• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

DevJobFail: The worst game job applications ever

Annubis said:
I applied to my current job with my stupid email address.
It's a corporate job (suits and stuff) and I'm still here after 8 years.
Click to expand...

It happen to me as well. I still advice other people to use better email address though, since i'm just lucky. And i'd rather separate my personal and work email address.

Valnen said:
So I should have to make a whole new email because some scumbag has a stick up his ass about what people's emails email addresses should look like? Sad that this kind of discrimination is even allowed.
Click to expand...

Other reason is, because HR did not have all time in the world to read all that email he receive, so he need to do some filtering. Reduce the chance your email going to be skimmed through.
 
I had a friend type up his CV in comic sans, he applied for a small robotics company. They called him in for an interview because they simply couldn't believe someone would use comic sans for a CV. He ended up getting the job but it was moreso that he had the confidence to pull it off.
 
Cyrano said:
If an email name is the deciding factor for interviewing/not interviewing... you probably don't wanna work there.
Click to expand...
The first person filtering through a pile of CVs does not necessarily reflect a company and whether or not it is the place that you want to work (unless it happens to be a small place and that person is the person you will be working for).
 
Cyrano said:
If an email name is the deciding factor for interviewing/not interviewing... you probably don't wanna work there.
Click to expand...
Okay, seriously, having a professional-sounding e-mail address is a BARE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT for a resume.

Good Lord. No one is being discriminated against. It's standard professionalism. If someone is unwilling to change their e-mail address from fartymcballsack to first.lastname because of some asinine principles, I don't want them working for me.
 
Im gonna send in an application to Valve for a position im entirely unsuited for

Whats the most disgustingly stupid things I can do to send in the worst resume of all time
 
Cyrano said:
If an email name is the deciding factor for interviewing/not interviewing... you probably don't wanna work there.

Also, I would be very interested in a programmer who did a my little pony resume. People here are free to call it unprofessional if they wish, but honestly? If I want a game programmer I want someone who can prove they're creative. And boy does that resume ever stand out. Also amazeballs sounds like a person who's funny enough to interview too. Some of the other ones are a bit more sketchy, but people I can get down with go against the grain of stuffy garbage like resumes.

Much like that other interview I read, if I was going to decide to hire somebody, it would be because of their prowess. If I was going to hire a writer I would ask them to write something. If I was going to hire a programmer I would ask them to code something/examine some code and fix it. Same for an artist, etc.
Click to expand...

Take your logic and go away, hiring practices don't need your sense! Asking candidates to prove themselves...HA! That's like hiring for an entry-level position and not requiring 2-3 years of prior experience! IT MAKES TOO MUCH SENSE!

(I hope the sarcasm shows..)

PONGSTAR said:
The first person filtering through a pile of CVs does not necessarily reflect a company and whether or not it is the place that you want to work (unless it happens to be a small place and that person is the person you will be working for).
Click to expand...

That's assuming it's even a person. A lot of companies use filtering technologies and matrix schemes to weed out resumes using keyword highlighting and things like that. I wouldn't be surprised if they could detect "bad" email addresses.
 
You can either sit there and complain about current standards of professionalism, or you can put on a suit, act like a professional, get a job, become a boss, and then make your own rules.

These CV stories are hilarious though. I love the stuff like people saying "I'll contact you". Pure gold.
 
On the flip side, if a person thinks it's below them or too much effort to create a grown up email address for a job application, then they are probably not the best hire, anyway.
 
The one and only class I ever had that taught anything about job interviews, resumes, etc. stressed that we all needed to get an email address that consisted of your name and nothing else. I figured this was common sense until my wife worked as an admin for a job agency and told me how many princesslut69@ hotmail.com and arosefortheladies@-->---@aol.com type of emails she saw on resumes. No one thinks you're an adult that should be hired seeing something like that.
 
admartian said:
How is it not private (Facebook I mean)? From what I Know the only truly public stuff is your cover photo and your vitals (male/female, age, city, etc). Posts (on timeline), profile pics etc can be tricky - but if you're being judged because you posted an article about something is crossing the line imo. And if you have a normal (usually photo of yourself with.without a spouse/partner/gf or bf; pet, things like cars, consoles, etc) profile pic, then there's nothing really else to see (you can't see statuses of those whom you're not friends with).

Unless companies contact Facebook and reveal other info? Surely that would be highly questionable/illegal?

Twitter on the other hand... (although unless you protect your tweets?)
Click to expand...

