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[Osiris]

If you're working on videogames these are absolutely qualities I'm looking for?

No, they really are not, not for the majority of companies out there, for one or two person indie studios, maybe, but for the big guns, not at all.

 

[kiunchbb]

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.

They are not asking for the details of your life, they are asking you to sell yourself.

 

[Cyrano]

No, they really are not, not for the majority of companies out there, for one or two person indie studios, maybe, but for the big guns, not at all.

I suppose that's true. Typically HR is aware of how crushing and awful the "job in the game industry at EA" will actually be. I suppose that requires a certain kind of person. Someone like Stanley.

 

[MC Safety]

For the love of god, be sure that nothing with the number 3 shows in your resume or the suggestive picture.

I missed the joke! Is it reference to Half-Life 3?

 

[Clawww]

Strange, usually people that use that word here are pretty laid back and awesome.

no, dude. no

people who say "amazeballs" are the worst

 

[Cyrano]

no, dude. no

people who say "amazeballs" are the worst

If they say it you are correct. If they write it... maybe, maybe not. I hate when people say the word shmups/lulz and other internet acronyms. Writing it's ok because... I dunno. Laziness and acceptance of dumb internet culture as long as it's unspoken. Also, I hate the word feels. Fuck saying that word. I said it once and I wanted to punch myself in the face.

 

[Valnen]

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.

Because you shouldn't be hiring people based on your personal bias.

 

[MC Safety]

Because you shouldn't be hiring people based on your personal bias.

The paring down is done way before hiring. It's done before interviews. Sometimes, it has to be done before the resumes are even read by a human.

 

[Mesoian]

Because you shouldn't be hiring people based on your personal bias.

...but if you're in HR, that's your JOB. (Sort of).

 

[Cyrano]

The paring down is done way before hiring. It's done before interviews. Sometimes, it has to be done before the resumes are even read by a human.

Yeah, it's largely a question of scale. It depends also on the community culture within your business.

 

[JoeyJungle]

Isn't this one of the enemies in Rage???

 

[Linkstrikesback]

If they delete emails that they're supposed to read they shouldn't be doing that job.

You can guarentee the boss would be totally ok with the assumption that the person sending that e-mail isn't worth employing(or even interviewing). It is going to happen absolutely anywhere you apply to, so this isn't an argument really, just a fact of life.

 

[Marc]

Like, in your hands or on your feet?

Why limit yourself to those appendages... I didn't ask... just said "I guess".

 

[Chettlar]

Because you shouldn't be hiring people based on your personal bias.

It's not just personal bias. Smooth working between two individuals working on a project together is really important. The term "Chemistry" is often used here (weird, because it usually refers to romance, but whatever), to describe teams that work well together.

I get your point, but the opposite side of the argument is not without a perfectly valid point as well.

 

[Fersis]

* Crossing fingers so my DICE resume application doesnt show up *

Because you shouldn't be hiring people based on your personal bias.

That's exactly what you should do. The most importan thing about hiring someone is to make sure theyre gonna get along with the rest of the team.
Even more important than knowledge or experience.

 

[KennyLinder]

The Lionhead application letter is a classic, I remember that one going around Codies when it happened. Spread like wildfire

Tosser cunt face, that's you, yes it is.

 

[Valnen]

It is going to happen absolutely anywhere you apply to

That doesn't make it okay.

 

[EatChildren]

Because you shouldn't be hiring people based on your personal bias.

For almost every business on this planet, you are hired not just for your education and skills, but your cultural fit into the company.

 

[kuppy]

If an email name is the deciding factor for interviewing/not interviewing... you probably don't wanna work there.

Yeah, I agree. The games industry is full of people that go by their nickname (notch, fourzerotwo, yosp, major nelson). I don't see the real problem, if it is a personal attached, not offensive name, I think it may even give you some more character. Like if my mail in a CV would just be kuppy@gmail.com (I'm afraid I don't have that one), so what, it is your personal mail address, if you get hired you most likely handle all contact by a new company email anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I totally see the point to try to be as professional as possible, but although videogames are mostly plain business now, they still are about creative people.

