How does a dude with zero gaming experience end up as a country manager at Riot Games, one of the biggest gaming companies on the planet? No esports background. Not even good at League of Legends. No industry connections.
Let me tell you something nobody wants to admit. You don’t need gaming experience to become a leader in the gaming industry. I know because I did it. And I’m going to tell you exactly how.
This isn’t some “I got lucky” story. I went from zero gaming industry experience to running Vietnam, Riot’s second biggest League server outside of China. This is about doing the work most people won’t do.
How I Closed a Massive Credibility Gap
Here’s the first thing most people get wrong when gunning for a big role. They focus on why they WANT the role instead of why the company should want THEM.
I had two huge problems. I had to look qualified. And I had to look like the best person out of everyone else who was already qualified. My biggest gaming credential? Winning a Magic the Gathering tournament 20 years ago. Not exactly cutting-edge gaming leadership.
Riot wasn’t hiring a community manager. They wanted a country manager for Vietnam. Build retail operations, build a team from scratch, the whole deal. If I went in saying “I love video games,” I’d get laughed out of the room.
I had to become the obvious choice. Here’s how.
Make your application look like you already work there. I hired a designer to make my resume match Riot’s brand guidelines. Their fonts, their colors, their vibe, down to the pixel. I even borrowed language from their press releases so it felt like my resume belonged inside Riot.
Get someone with skin in the game to push you forward. I didn’t just apply online. I hunted down an external recruiter and got them to represent me. External recruiters only get paid if you get hired. They’re motivated. They become your advocate.
Become the expert they can’t ignore. I couldn’t outgame the gaming pros, so I out-researched them. I hired two research agencies to give me custom reports on the Vietnamese gaming market. I became the guy with insights no one else had.
The Political Debate Method for Interview Prep
Most people think interview prep is practicing a few answers in front of a mirror. If you’re going for a job you’re not fully qualified for, you need a completely different game plan.
I call it the political debate method. Because that’s what it is. You’re going into a debate where they’re going to grill you.
Anticipate. I knew they were going to hammer me for not being a gamer. So I prepared. I hired a PR agency for media training. How to control a narrative. Flip tough questions. Handle pressure.
Practice. I rehearsed every hard question I could think of, over and over, until I had tight answers for all of them. Not scripted. Tight. There’s a difference.
Research deeper than anyone else. I didn’t just read their website. I hired a League of Legends coach. I learned the Vietnamese gaming scene inside out. ELO boosting, the black market economy, the real stuff people talk about in Discord, not just what corporate people understand.
Want to use this yourself? List every single reason they might say no. Lack of experience, different background, whatever it is. Then flip each objection into a unique advantage. “No gaming experience” became “I bring a fresh perspective from consulting and advertising that can help Riot reach new markets.”
How to Survive a 9-Month Interview Marathon
Here’s the part nobody tells you. The process at big studios is WAY longer and harder than you expect. But that’s actually good news. Most people give up. And when they quit, it leaves the field open for you.
My process ran 13 interviews over 9 months. First four interviews spread across 4 months. Then they flew me to LA for an on-site with eight more. Then more silence. Then an interview with the guy who later became Riot CEO. Then another month of waiting.
Most people would have bailed by interview three. I didn’t.
No doesn’t mean no. It just means not yet.
Set the right expectations. Big companies move slow. That’s not personal. It’s just how they operate.
Stay in the game without being annoying. Follow up weekly with the recruiter. Share relevant articles and insights. Show them you’re still in it and still adding value.
Keep leveling up. Use the waiting time to improve. Take a course, learn a skill they care about, make yourself a better candidate while you wait.
After 9 months of this grind, I got the offer. Was it worth it? Hell yeah.
Getting the interview is only half the battle. Surviving the process, flipping objections, and proving you’re the best person in the room when you have no “right” to be there? That’s where careers are made.
Read our complete guide: Gaming Industry Career Coaching Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you get hired at Riot Games with no gaming experience?
A: Yes. I became a country manager at Riot Games with zero gaming credentials. The key was closing the credibility gap through research, positioning, and preparation that went far beyond what any other candidate was willing to do. You don’t need a gaming background. You need to become the obvious choice.
Q: How do you close the credibility gap when applying for gaming jobs?
A: Three moves. Make your application look like you already work there by matching the company’s brand and language. Get an external recruiter with skin in the game to advocate for you. And become the expert they can’t ignore by doing deeper research than anyone else. I hired two research agencies to give me market insights no other candidate had.
Q: How do you prepare for interviews at a job you’re not qualified for?
A: Use the political debate method. Anticipate every objection and prepare for it. Practice until your answers are tight, not scripted. Research deeper than anyone else, not just the company website, but the real industry landscape. Then flip every objection into a unique advantage. “No gaming experience” became “fresh perspective from consulting that can help reach new markets.”
Q: How long does the Riot Games interview process take?
A: Mine was 13 interviews over 9 months. Four initial interviews across 4 months, then an on-site in LA with eight more, followed by months of silence and executive interviews. Most people bail by interview three. The length of the process is actually good news because your competition keeps quitting.