This is exactly what they do
 
floatingcoffins said:
The one and only class I ever had taught anything about job interviews, resumes, etc. stressed that we all needed to get an email address that consisted of your name and nothing else. I figured this was common sense until my wife worked as an admin for a job agency and told me how many princesslut69@ hotmail.com and arosefortheladies@-->---@aol.com type of emails she saw on resumes. No one thinks you're an adult that should be hired seeing something like that.
Click to expand...

OH MY GOD!!!!

I'M IN FUCKING TEARS.
 
Jarate said:
Im gonna send in an application to Valve for a position im entirely unsuited for

Whats the most disgustingly stupid things I can do to send in the worst resume of all time
Click to expand...

Dear Gaben,

hire me because I want to play HL3 first.

Also I think you're kinda cute.

XOXO

Harry S. Salamigobblecoque
 
Edit: Wow, reading comprehension.
 
mattiewheels said:
Okay, this is the only one that I don't instantly see the punchline to. Maybe the reading 3-5 books weekly thing is a weird brag on a resume, but wouldn't the first two statements be something you'd wanna get in there?
Click to expand...

It's a blatant lie. You can't possibly have been a "senior programmer" at the age of 13. And even if you were, you almost certainly wouldn't be applying for a job at a small place like firefly studios.
 
TIL that some people on GAF believe they can do whatever they want in a job application/interview. And that the bare minimum of professionalism is too much work.

Also that if you apply for a job, you are the only one trying for that position, and (especially in this economy) the employer doesnt hold all the cards in who they look for.
 
J-Rod said:
On the flip side, if a person thinks it's below them or too much effort to create a grown up email address for a job application, then they are probably not the best hire, anyway.
Click to expand...
Thinking that the powers that be ought to be obligated to conform to my standards over the most menial, trivial shit instead of the other way around certainly sounds like a way to get ahead in life.
 
Linkstrikesback said:
It's a blatant lie. You can't possibly have been a "senior programmer" at the age of 13.
Click to expand...

Well...you could. But the project probably wouldn't have been anything noteworthy.

I mean hell, remember that kid who, in his free time, built an iOS game at 12, sold it, and got 3 million dollars overnight? It happens. NOW.

10 years ago...not so much.

Sixfortyfive said:
Thinking that the powers that be ought to be obligated to conform to my standards over the most menial, trivial shit instead of the other way around certainly sounds like a way to get ahead in life.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a way to get a paycheck.

I got bills.
 
I don't like vague, open ended personal questions, particularly in a job interview. For several years I've wanted to answer 'questions' like 'so tell me a little about yourself' with "The details of my life are quite inconsequential" in my best Dr. Evil voice.
 
floatingcoffins said:
The one and only class I ever had taught anything about job interviews, resumes, etc. stressed that we all needed to get an email address that consisted of your name and nothing else. I figured this was common sense until my wife worked as an admin for a job agency and told me how many princesslut69@ hotmail.com and arosefortheladies@-->---@aol.com type of emails she saw on resumes. No one thinks you're an adult that should be hired seeing something like that.
Click to expand...
I can say that I've only hired two people, but I used their email for correspondence, not as some weird false hurdle. I find it a bit creepy that we're so judgmental of people because of something as inconsequential as an email address. Racist and sexist stuff aside, I don't find it all that offputting. I actually got hired once because the guy decided to interview me wanted to know where my email came from. Though my email names are also non-sensical and come from my head, so who knows.
 
Jarate said:
Im gonna send in an application to Valve for a position im entirely unsuited for

Whats the most disgustingly stupid things I can do to send in the worst resume of all time
Click to expand...

Assuming you send via email

Email: Wheresmyhalflife3@aol.com
Subject: Let me work for you

Hello Gabey
i'm an enthutiastic gamer who plays all your games, to name a few Cunter strike, minecraft, Diablo III, that game with mute scientist who have crowbar.

I don't see any opening in your company, but, you know what? You should open a position for me. Why? I'm amazing, i finish super mario bros, Dark souls, and finish daikatana 3 times (which in my opinion, the greatest game eva! XD)

I see myself as creative person. As in, super creative.I have lot of amazing ideas, I guaranteed, all those ideas of mine/ they are going to be off the chart. Here's the deal, you hired me, give me $100k a month, a 1 hours work a day and i'll give you the idea, which you can work into your game. Trust me on this one

Also, where's half life 3?

Thank you

From your truly the guys who's going to work with you.

<name>

========================

If you send it via post, might want to smear some cheese on that CV and letter, crumple it a bit.

There, how's that?
 