 

[Valnen]

For almost every business on this planet, you are hired not just for your education and skills, but your cultural fit into the company.

And that's why we already have laws against certain forms of discrimination during the hiring process.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

That doesn't make it okay.

It's not a matter of okay or not okay.

 

[Mesoian]

That doesn't make it okay.

Very little about the world is "okay".

 

[striferser]

Because you shouldn't be hiring people based on your personal bias.

And also requirement from office. I know they tell HR to meet a certain criteria, which probably include try to find the most professional among thousand of applicants.

If it just stupid name, not offensive, fine, there's a chance HR will read the email, but, they'll put it in later/ maybe if there's no other choice folder so he can spend his limited time reading more professional resume. Then they schedule an interview for those who meet the criteria and what do you know, they're the right people. Job done, they can do their other job. How about all those other email? Probably forgotten.

It's simple really.

 

[isual]

deleted

 

[admartian]

This is exactly what they do

How is this not illegal?

 

[Osiris]

How is this not illegal?

nvm, thought you were responding to something else.

 

[Steaks]

How is this not illegal?

Companies might look at a user's social media history if it's publicly available, or make you log into your facebook for them (now illegal in some places iirc, for good reason), but I don't think they can just get information from Facebook directly if your stuff is private.

 

[joecanada]

Curriculum Vitae.
A resume pretty much.

I applied for a university whos admission process demanded a cv, stating " a cv is not the same as a resume "

I turned in my resume, got accepted

 

[Chettlar]

Why should it be?

You have to admit it's rather creepy. Most people I know have very different social and professional lives.

Plus, stalkers.

 

[Goldenroad]

"Why would you like to work here" is a bullshit question anyways. The answer to that is obvious, because people need jobs to not die.

The key word is "here" in that question. No one cares why you "want to work" in general.

 

[Mesoian]

hmmm. my email is at isual13 @ blank

you guys think that isual13 seems inappropriate ? I could always change it to my undergrad's alma mater email.

I think you'd be fine, but I don't know if there's any real connotations behind "Isual". For me personally, it's nothing that'd bring up flags.

My email is the same way, but when I was job hunting or apartment hunting or dealing with car leases, insurance, loans, I did all that through my professional email, which is my name@email.com.

How is this not illegal?

It is. But certain places will still deny you if you don't. It's a bad practice but, if you want dem duccets, sometimes you gotta put yourself out there.

I, personally, wouldn't want to work in a place like that though.

I applied for a university whos admission process demanded a cv, stating " a cv is not the same as a resume "

I turned in my resume, got accepted

Did you just give them the first page of your CV?

 

[Mesoian]

.

 

[kick51]

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.

I guess you would give them a second look if you're in a loose atmosphere that lets any joke fly (the real "best places" to work.)

I would also give them a second look just for having the guts, since everyone else is busy convincing me of their perfection. "bootyshakin69@aol.com" will be making me laugh for the rest of my life. "Hi my name is blah blah, i'm a motivated self-starter who cut his teeth in the business molding #3 paperclips in arkansas after graduating from university of unremarkable upper mid-tier, where I padded the shit out of my resume with extracurriculars that I only did to pad the shit out of my resume" x 1000 is just gonna make me cranky.

incidentally, i'm not in management and never will be lol

 

[EatChildren]

And that's why we already have laws against certain forms of discrimination during the hiring process.

Race, sexuality, and gender, alongside certain disabilities, all of which are unavoidable birth traits that are neither indicative nor influential on your job performance and place in company culture (among other wider cultural reasons), have discrimination laws protecting them.

Explicitly listing your private, work related contact as 360noscope_420@hotmail.com and refusing to commit to an easy, two minute professional change due to rebellion, laziness, bitterness, ignorance, or whatever else, is indicative of your personality and perception of the hiring process and employers screening your application.

