I was contacted by a recruiter on LinkedIn regarding a position as a Lead Gameplay Animator on Concord. The interview process was a lengthy but professional and positive experience, spanning about two months. The first interview was very casual, focusing on my hobbies, favorite games, and the team dynamics at Firewalk Studios. It was a great way to break the ice and get a sense of the studio’s culture. The second interview was more in-depth and touched on my professional experience, problem-solving abilities, and my preferred pay rate. While the recruiter mentioned that I was a strong candidate, they ultimately decided to offer me a Mid-Level Animator position instead, citing my "lack of AAA games" in my portfolio. I was fine with the adjustment since the salary was still competitive, and the benefits were excellent. In the third interview, I spoke with a different recruiter who focused on relocation, specifically whether I was prepared to move to Seattle. By the end of this conversation, she mentioned that I was their top candidate but added a caveat—they would only proceed with hiring me if the game was financially successful. The fourth and final interview was a brief phone call where I was informed that, due to the financial failure of the game, they would not be moving forward with my hiring. However, they assured me that if they start work on a similar project in the future, especially an FPS, they’d reach out to me. While I didn’t get the job in the end, I found the process to be professional, friendly, and transparent. It’s clear that Sony and its studios prioritize their employees, even amidst the challenges of a project’s performance. Although the outcome wasn’t what I hoped for, I’m grateful for the experience and would still consider working with them in the future.