If anything, I just did another Gmail account with my real name separated by dots and it's less weird than going "kiefercrimson" in a job interview.

It's just a little detail, I suppose. I have to hand out that mail to government press offices and well, it helps to have my name attached to my email.
 
I was screening resumes for a while, and it is shocking what people will send.

Email address? Get a professional email address. Zelda4Lover@hotmail.com that you registered when you were 12 is instantly going to get you closer to the trash.

Don't make a fancy resume! Make it easy to read and chronological. I remember seeing one resume that was actually white on black, so when you printed it I murdered our printer AND we couldn't write on the resume to take notes. Another one I remember had each job they did turned at 45 degrees, so to read the resume you had to rotate it.

Spell check! For fuck sakes spell check your resume!! Can't count how many errors I see and not slip ups. Open Word & Google Docs, red lines all over the place. I remember one resume years ago that worked at Nintendo at one point, but spelled it Nintenndeo.

Only send your resume as a doc or pdf. NEVER SEND AS IMAGE FILE!!

If you get a phone screen or face to face interview, PLAY THE FREAKING GAME THAT THE DEVELOPER MADE!! This happens more often then you would think. When I was working on a F2P game, we would ask people if they played it and a number of people would say "I've been saving money to get that one." IT IS A FREE TO PLAY GAME!! Redbox, Gamefly, borrow, steal, watch live streams of others playing it. Learn about the game and company you are going to talk with.

Nicknames. Don't some strange nickname on your resume. John "Massive Attack" Doe. It just looks bad.

Don't apply for every job on the website!!! Apply for what you are qualified for. Seeing an artist apply for a programming position or a tester apply for a director position does not give off the right first impression.

Things you should do:
Clean Resume.
Include link to portfolio website.
DON'T USE QUICKTIME for your videos on your portfolio. Make an MP4, FLV, embed a youtube video, or vimeo.
Include Linkedin link. We will find it anyway, it makes it easier for those looking over.
 
Cyrano said:
I can say that I've only hired two people, but I used their email for correspondence, not as some weird false hurdle. I find it a bit creepy that we're so judgmental of people because of something as inconsequential as an email address. Racist and sexist stuff aside, I don't find it all that offputting. I actually got hired once because the guy decided to interview me wanted to know where my email came from. Though my email names are also non-sensical and come from my head, so who knows.
Click to expand...

Using Cyrano or Steaks @ whatever dot com isn't going to set off a ton of red flags, but bonerjuke420wreckem at lmao.com will.

I think people are more referring to the latter.
 
eGen4RT.gif


It might take me a while to finish this, but I just wanted to give you guys a teaser for what will be in my resume sent to valve
 
SeventhSon said:
I don't like vague, open ended personal questions, particularly in a job interview. For several years I've wanted to answer 'questions' like 'so tell me a little about yourself' with "The details of my life are quite inconsequential" in my best Dr. Evil voice.
Click to expand...
I feel like I need to tell you this.

7022223.gif
 
Steaks said:
Using Cyrano or Steaks @ whatever dot com isn't going to set off a ton of red flags, but bonerjuke420wreckem at lmao.com will.

I think people are more referring to the latter.
Click to expand...

Why? bonerjuke could have been a high ranking employee at three different companies over 20 years and just uses his son's email and isn't too good at creating his own, while Steaks may be one more bad performance report from taking a shotgun to the office and becoming the 6 o clock news
 
Steaks said:
Using Cyrano or Steaks @ whatever dot com isn't going to set off a ton of red flags, but bonerjuke420wreckem at lmao.com will.

I think people are more referring to the latter.
Click to expand...
I suspect you're right, but still, weird.

I did have a really fun conversation with an editor because my email may have been CyranoDeBergerac at one point...
 
element said:
If you get a phone screen or face to face interview, PLAY THE FREAKING GAME THAT THE DEVELOPER MADE!! This happens more often then you would think. When I was working on a F2P game, we would ask people if they played it and a number of people would say "I've been saving money to get that one." IT IS A FREE TO PLAY GAME!! Redbox, Gamefly, borrow, steal, watch live streams of others playing it. Learn about the game and company you are going to talk with.
Click to expand...

I inadvertently did that for my current job. I didn't know it at the time, but the department head that was hiring me had owned an XBLA developer that had been sold to another major publisher. They happened to develop one of my favorite XBLA titles of all time. He mentioned the company or the game or something and I was like, "Oh yeah! I loved that game and I also loved the paperback novel tie-in!"

"You're hired."

