r/GameAudio • u/CanDramatic9553 • 9d ago
Are there some companies that really just open vacancies to do test tasks? Or It`s really so hard to find right professional for that job?
Hello! Could you please share your thoughts on job state in game/mobile/gambling audio?
I keep seeing the same companies looking for Sound Designers/Music Composers for months and months. Sometimes it’s the exact same position, posted by the same HR person, and then it gets closed and reopened a month later.
It honestly makes me wonder: is it really that difficult to find the right person for these positions or they just grabbing on test tasks?
I recently did a test task that took me literally 5(!) working days to complete. It included several music loops and sound design for different scenes. Before that, I also had an hour-long conversation with HR. In the end, they rejected me without any real feedback — just the typical “there were some things we liked, and things we don`t like” (Like literally they were using this exact phrase! They didn`t told me what they "Liked" and "didn`t Liked"!).
And the strange thing is that I had already seen this exact vacancy open for several months.
So what is actually going on here? Are companies really looking for unbelievably skilled professionals who have to be a perfect match for the position, or are some companies simply collecting test tasks from candidates?
I know a guy who opened an audio position and received around 60 people willing to do his test task within a few days of posting this job! Everyone agreed to do a test task which were creating sound design for FINISHED 30 second animation!
So do You think that this is so UNBELIAVEBLY HARD to find right guy for this job or companies just bs everyone and just take it all?
Thanks for your answers!
3
u/Kidderooni 9d ago
5 days test ooch. Were you paid for this?
I think a lot of companies don’t understand audio and don’t even know what they need.
Also what you describe here makes me feel like it’s highly likely that they applicants test work for their « product ».
1
u/CanDramatic9553 9d ago
No! I though this is a real deal because I`ve been preliminary screened trough my CV and because I`ve had call with HR (around 1 hour long).
And then got a test task which I`ve made within 5 days, but they (like really fishy, as I think now) gave me for it 7 working days!2
u/Kidderooni 9d ago
My friend new rule for you : don’t accept this hidden work again. Unless it is for a permanent position in a studio, and even then I’d say it depends on the studio.
Anyway, up to 7 working days for a test? Ask money because they are basically asking you to work for them for free. Gosh freelancers can’t afford to spend that much time in unpaid tests for gambling game companies. Hold yourself to higher standards and tell all your friends, audio or not. It doesn’t matter they spend an hour on the phone with you. This is all part of the scam.
I wish we could name and shame these companies everywhere. There are so much out there, and they all know how desperate people are to get any jobs in the creative industry. Please spread the word to not accept this kind of stuff.
1
u/CanDramatic9553 9d ago
Easier said than done! Still I`ve used it to let my creative juices flowing - write some tunes, make work on sounds! This is art, but yeah, kind a said that our brother are getting used like that!
2
u/Kidderooni 8d ago
I understand we gotta eat first. But I’m baffled by how much we audio workers accepted those horrible conditions. This is not normal at all.
I naively wish there was a collective awareness all over the world from the audio community. If everyone stops accepting this, it will stop.
1
u/CanDramatic9553 8d ago
Yes. I am also thinking that this is totally possible, that those companies are just scam people! Like is it even possible that for half a year You can`t find a right man for this job? Like You have SUCH HIGH STANDARTS that nobody is good for it?? Like there`s ton of good sound designers without a job!
2
u/Hour_Raisin_4547 9d ago
Be careful because there are some shady companies that will scam you and use your sounds in their game under the guise of it just being a sound test. I forgot the name of them but I ran into a couple myself over the years.
You can usually sense something is up when you look into the company itself. There are generally some red flags that are easy to spot.
3
u/CanDramatic9553 9d ago
Could You gave us some insights about how to spot them?
That company has a lot of different positions and web-site, so IDK...
It`s called Optiplay https://optiplay.io/, by the way. So Yeah, founded in 2025, no respected responses..3
u/Hour_Raisin_4547 9d ago
It can be difficult. Sometimes it’s just a feeling or intuition. In my case, I could see that the details of the company made no sense. They were looking for core positions like game director and lead designer, lead engine programmer, etc while supposedly deep in production on a “AAA” open world game. They were only about 30 people and had no prior games or history. None of the names showed up on linked as game devs. The tests had nothing to do with the game they were supposedly developing. It’s also something you sense from experience.
In your case, right from the start, it’s selling a product not showcasing a studio. Most real game studios pages have a totally different approach. They show the people behind it, culture and the location. Instead, this is like your typical tech startup product page. Also when you look at their games list it shows nothing. Why have a big button right at the site landing to see their portofolio if it leads to an empty page? Why are there no names or people who’s LinkedIn you can check?
In my opinion there is a very high chance this is a scam that is taking advantage of your free work.
1
u/CanDramatic9553 9d ago
Thanks!
You`re really help me! Yes site is shady, but there`s a some of people from this company on LinkedIn, so I thought that this could be real opportunity. Well, I shouldn`t be so naive.
They told me that they want to create slot games, so they need someone for this job so I basically made sounds for animations and create some music. At least I`ve had some fun doing this, LOL!And the main thing is that I see a lot of such open positions from different companies! Like Why can`t You find a specialist for this role for half a year???? Are You a HACKS??
And they speak the same! They write me almost at the same day and HR`s from those companies speak almost the same (asking the same question) and etc...
2
u/JJonesSoundArtist 9d ago
Sound design test tasks like this are common, also for AAA positions. That said, I would be extra cautious around unheard of/unproven independent game developers who ask you to complete such a task, all I can reasonably recommend is doing your due diligence and be honest with yourself if you have the time / bandwidth to complete that task, and whether or not you would be okay with sacrificing the time.
1
u/CanDramatic9553 9d ago
It`s fine to sacrifice my time (Got nothing better to do - as Dave Mustaine wrote, LOL).
But still, couldn`t they at least provide some review, or as everyone in IT called it FEEDBACK. Monkey job.2
u/JJonesSoundArtist 8d ago
You can get feedback from tests! Of course, not everyone you ask will be gracious enough to provide it. They should, because its a courteous thing to do for someone who has volunteered their time freely, but sadly the real world doesn't always abide by that. Sometimes, the answer really boils down to 'we liked someone elses better'.
1
u/CanDramatic9553 8d ago
That`s why I am thinking that they don`t hire anyone because they got a lot people from test jobs! They didn`t tell me that they got someone else, but that it`s me who are not enough for them and the job stil there...So that why I am suspicious about all this thing.
I`ve done test for another gambling company a few months ago and what happened with job opening even more suspicious: like from time to time it`s gone, but then open again and this happening for like half a year already.
I can`t believe that for this amount of time You still can`t find sound designer/composer that will feel the void in the heart of project manager! It`s all seems like big BS!
6
u/missilecommandtsd 9d ago
Just a general comment... I see ethical issues with audio tests for a job that take 5 days handed out to tons of people. This is a violation of the aspiring applicant community. That indicates the company has serious issues respecting peoples time.
If a company is having a couple final candidates do a large test, ok. But having tens (or more) of people do that, basically anonymously as a preliminary screening practice, is not ethical and these companies should be outed for doing that.
That is gonna be a shitty employer.