What's your job about?

I am a graduate game designer at Aristocrat. My daily role involves creating and reviewing game mathematics and documentation for new game concepts as well as creating new variations of existing games to go to other markets. It also includes studying existing games, to understand what mechanics/themes are popular in the market and using that information to create concepts and ideas for new games ideas.

What's your background?

I grew up in Wollongong and am still located there, travelling upward of 2 hours to work, which should say enough alone about how enjoyable it is to work at Aristocrat. I graduated from UOW with a Bachelor of Mathematics in 2017. I have always had a passion for mathematics as well as gaming, although I never thought the latter would lead to a professional career. Therefore Aristocrat, a fun and exciting gaming company, seemed like the perfect fit for me.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

While a background in mathematics is essential for this role, I don’t believe a bachelor's degree level is necessary. It is also just as important to be creative and have a passion for gaming.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

I get to make and play games for a living. Not many other jobs in my field offer such exciting and enjoyable roles. The fact that you get to have your own projects and have a lot of responsibility quickly is also pretty cool.

What are the limitations of your job?

Having such a defined role as a graduate, I may be missing out on developing other non-role specific skills. In saying this though, it allows me to have more substantial projects and responsibilities than most graduates.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

• Study something you genuinely enjoy and are passionate about. There’s no use studying something you don’t like just because it will get you a job more easily. If you’re passionate about your field you’ll be more attractive to employers.
• Make the most of networking opportunities. Make time to attend the career related events that your university offers. Knowing people and having insights into your chosen industry are always helpful when looking for jobs.
• Don’t sleep on job opportunities. Start your search at the beginning of your final year. Especially for graduate roles, many employers start their hiring process for the following year very early.