Listen or Download the whole episode here!
Click here to listen on your preferred channel!
Episode Name:
Why You’re Not Attracting the Right Teammates
Episode Description:
Finding the right teammates isn’t about checking boxes or broadcasting open roles. It’s about creating the kind of opportunity people want to be part of.
Today, we’re digging into what actually draws people to a project by looking at how we communicate it, which is often in subtle ways we don’t even notice. We’ll explore how aligning your message with your mission can shape the future of your team. Whether you’re bringing on your first collaborator or growing a small team, you’ll walk away ready to connect with new talent with more clarity, empathy, and intent.
Q?Box Round Answers
What’s the most common mistake you see devs or studios make with their games?
I am not a game development expert, but the biggest disconnects I’ve seen involve not understanding/engaging as much with their communities or a complete lack of concerted and focused marketing effort to generate hype/interest in the game. At the end of the day you’re making a digital product and products need users that want to use them!
What advice would you give to someone else that’s just starting out?
Catalogue everything you do in design documents or evidential process using something like the S.T.A.R method. It’s all infinitely helpful for your portfolio or to have in your internal rolodex for interview answers!
What game are you playing now?
Half Sword Demo, Holdfast, Chivalry 2, Helldivers 2, Rogue Trader
TIPS and ADVICE
We covered quite a bit today. Could you list 3 suggestions or tips you would recommend to indie devs based on our discussion?
- Look at the skill/capacity gaps in your team and start thinking of what roles you may need now or in the future to cover them. Start writing the job descriptions before you need them
- If you don’t have a recruitment process in place, have a sit down and think “how would we assess and interview new hires?” talk to your fellow leaders and come up with a rough plan now so that you aren’t in a disjointed process when you really need someone
- Write why someone would want to work for your studio, from the perspective of the readers self interest, lead with the things that would be meaningful to them “this is what your role and impact is” rather than “we were founded in 2010” the goal here is to start “practicing” your initial pitch to new hires so that you don’t feel as wooden when you’re at the point of hiring
RESOURCES and LINKS
How to get in touch with Tim Wood
Website: http://www.writefinder.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwood4134/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/timwoodheadhunter.bsky.social
E-mail: tim@writefinder.com