It was kind of a joke, and I still went through a normal interview process, but I don't think it hurt my chances at all.
 
Jarate said:
Im gonna send in an application to Valve for a position im entirely unsuited for

Whats the most disgustingly stupid things I can do to send in the worst resume of all time
Click to expand...

Send a few chocolate bars as a bribe. Make sure the resume itself is partially smeared with chocolate.

Have a suggestive picture of yourself on your resume's header.
 
MC Safety said:
Send a few chocolate bars as a bribe. Make sure the resume itself is partially smeared with chocolate.

Have a suggestive picture of yourself on your resume's header.
Click to expand...
For the love of god, be sure that nothing with the number 3 shows in your resume or the suggestive picture.
 
I think people also underestimate how important culture is, especially if you're working in a tight knit environment, in a creative field. If I'm hiring two equally qualified candidates, and one has a gross email, why would I even give that person a second look? I probably don't want to be around someone like that.
 
Cyrano said:
If an email name is the deciding factor for interviewing/not interviewing... you probably don't wanna work there.

Also, I would be very interested in a programmer who did a my little pony resume. People here are free to call it unprofessional if they wish, but honestly? If I want a game programmer I want someone who can prove they're creative. And boy does that resume ever stand out. Also amazeballs sounds like a person who's funny enough to interview too. Some of the other ones are a bit more sketchy, but people I can get down with go against the grain of stuffy garbage like resumes.

Much like that other interview I read, if I was going to decide to hire somebody, it would be because of their prowess. If I was going to hire a writer I would ask them to write something. If I was going to hire a programmer I would ask them to code something/examine some code and fix it. Same for an artist, etc.
Click to expand...

You see this is the problem, they are not deciding whether to interview you or not based on your email address, they do not study CV's as an initial step, they filter mercilessly because that job you applied for also had 1000 to 2000 other people applying for it.

So there's going to be some brutal, utterly discriminatory selection criteria for the first pass, whittle it down to a couple of hundred, of those hundred or two they are going to equally merciless on another criteria and so on, until you get to the last pass before selection of a shortlist, of those few thousand, 20 to 30 are getting interviewed.

Those passes don't just weed out the unsuitable, they weed out many suitable candidates too, but that's life - there is no way to interview hundreds, let alone thousands, so making sure you have nothing in your CV that makes you look unprofessional, or serious about your desire for the job is paramount.

"Fun, Individual, Creative, Unconventional" - These are not necessarily qualities that are being looked for and they may make for a great employee once on the job, but long before that you need your foot in the door and these "qualities" are overlooked in place of things that are of greater importance, professional, likely to be reliable, fastidious etc. all win the day, "Wacky, Not Serious, Unpredictable" gets your CV in the trash on the first pass.
 
Zia said:
I think people also underestimate how important culture is, especially if you're working in a tight knit environment, in a creative field. If I'm hiring two equally qualified candidates, and one has a gross email, why would I even give that person a second look? I probably don't want to be around someone like that.
Click to expand...

Let your first impression be dictated by the first physical meeting. It's rough when people assume negatives about you from the material that you provide.
 
Osiris said:
"Fun, Individual, Creative, Unconventional" - These are not necessarily qualities that are being looked for, they may make for a great employee once on the job, but long before that you need your foot in the door, and these "qualities" are overlooked in place of things that are of more importance, professional, likely to be reliable, fastidious etc. all win the day, "Wacky" gets your CV in the trash on the first pass.
Click to expand...
If you're working on videogames these are absolutely qualities I'm looking for?
Zia said:
I think people also underestimate how important culture is, especially if you're working in a tight knit environment, in a creative field. If I'm hiring two equally qualified candidates, and one has a gross email, why would I even give that person a second look? I probably don't want to be around someone like that.
Click to expand...
I might interview them, if they are in fact equally qualified (which rarely happens in my experience).

Still, if it's an entry level position, I don't think I care a whole lot about qualifications. Just your ability to do the work. Granted, I understand Osiris' and your point of view, it's just kind of unfortunate.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

What's the worst tech advice you've ever received?
46
665
icecold1983 replied
Sisyphus's Worst Day Ever - Official Trailer
Trailer Indie 
0
119
IbizaPocholo replied
What games had the worst loading times?
2 3 4
164
1K
Darkmakaimura replied
What is your almost the best game ever and what's missing for it to become the best game ever for you?
1
97
IAmRei replied
Best Game and the Worst Game of a Franchise
2 3 4
172
2K
simpatico replied
Top Bottom