You're more than entitled to throw that email down on your resume, as you have that freedom. And during the early screening process where employers are digging through a mountain of resumes, trying to filter out the worst from the best so they can better organise times for interviews, yours will be cast aside. They have that freedom, that is not discrimination, that is screening, and you have absolutely zero entitlement to a job interview just for submitting an application.

If you can't see the bigger picture of the hiring process, that's your folly.

 

[bluecapsule]

hmmm. my email is at isual13 @ blank

you guys think that isual13 seems inappropriate ? I could always change it to my undergrad's alma mater email.

If you're applying for jobs, your resume email should just be yourname@whatever or your college email address. I'm assuming all the people whining about email discrimination are either trolling or have not entered the work force yet.

Nobody really cares what your email address is, but using an unprofessional email on your resume is just a signal to the HR department that you lack professional judgment. Its an easy way to weed people out when they are getting hundreds of resumes for a single opening.

 

[Darkmakaimura]

Castlevania. Any game job application should include your experience with the classic series or no hire.

During my interview for my customer support/tech support position, they asked me what my favorite video game was and I told them at the time it was the Castlevania series. Guy said great choice.

 

[Nags]

I know people hired as QA testers (temps) that were basically illiterate. Makes understanding bugs in the database pretty tough.

The "True Crime: New York City" QA team has to be the worst I have seen in the 8 years I spent between Activision and EA. A couple fist fights actually broke out.

 

[Valnen]

Race, sexuality, and gender, alongside certain disabilities, all of which are unavoidable birth traits that are neither indicative nor influential on your job performance and place in company culture (among other wider cultural reasons), have discrimination laws protecting them.

Pretty sure religion is also protected and you're not born with that.

 

[striferser]

hmmm. my email is at isual13 @ blank

you guys think that isual13 seems inappropriate ? I could always change it to my undergrad's alma mater email.

I think it's okay, since it's nothing offensive, but, if you have email using your real name, might want to use that one.

 

[PONGSTAR]

How is this not illegal?

Unless they have strong ties to the NSA or the like, I'm pretty sure they cannot contact Facebook to get profile information on an individual that is marked private. However, whatever is marked public can be used for determining the "hirability" (if that is a word) of an individual.

 

[joecanada]

I think you'd be fine, but I don't know if there's any real connotations behind "Isual". For me personally, it's nothing that'd bring up flags.

My email is the same way, but when I was job hunting or apartment hunting or dealing with car leases, insurance, loans, I did all that through my professional email, which is my name@email.com.



It is. But certain places will still deny you if you don't. It's a bad practice but, if you want dem duccets, sometimes you gotta put yourself out there.

I, personally, wouldn't want to work in a place like that though.



Did you just give them the first page of your CV?

Yes, it is for a university so naturally I deleted references and maybe work history I can't recall now....


Also yes have a neutral name@gmail or what have you... do not use naughtygirl@domain or some other crap. amazeballs, Lol

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

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

eat a disgusting amount of fiber, take a glorious shit (you'll need the excrement), mold said shit into a three on a cake form, sent as package.

Oh! oh! oh! You could 'send' your resume by eating it first and having it out along with the other shit. I know, it all lacks creativity...

but sending said shit + ticking sound upon opening box will likely get you in jail.

 

[EatChildren]

Pretty sure religion is also protected and you're not born with that.

Religion is a murky area of cultural traits, history, (in many cases) upbringing, life philosophy, and so on.

It's not a fucking email address.

 

[element]

If an email name is the deciding factor for interviewing/not interviewing... you probably don't wanna work there.

As many have said before, if your email is 420smokinbug247@hotmail.com then you aren't putting yourself in the right position to be taken seriously.

My ex was attempting to hire an office admin and would get emails from SexySarah420@ or SmokinSue69@. I mean seriously. Grow up and don't use the email address you picked when you were 12 for things that a 25 year old needs.

 

[PONGSTAR]

Religion is a murky area of cultural traits, history, (in many cases) upbringing, life philosophy, and so on.

It's not a fucking email address.

