous experience they would stand more chance of getting hired than someone who has none. How many hours a day would this be for? I am also a short train and tube journey away from Stratford. 

I'd recommend you apply - you've always posted quite intelligently and I don't think experience is needed for a QA role really (feel free to put me down as a reference).

Best of luck

[Neil Brock]

17 hours ago, Hummingbird Saltalamacchia said:

I was going to apply as this kind of role interests me but I guess someone like me would stand no chance due to having zero previous experience, plus I have been out of work for almost 6 years. I have played video games since age 7/8 though. Maybe you would preferably only want to hire people with lots of previous experience, although you say the following would be highly desirable, although not essential, would you hire people without any of extensive experience listed? I think I would love doing this type of work but I guess if someone has lots of previous experience they would stand more chance of getting hired than someone who has none. How many hours a day would this be for? I am also a short train and tube journey away from Stratford. 

Yeah as Vaughany says above and as listed in the job advert, "We believe that good QA Testers can come from a variety of backgrounds, including those who are new to the games industry". 

And as you've said yourself, you've certainly got lots of FM experience so would suggest making that aspect prominent in your covering letter. Good luck! 

[Hummingbird Saltalamacchia]

Thank you very much ElliottMS, Marc Vaughan and Neil Brock for the kind words. I will hopefully apply soon. I think all your words are very encouraging which I do appreciate. I just hope being out of work for six years won't be a problem as I would not expect anyone to employ me over someone who has recently worked. I believe I could be a good fit though so I'll give it a bash. I just need to make sure I don't put my username on the application form lol. And Marc and Neil I will be sure to do that (regarding the reference and adding my FM experience on the cover letter) thanks again 👍. 

Edited May 20, 2022 by Hummingbird Saltalamacchia

[MatiasDFS]

hace 12 minutos, Hummingbird Saltalamacchia dijo:

Thank you very much ElliottMS, Marc Vaughan and Neil Brock for the kind words. I will hopefully apply soon. I think all your words are very encouraging which I do appreciate. I just hope being out of work for six years won't be a problem as I would not expect anyone to employ me over someone who has recently worked. I believe I could be a good fit though so I'll give it a bash. I just need to make sure I don't put my username on the application form lol. And Marc and Neil I will be sure to do that (regarding the reference and adding my FM experience on the cover letter) thanks again 👍. 

best of luck mate! 🤞

[ElliottMS]

2 hours ago, Hummingbird Saltalamacchia said:

Thank you very much ElliottMS, Marc Vaughan and Neil Brock for the kind words. I will hopefully apply soon. I think all your words are very encouraging which I do appreciate. I just hope being out of work for six years won't be a problem as I would not expect anyone to employ me over someone who has recently worked. I believe I could be a good fit though so I'll give it a bash. I just need to make sure I don't put my username on the application form lol. And Marc and Neil I will be sure to do that (regarding the reference and adding my FM experience on the cover letter) thanks again 👍. 

Best of luck, if you're the right person for the job the gap won't matter. Passion for the role will go a long way I'm sure!

[Hummingbird Saltalamacchia]

I just applied for the role. I know my chances of getting the job are basically slim to none but all I can do is keep my fingers crossed, but I know my application will most likely be rejected. I'm pleased with my cover letter and I hope that I can be invited for an interview at least. I put on my cover letter that you both encouraged me to apply Marc and Neil 👍, and thank you to you both. Thank you also ElliottMS and MatiasDFS. Out of interest has anyone else on these forums applied for any role? The ones that live in the UK that is. 

Edited May 23, 2022 by Hummingbird Saltalamacchia

[ElliottMS]

Good luck and I'm sure you have more of a chance than you think. Don't sell yourself short, bring out your passion and prepare yourself examples of how you can methodical and analytical

[Hummingbird Saltalamacchia]

On 23/05/2022 at 23:01, ElliottMS said:

Good luck and I'm sure you have more of a chance than you think. Don't sell yourself short, bring out your passion and prepare yourself examples of how you can methodical and analytical

Thanks again ElliottMS for the kind words. Unfortunately I don't believe I have a chance although I have played video games for thirty years, started with Sonic the Hedgehog on my Megadrive at age 8 and am now 38 lol. I have been out of work for almost 6 years now due to losing my Mum Diane to Pancreatic Cancer in May 2013, my severe depression has got worse over the last two to three years so when the job advert was posted a week ago on this forum it certainly made me more than interested. I believe I would be a perfect fit but all I can do is keep my fingers crossed and hope I at least can get an interview. Thanks again for the kind words.👍

