Discover Amir Satvat, the Driving Force Behind Helping Laid-Off Developers Find New Opportunities

The process of finding a new job can be overwhelming and intimidating, especially given the recent wave of layoffs in the gaming industry, including the latest cuts from Microsoft. However, Amir Satvat, currently serving as business development director at Tencent, has taken it upon himself to help individuals navigate this challenging process. He has successfully created a community and a comprehensive set of resources to aid people in finding new employment or entering the gaming industry for the first time, with nearly 2,000 people successfully placed so far. Satvat's efforts began after he learned about the job cuts at Microsoft in October 2022. He recounts, "It was around Thanksgiving, a time when people typically feel safe and happy with their families. Unfortunately, many individuals had just lost their jobs and were not feeling the same sense of security." Satvat started working on this initiative via LinkedIn and eventually created the Games Jobs Workbook, a resource that includes contributions from gaming industry professionals. He explains, "I aimed to create a standardized system to categorize the hundreds of roles into 20 common categories, making it easier for people to browse gaming jobs. We also established a coaching network, which now boasts over 2,000 mentors. Additionally, I built a website to support this endeavor." Upon visiting the website, users can access 15 gaming industry job resources across six categories, including career planning, job listings, and connections. Satvat shares that his efforts have gained significant traction on LinkedIn, with a follower base of over 85,000 people. He also launched a Discord server for game jobs, which attracted 1,200 users. Satvat estimates that his initiative has helped over 1,800 people find work and has facilitated more than 31,000 career coaching conversations. He takes pride in the fact that this service is completely free, with no ulterior motives. Satvat acknowledges that the job search and application process can be daunting, with individuals having to search for roles on various websites, job boards, and social media platforms, and then create profiles if necessary. He believes that this process is overly complicated and stressful for those already experiencing emotional distress. To address this, Satvat has simplified the process, condensing it into a five-minute form that users can fill out, after which a member of the community, including himself, a mentor, or a resource provider, will take over and assist. Satvat's LinkedIn community has garnered 40 million views over the past year, with two-thirds of the traffic coming from the gaming industry. He notes that the most challenging aspect of starting this initiative was believing in himself and building the network. Satvat recalls that people doubted the feasibility of the project, stating that it would not work without paid staff, a sophisticated website, or data scientists tracking progress. However, he persevered and eventually gained momentum. Satvat uses LinkedIn to vet mentors and provide them with a layer of privacy when coaching job seekers. He requires mentors to have a LinkedIn profile and at least three years of work experience, allowing him to review their backgrounds and ensure their credibility. Satvat is also transparent about the chances of job seekers getting hired. Since starting this initiative in 2022, he estimates that an individual with no experience in the gaming industry has a 3% to 5% chance of finding a job within a year. For those who have lost their job in the gaming industry, the chance of being reabsorbed into the sector within 12 months is 20% to 25%. Satvat advises individuals not to take it personally if they are not getting hired, as the process can be highly competitive. He notes that breaking into the industry can be as challenging as entering a prestigious university, but it is not impossible. Using his own experience as an example, Satvat suggests that transitioning into the gaming industry can be a more accessible pathway. After joining Amazon in 2019, he worked at Amazon Games before moving to Tencent Games. With the growing number of layoffs, Satvat remains busy, but he has managed to create a schedule that allows for personal time. He prioritizes his family and blocks out dedicated time for them, ensuring a healthy work-life balance.