By InnoGames Blog
Hi, I’m Noemi, a second-year apprentice at InnoGames and would like to tell you about my experiences as a career starter at InnoGames.
I have always been drawn to both the creative and technical sides of software development, which led me to study Applied Computer Science with a focus on digital media and game development. During my studies, I worked on my first game projects and became familiar with Unity. However, after graduating, I felt I needed more practical experience before fully entering the games industry, so after a little detour, I came across InnoGames and their apprenticeship program that would allow me to learn the job in a professional environment.
I sent in an application showcasing my previous work and game development experience, along with a small code portfolio from my Unity projects. After a few interviews and a trial day in the office where I was able to meet my future team in person, I was accepted into their apprenticeship program.
During my first days at InnoGames, I was both excited and impressed. The many team building and knowledge-sharing events, after-work gatherings on the rooftop terrace, and legendary parties were immediately captivating. With an in-house gym, free coffee and a healthy canteen, I feel that InnoGames really looks after its employees. On top of that, I was impressed by how structured and efficient everything was.’
Since starting my apprenticeship, I’ve had the opportunity to work in two teams. My first team developed a tool to help our CRM managers set up customer relationship campaigns. Now I am part of a team that develops and maintains the tools for our marketing managers. Both teams work strictly according to the Kanban method: We have our daily stand-ups, weekly planning meetings and bi-weekly retrospectives.
A typical office day for me personally usually starts around nine. After greeting my colleagues, I choose a desk and get myself a water with lemon slices and pieces of ginger from the kitchen. After this, I usually organize my day. Around ten o’clock, we gather for our stand-up meeting, where we discuss progress and sometimes end with a funny anecdote.
After that, I dive straight into my tasks. This can be anything from fixing minor bugs and migrations to creating new features or improving existing ones. In the first few weeks, I started with smaller tasks, such as adding a simple button that links to a page, so I could get a feel for the process. Now I usually work on the highest priority item that is next in the “To Do” column of our Kanban board. Right now, for example, my task is to figure out how to automatically read the resolution of uploaded videos. But it’s not just the direct development tasks that fall within my area of responsibility. If new features have already been tested by our project managers and can be made available to our users, I can take care of that. I also check whether my colleagues’ tickets need a review and look at their code to ensure the consistency and quality of our work.
Some days I’m the “Developer of the Day,” which means I moderate stand-ups, oversee issues and error messages generated by our software, and handle user support requests.
If I spot something that could make our process smoother or our tools better, I’m encouraged to bring it up and it’s being implemented quite often. After all, we operate under the mindset that “we all own the process.”
That may sound like a lot for an apprentice, and in some ways it is. However, this does not mean that we are overwhelmed with work; instead, we get to learn a variety of tasks and responsibilities, which offer us challenges to grow from. Our growth is also supported by several additional initiatives. For example, each employee has a personal development plan and a mentor, as well as regular one-to-one meetings with our supervisor, and we have the opportunity to attend workshops and conferences. InnoGames sponsored my visit to Code Talks – one of the largest developer meetings in Germany – and made it possible for me to take part in an internally organized workshop on “Confident Communication”.
In addition, every Friday afternoon we have “Career Starter Dev” sessions led by an experienced game developer who challenges us with Unity tasks and helps us improve our skills. InnoGames also organizes game jams such as the IG Jam and the Global Game Jam, and I have already participated in several. The thought of developing a playable game in just two days, partly with unknown team members, was intimidating at first but it has since become an exciting part of my journey. The limited time, given theme and collaboration with others has allowed me to get into a creative and productive flow that I had not experienced before. Being involved in results that I am proud of and learning game development in a dynamic and practical way is an extra cherry on top.
My personal highlight so far was that InnoGames supported me taking part on an educational trip to Finland, which was organized by my school and funded by Erasmus. I had the opportunity to develop a prototype utilizing ESP32, sensors, and LEGO to address a real industrial challenge, together with Finnish students in a Design Thinking course. This experience really strengthened my problem solving, teamwork and even leadership skills.
A new milestone is on the horizon in August: I’ll finally be joining a Unity game development team – the primary reason I came here in the first place. Originally, I thought this was my only path, but I realized that there are many roles I would enjoy. InnoGames offers me the freedom to explore different areas and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
For anyone looking to enter the gaming industry, one of the best things you can do is simply start creating. Whether it’s through small personal projects or basic tutorials, demonstrating enthusiasm and hands-on learning speaks volumes. Game jams offer a quick way to gain practical experience while connecting with other developers. Over time, these efforts can open doors to meaningful opportunities. For those wanting a structured start, InnoGames’ apprenticeship program provides valuable industry exposure and professional growth.
I hope I was able to give you a good insight into what an apprenticeship at InnoGames can be like – even if I couldn’t show you the whole picture by far. Who knows, maybe you will be able to experience the rest for yourself!
Fiene