The iGaming industry is highly competitive, and standing out in a job interview requires more than just a strong resume. In an exclusive interview with Next.io, Valeriia Virchenko, Head of Talent Acquisition at PIN-UP Global, shares expert insights on what recruiters focus on, common mistakes candidates make, and how to prepare effectively for a successful interview.

Interview Mistakes That Could Cost You the Job

According to Valeriia Virchenko, some candidates unknowingly make interview mistakes that leave a lasting negative impression.

“Sometimes, candidates do unexpected things during interviews. For example, I once had an interview where a candidate applied makeup during the call. I assure you, this is not the best way to make an impression,” she recalls.

Other red flags include:

• Poor communication skills – Struggling to engage in a constructive dialogue can be a dealbreaker.
• Being late – Punctuality is a sign of professionalism and respect for the recruiter’s time.
• Lack of basic interview etiquette – Candidates should showcase both professional qualifications and ethical behavior during an interview.

How to Make a Strong Impression in an iGaming Interview

So, what does it take to succeed in an iGaming job interview? Virchenko highlights several key preparation strategies:

✅ Research the company – Learn about its operations, values, and hiring team to establish rapport during the interview.
✅ Showcase your work – A portfolio, work samples, and references from past employers add credibility.
✅ Understand company pain points – Ask questions about the challenges the company faces and suggest potential solutions based on your experience.
✅ Adaptability & efficiency – iGaming is a fast-paced industry; candidates who demonstrate quick thinking and problem-solving skills stand out.

“We have seen highly positive cases where candidates shared their experience or proposed interesting solutions to company challenges right during the interview,” Virchenko explains.

What PIN-UP Global Looks for in Candidates

At PIN-UP Global, finding the right fit means more than assessing technical skills. Virchenko emphasizes that the company seeks candidates who align with its core values:

🔹 Industry expertise & results-driven mindset – Specialists who excel in their field and focus on delivering measurable impact.
🔹 Strong communication & teamwork – Open dialogue, constructive feedback, and collaboration are highly valued.
🔹 Agility & decision-making skills – The ability to adapt quickly, multitask, and navigate an ever-evolving environment.
🔹 Minimal bureaucracy, maximum efficiency – The company prioritizes fast decision-making and values employees who can take initiative.

“We are looking for people who understand that collaboration is the key to success,” she adds.

Final Thoughts: How to Secure Your Dream iGaming Job

The iGaming sector is constantly evolving, and companies like PIN-UP Global seek innovative, adaptable, and results-driven professionals. By following these expert tips from Valeriia Virchenko, candidates can improve their chances of making a strong impression and securing a role in this dynamic industry.

You can read the full interview on Next.io: How to Pass an Interview in the iGaming Industry

UNIVERSITY Esports is back for its Spring 2025 Season, which is open to students from universities across the UK and Ireland and brings with it five tournaments and six weeks of action across Overwatch 2, League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and VALORANT. The tournaments will give students the opportunity to showcase their competitive skills against their peers, while also helping to build the grassroots gaming community – as participants play with their friends and make new ones.

This season of UNIVERSITY Esports follows high participation in the previous Winter 2024 Season, where over 600 teams and 3,000 players took part every week. UNIVERSITY Esports currently counts more than 20,000 people across more than 110 universities registered in the community.

Broadcasts of the Winter 2024 Grand Finals were produced by students from the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies (at Nottingham Trent University), in partnership with UNIVERSITY Esports staff to support the next generation of broadcasters.

Beyond competition

UNIVERSITY Esports, a grassroots esports organiser in the UK and Ireland operated by NUEL (a subsidiary of GGTech Entertainment), is about much more than just online competition, and also plays a big role in fostering communities and providing career opportunities and education.

Winter also saw the return of the UNIVERSITY Tour, an in-person series of events aimed at raising awareness of the esports community and building real-life connections between players. Nottingham Trent University and the University of Staffordshire hosted these face-to-face activities, with hundreds of students engaged about the benefits of participating in the esports community both professionally and to have fun.

Spring 2025 Tournament schedule

Signups are now open for the UNIVERSITY Esports Spring 2025 Season, and the tournaments will take place over February and March. Winning teams will be awarded with a shared £2,550 prize pool.

Key dates are as follows:

Overwatch 2

– Signups Close: Saturday 8th February

– Games Begin: Monday 10th February

Teamfight Tactics

– Signups Close: Sunday 9th February

– Games Begin: Tuesday 11th February

Women and Non-Binary VALORANT

– Signups Close: Tuesday 11th February

– Games Begin: Tuesday 18th February

League of Legends

– Signups Close: Monday 10th February

– Games Begin: Wednesday 12th February

Open VALORANT

– Signups Close: Tuesday 11th February

– Games Begin: Thursday 13th February

To take part, players need to verify their student status (if they haven’t already in Winter), and either create or join a team. Interested players can find out more information and register at universityesports.co.uk, and on the Discord.

FC Dynamo Kyiv are continuing their winter training in Turkey, in preparation for the second half of the season in 2025. Their partner for the training period this year is GGBET UA.

The club’s CEO, Dmytro Brif, thanked GGBET UA for its support and underscored the importance of the training camp for the team’s future success:

“We are hugely grateful to GGBET UA for its partnership during this important period. Today, our efforts are focused on improving our game, working on our mistakes, and getting ready for upcoming matches. In the spring, we’re set on achieving the very best results we can in all tournaments.”

GGBET UA CEO Sergii Mishchenko stated that partnering up with Dynamo involves not just working together on the winter training camp, but also continuing with larger-scale joint projects geared towards the team’s fans:

“Within the partnership, we’re actively working with the club and are planning to create exciting content featuring the players and coaches. All of this helps to reduce the distance between the professional footballers and the regular fans, which is what we’re striving to do.”

Dynamo’s next winter training camp match will take place on 6 February at 17:00 in the Turkish city of Belek. The club will be facing off against KF Shkëndija, a team from North Macedonia. A live stream will be available on Dynamo’s YouTube channel.