Will you tell future employers that you are a gamer?

[Wong Heung Wing]

In job interviews, when future employers ask you what you do during your leisure time, would you tell them honestly that you are a gamer and kill some zombies once in a while?

Are gamers stereotyped / discriminated in your cities?

[Spawn of Totoro]

I have never been asked that question in an interview. It has always been kept job related. Not sure if they can even ask that question in the USA. They are only allowed to ask non-personnel, job related questions. Legaly they can't ask if you have plans to have any children soon, if you have any handicaps (unless they will effect the job, and they can't refuse to hire you because of it).

[BigKahuna]

Postat inițial de wongheungwing:

In job interviews, when future employers ask you what you do during your leisure time, would you tell them honestly that you are a gamer and kill some zombies once in a while?

Are gamers stereotyped / discriminated in your cities?

Really? Never heard of this, whats next? Who cares if your a gamer as long as you get your A$$ out of bed & off computer and you get to your job and perform, why would it matter?

Being a gamer or stereotyped as one would be better than labeled something else less desirable anyway.

[Dreakon13]

I was asked at the interview for my current job, mostly because I mentioned being able to assemble/disassemble computers on my resume. He asked why I built computers, for games? And said yes, of course, and rattled off a few of the more well-known titles in my repertoire.

Having a general knowledge of computers helps when looking for a software developer position, and some of the people I work with now happen to enjoy a video game or two. :-]

I probably wouldn't mention it if he hadn't brought it up though.

[Ailes]

Postat inițial de wongheungwing:

In job interviews, when future employers ask you what you do during your leisure time, would you tell them honestly that you are a gamer and kill some zombies once in a while?

Are gamers stereotyped / discriminated in your cities?

I have never told them and will never do so unless I am applying for jobs in the gaming industry. It's frowned upon, regardless of how much tolerancy our hypocritical society is faking. I am thinking about not mentioning any of my interests at all in the future, because it should not matter to any future employers what I do with my spare time. I don't know if I'll be able to handle this to the end though since they usually ask you about this stuff when you are in an interview, and it's probably hard to pick an answer that's not gonna sound in their head like "None of your business, ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥".

[Jade]

We actually talked about kittens in my last job interview (best interview I have ever had). The topic of freetime or videogames has never really come up.

I don't know if I would hone up to it if asked. I would at least downplay it a little (I play way too much games).

[Dreakon13]

Postat inițial de Enoah:

I have never told them and will never do so unless I am applying for jobs in the gaming industry. It's frowned upon, regardless of how much tolerancy our hypocritical society is faking. I am thinking about not mentioning any of my interests at all in the future, because it should not matter to any future employers what I do with my spare time. I don't know if I'll be able to handle this to the end though since they usually ask you about this stuff when you are in an interview, and it's probably hard to pick an answer that's not gonna sound in their head like "None of your business, ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥".

You can generally get a vibe of how "professional" an interview is going to be from the person interviewing you. I've had no nonsense interviews (regardless of how casual they wanted to make it seem) where it was strictly business and I've had really laid back ones where we actually had a little chat between questions about computers and video games.

Unless you're really desperate for work and need to take the first opportunity that comes your way, the best you can do is be yourself. If they don't ask, don't say anything about it. If they do, don't be afraid to tell the truth. I mean, don't say "Yeah! I broke the the record for number of hours playing World of Warcraft in one sitting! It was wicked!" ... but you are who you are, and you like what you like. Not holding back details, while still being professional about it, is a sign of a good communicator.

If it's for a computer-oriented position, you can probably work some PC knowledge into the ol' resume (which would be true since we PC gamers tend to learn a thing or two over time, especially if you built your own computer) and it may even give you an edge over other applicants.

[Mivo]

I got my first job over twenty years ago because I had been a gamer for years already. ;)

It obviously depends on the field, but I think few recruiters would see it as a negative if someone, for example, played strategy games (analytical thinking), RPGs (imagination), sandbox titles (creativity) or even MMOs (some kind of social skills), though MMO gamers typically do suffer from plenty of stereotypes, not all of them undeserved.

But plainly put, I would never (want to) work for someone who objects to how I spend my recreation time or makes it any of their business. As someone who does hire people, I would always prefer an enthusiastic gamer who is excited about new tech, new trends, new fun stuff over someone who frequently drinks themselves into oblivion, flutters from party to party or knows more about car engines than CPUs. But I am not hiring mechanics, waiters or fitness studio personnel, either, so, we are back at the start: it depends on the field.

[Ailes]

I was told by some industrial professionals that MMOGs are a bad thing to come up with in the gaming industry (unless you are applying for a job with focus on such games, I suppose). They eat up your time like hell and you miss out on other good games you might get some design ideas from.

Not wanting to work for people who judge you easily by things that should not concern them is kind of a noble thing, but in many cases it will vanish when it comes to the hard fact that you've got to earn your living somehow.

[Satoru]

I only told my boss because he told me he plays so much Halo.

As with the cops, dont' give out information unless asked for it.

[APerfectCircle]

At my work they try to bully us into doing overtime, and sometimes even go through each person and expect a reason why we can't, which they try to counter. They were less than inpressed when my friend said he had TF2 matches on, 3 nights a week. Yeah my bosses are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Postat inițial de Gobbles:

At my work they try to bully us into doing overtime, and sometimes even go through each person and expect a reason why we can't, which they try to counter. They were less than inpressed when my friend said he had TF2 matches on, 3 nights a week. Yeah my bosses are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

That sounds like a bad company. Everyone should form a union.

[Adriana]

I never had been asked about my hobbies on a job interview, but when we talk about what we like to do in our free time in the office (I'm a lawyer), I'm not afraid to say that I like to play games, some people - usually men - think it's cool, some of them play too, others think it's weird.

The last time that someone made fun of me because of my hobby, I've just asked her to play Hearts of Iron 2, she didn't know what to do. Then I made fun of her because she knows nothing about World War II and the only thing that she reads are gossip magazines.

[LoTekRabbit]

Postat inițial de Gobbles:

They were less than inpressed when my friend said he had TF2 matches on, 3 nights a week. Yeah my bosses are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

No offense to your friend, but if I was his/her boss and they told me they can't do overtime because they have to play a video game I'd be pretty damn annoyed as well.

[Mivo]

Postat inițial de TenClub:

No offense to your friend, but if I was his/her boss and they told me they can't do overtime because they have to play a video game I'd be pretty damn annoyed as well.

You'd rather they lied and said they have a family situation to attend?

[LoTekRabbit]

Postat inițial de Mivo:

Postat inițial de TenClub:

No offense to your friend, but if I was his/her boss and they told me they can't do overtime because they have to play a video game I'd be pretty damn annoyed as well.

You'd rather they lied and said they have a family situation to attend?

What do you think sounds better?

Scenario 1

Boss: I need you to work overtime
Worker: Sorry I'm playing video games tonight
Boss: ........

Scenario 2

Boss: I need you to work overtime
Worker: Sorry I have a family situation I need to attend to
Boss: Ok

Yes, a lie in this scenario is the better option. Telling your boss you can't work because "video games bro" makes you sound lazy and tells your boss that you don't care about your job. If I was looking to promote someone or give a raise that person would be pretty low on the list.