[StephenCronin]

3 hours ago, Hummingbird Saltalamacchia said:

Thanks again ElliottMS for the kind words. Unfortunately I don't believe I have a chance although I have played video games for thirty years, started with Sonic the Hedgehog on my Megadrive at age 8 and am now 38 lol. I have been out of work for almost 6 years now due to losing my Mum Diane to Pancreatic Cancer in May 2013, my severe depression has got worse over the last two to three years so when the job advert was posted a week ago on this forum it certainly made me more than interested. I believe I would be a perfect fit but all I can do is keep my fingers crossed and hope I at least can get an interview. Thanks again for the kind words.👍

Hope you get an interview!

One thing is don't go in there saying "I don't have a chance", go in there with the "I would be a perfect fit" part. You want to talk them into giving you a job, not talk them out of it! Try to appear confident even if you don't feel it - though I know that's not always possible (my daughter has some pretty severe mental health issues). Be open about your situation when they ask - but don't be too negative about yourself or your abilities. Focus on the good stuff. And like Elliot says prepare some examples of how you will be good at finding issues with the game etc.

They will almost certainly ask about being out of work etc, so get ready to explain it and also think about the follow up questions they might ask, like "how will it affect your work", "what can you do to stay on top of things", etc. Maybe you need to take a mental health day every so often. Maybe you need to take them up on the remote working part (which they say is an option). Maybe you'll experience less issues because you'll be doing what you love. Just think those things through and be as ready as possible to have a conversation about them. It sounds like they are a progressive and understanding employer, so hopefully it won't be too hard of a conversation! Try to focus on "here's why I'm the right person for the job" and once that part is out of the way and you've convinced them, then you can have a discussion about how to make it work.

Sorry to hear about your Mum by the way and good luck with the application. 

[Hummingbird Saltalamacchia]

3 hours ago, StephenCronin said:

Hope you get an interview!

One thing is don't go in there saying "I don't have a chance", go in there with the "I would be a perfect fit" part. You want to talk them into giving you a job, not talk them out of it! Try to appear confident even if you don't feel it - though I know that's not always possible (my daughter has some pretty severe mental health issues). Be open about your situation when they ask - but don't be too negative about yourself or your abilities. Focus on the good stuff. And like Elliot says prepare some examples of how you will be good at finding issues with the game etc.

They will almost certainly ask about being out of work etc, so get ready to explain it and also think about the follow up questions they might ask, like "how will it affect your work", "what can you do to stay on top of things", etc. Maybe you need to take a mental health day every so often. Maybe you need to take them up on the remote working part (which they say is an option). Maybe you'll experience less issues because you'll be doing what you love. Just think those things through and be as ready as possible to have a conversation about them. It sounds like they are a progressive and understanding employer, so hopefully it won't be too hard of a conversation! Try to focus on "here's why I'm the right person for the job" and once that part is out of the way and you've convinced them, then you can have a discussion about how to make it work.

Sorry to hear about your Mum by the way and good luck with the application. 

This is very very helpful StephenCronin, thank you very much for the kind and encouraging words. I will take on board your words and I'll try to be as positive as I can. I'll certainly focus on the good stuff and especially my experience playing video games and the FM Mobile version each year. I best get preparing if I do get an interview. Thank you and Elliott also. 

I hope they understand why I have been out if work for almost 6 years. I can easily explain this to them. Obviously it would make more sense if they hired people who have recent work experience as opposed to people like me who have been out of work for many years, hopefully that won't be the case though. I saw the remote working option, that would be ideal especially if working from home although I think it would help me being around others and getting to know people as opposed to being at home, maybe there could be an option to do half remote and half at the office. You make some very good points. I'll be certain to remember all your pointers Stephen, thank you again, its very much appreciated. 

And thank you for the kind words regarding my Mum and the application and I hope your daughter is okay and that she gets better. 

[ElliottMS]

Definitely don't write yourself off just because you've been out of work. You had caring responsibilities and then you were unwell, now you're getting better and want to get a job you'll really love and be good at. A good employer/recruiter will worry most about if you're the best person for the role.