That's right... unless of course your email is something like fuckallnonchristians@christismysavior.com

 

[element]

Race, sexuality, and gender, alongside certain disabilities, all of which are unavoidable birth traits that are neither indicative nor influential on your job performance and place in company culture (among other wider cultural reasons), have discrimination laws protecting them.

Explicitly listing your private, work related contact as 360noscope_420@hotmail.com and refusing to commit to an easy, two minute professional change due to rebellion, laziness, bitterness, ignorance, or whatever else, is indicative of your personality and perception of the hiring process and employers screening your application.

You're more than entitled to throw that email down on your resume, as you have that freedom. And during the early screening process where employers are digging through a mountain of resumes, trying to filter out the worst from the best so they can better organise times for interviews, yours will be cast aside. They have that freedom, that is not discrimination, that is screening, and you have absolutely zero entitlement to a job interview just for submitting an application.

If you can't see the bigger picture of the hiring process, that's your folly.

Pretty much spot on.

There are a bunch of other things that you can't directly ask about as you could be discriminating.
Examples include, you can't ask in an interview if someone is a US citizen. You can't ask if they are married. You can't ask if someone has children. You can't ask what religion someone is.

Now you can get these answers, but you have to ask them a certain way, which is silly, but it is the law.

 

[striferser]

I know people hired as QA testers (temps) that were basically illiterate. Makes understanding bugs in the database pretty tough.

The "True Crime: New York City" QA team has to be the worst I have seen in the 8 years I spent between Activision and EA. A couple fist fights actually broke out.

I know your pain.
Our team need to follow up bugs from other studio, and the description basically telling us to find it ourself....

A fist fight? Damn, never have one in my workplace, though i do know two guys who's basically about to duke it out due to losing in Dota...

 

[piratepwnsninja]

Yeah, I agree. The games industry is full of people that go by their nickname (notch, fourzerotwo, yosp, major nelson). I don't see the real problem, if it is a personal attached, not offensive name, I think it may even give you some more character. Like if my mail in a CV would just be kuppy@gmail.com (I'm afraid I don't have that one), so what, it is your personal mail address, if you get hired you most likely handle all contact by a new company email anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I totally see the point to try to be as professional as possible, but although videogames are mostly plain business now, they still are about creative people.

OK, but we once received a resume from an email address that was poopykitty@*****.com. There were other issues present with the applicant, but that set a pretty bad impression right off the bat. There is nickname, then there is poopykitty.

 

[Roulette]

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.

I don't see how that's rough. If the material you provide elicits a negative reaction, the first impression is not going to be a good one.

I will say that in the example given I'd probably meet both candidates, if only because limiting the interview to one person is senseless when there are two who are qualified, but there's no doubt I'd have a better initial impression of the candidate with the more professional email address.

Written applications are largely a crap filter. Typos, embellishments, poor formatting, and unprofessional wording are all tickets to the garbage bin.

A professional email address? Probably less important than the above, but here are some ranked options:

1. variantofcandidatename @ personaldomain.com etc. Great
2. nonoffensivewords @ gmail.com Fine
3. slang/meme/dumb @ whatever No

 

[element]

I know people hired as QA testers (temps) that were basically illiterate. Makes understanding bugs in the database pretty tough.

The "True Crime: New York City" QA team has to be the worst I have seen in the 8 years I spent between Activision and EA. A couple fist fights actually broke out.

Was that because they were illiterate or because they weren't English as first language. Companies are increasingly outsourcing testing to India and other countries for cheaper labor costs. This makes things additional challenging, because these people aren't gamers, they are just doing what they are told and if it works to spec.

I worked on a recent project where just the lack of cultural connection and knowledge of games made it seriously challenging to receive issues from our test team. There were countless situations of having something go through a test pass and it come back as working, and then try it and have it be totally 'busted' even though it 'worked'. Without the history or knowledge to extrapolate what is suppose to be happening vs what is happening and does it match this spec I have is a huge issue when using teams like that.