FunPlus, the Beijing-headquartered social game developer, is currently best known for its Family Farm series.
But since 2015, it's been moving into publishing with PublishingPlus.
Additionally, its San Francisco office is becoming increasingly significant in its push for global success.
Most recently, the firm announced the capture of the experienced Deconstructor of Fun editor Michail Katkoff from Zynga, who is now Studio Lead for the San Francisco team.
With a number of other positions currently vacant at the company, PocketGamer.biz got in touch with PR and Partner Manager Keeley Boess to talk company culture, what she's looking for in applicants, and tips for breaking into the industry.
PocketGamer.biz: Could you give us some background on FunPlus and what you do?
Keeley Boess: CEO, Andy Zhong, founded FunPlus in 2010. The company has been profitable since 2011.
FunPlus created PublishingPlus, an alternative to traditional mobile game publishing, last year and announced a $50 million mobile game investment fund earlier this year to partner with game developers trying to innovate on a big scale.
Our first titles were primarily social games and our focus now is producing innovative mobile games with the industry’s top talent.
Our first titles were social games. Our focus now is producing innovative games with the industry’s top talent.Keeley Boess
My title is PR and Partner Manager, but I work on everything from PR to HR to helping our executive team execute new initiatives.
I started with FunPlus in April of 2014 when we had less than 10 people in our San Francisco office. My role has changed dramatically over the last two years. FunPlus’ growth has meant continuous opportunities for me and everyone else at the company.
That is what I love about FunPlus! Every day is different.
What specific areas/disciplines are you currently hiring in?
Studio Leads. We are always on the lookout for strong individuals with a track record of building and operating amazing mobile games.
When we find them, we hire them and then they build their own studio.
Michail Katkoff is our latest hire, whom you profiled recently.
As you're overseeing recruitment at FunPlus, what do you look for in candidates?
I look for confident individuals with a strong work ethic, passionate about their profession. I don’t think you need to be the best, but you should want to be.
Also, I look for candidates who have taken the time to do their research. Can they tell me why they want to work at FunPlus and why we are a fit for them?
Our teams are small. There isn’t a hierarchy.Keeley Boess
A successful relationship isn’t one-sided. We want our team members to love what they do as much as where they do it.
Why do you think FunPlus is a good place to work?
FunPlus recognises talent in the individuals they hire and gives them the creative freedom to produce the type of mobile games they are passionate about.
Our teams are small. There isn’t a hierarchy. It’s simply a group of talented people working together to do what they love most.
How will you be trying to encourage a strong company culture across your San Francisco and Beijing studios?
This is something we focus on a lot. Communication is key. The San Francisco office is in constant contact with team members in Beijing. Many of us work with our Beijing co-workers on a daily basis.
We also do a bit of office swapping. It’s rare we do not have Beijing team members in San Francisco and vice versa.
Strong company culture is easy when everyone is focused on the same goal.Keeley Boess
Our CEO is also very vocal about who we are as a company and what we want to accomplish. It is easy to come together and form a strong company culture when everyone is focused on the same goal.
What advice would you have for someone trying to get into the games industry?
Do your research about the position and company you are applying for.
Also, invest some personal time to establish a portfolio that exemplifies your skills and passion.
For example, if you’re an artist, create concept sketches for characters for a game you would want to be a part of. If you are a game designer, start a blog.
There are a lot of talented people in this industry. Set yourself apart by showcasing the creativity and work ethic behind your talent.
For a full list of vacancies, you can visit FunPlus' jobs page.
