Gnomes Need Not Apply: Employers Screening WoW Players?
When this odd bit fell across my desk I had a brief flash of panic that I'd never get another job again. It suggests that some employers go out of their way to avoid World of Warcraft gamers; witness the tale of a F13 poster citing a recruiter whose advice was to avoid all things WoW, saying that employers think a WoW player is too sleep-deprived, irregular in schedule, and too focused on Warcraft to be a productive employee:
I met with a recruiter recently (online media industry) and in conversation I happened to mention I'd spent way too much time in the early 2000s playing online games, which I described as "the ones before World of Warcraft" (I went nuts for EQ1, SWG and the start of WoW, but since 2006 I have only put a handful of days into MMOG playing - as opposed to discussing them - I've obsessed over bicycles and cycling instead).He replied that employers specifically instruct him not to send them World of Warcraft players. He said there is a belief that WoW players cannot give 100% because their focus is elsewhere, their sleeping patterns are often not great, etc. I mentioned that some people have written about MMOG leadership experience as a career positive or a way to learn project management skills, and he shook his head. He has been specifically asked to avoid WoW players.
This is hardly an official statement by any company or industry, but it's also not surprising to anyone who's played WoW for any length of time or, especially, worked with a WoW player who's more interested in getting the week off for Blizzcon than landing a big bonus.
Have any of you ever been discriminated against in the workplace for being a World of Warcraft player? Conversely, (and vastly more important) has anyone been discriminated against in WoW for prioritizing work above Warcraft? I know I have!
Employers screening World of Warcraft players? [GamesIndustry.biz]
tiny dancer
Posted to Miscellany, Video Games on 17 December 2008
· Comments (10)
Other stuff like this: employers, need not apply, wow
How would this even be enforced though? I've never applied for a job and seen a spot on the application for "Favorite Video Games" nor has it come up in an interview. There's also nothing to stop people from lying since there isn't any good way to prove it one way or another anyway. People get away with lying about way bigger things than that on a resume so I don't know why they wouldn't just lie about playing "WOW."
To be honest, those don't sound like any employers that I would want to work for, if they base their hiring practices on such over-the-top stereotypes; I can't help but think that there's a good chance that they also subscribe to antiquated racial and sexually-oriented stereotypes, as well.
Potential employees should be fairly assessed on a case-by-case basis. And if turnover is such a problem in their companies, then perhaps they should be looking at more important (not to mention, accurate) factors like workplace environment quality, pay rates and benefits, etc., than employees' recreational activities.
I am tempted to call this B.S., especially since it was so vague with the details. Seems to be something just to stir people up and cause a reaction.
While it's not something included in any anti-discrimination language, telling professionals that they are worth less because of a gaming hobby is right out silly.
Maybe the recruiter was for Wal-Mart or some retail outlet that believes that any American employee gives 100% (except for passionate people or workaholics).
If you are obsessed enough with he game to mention it then its an issue.
That's how I would see it. Video Games would cover it. Why go into more detail unless it has more of a meaning then just another game?
This seems like a way to avoid many "sickies" every time a patch or expansions come out. Your job isn't a hobby.
I have to admit I've been guilty of this myself. I was interviewing a programmer who just didn't seem right. Nothing out of the ordinary, but nothing that made me want to work with him either. After the interview finished, I couldnt' decide either way, so I ran out to the carpark and asked him if he had any hobbies. He said warcraft, I said, oh! I play too. what you play?
Nelf warrior. I said thanks, cya.
At another job, a guy said undead warlock and I was totally for it. I see that this is a destructive, wowist tendancy now that I'm a bit older, but makes me think there's more to it than some employers are letting on. what would you do if you found out someone was actually on a role-playing server every night?
The closest I have encountered to WOW discrimination at work was when the other people at my store that play found out I played Horde. :)
Given that I list my alpha testing voluntary work on my resume, this is pretty fucked up.
I mean, the basis of this is what? A stereotype? I thought typecasting employees was frowned upon. I mean, aren't employers meant to recruit based on skills and experience?
Got to be honest, the picture's pretty accurate on this. What next, don't want to hire blacks because they're 'lazy' too? Shit man, this is whacked.
Not hiring someone because they play WoW is pretty messed up. I play WoW and I'm not obsessed with it. I'll play it like, perhaps maybe for a hour, five days out of the week. If they think that all WoW players are obsessed, then they might as well not hire gamers in general. It's bad enough that some people don't hire because of the persons sex or orientation, now people aren't getting hired for their hobbies? That's just plain messed up.
here here. i hate going out with friends and just hearing wow jabber for half the night. although if they all were on unemployment, i'm sure they'd just love the chance to play more... ;p
although, i used to work at a call center and the day after halo 3 was released about half the employees called in sick. ;)
I've been left short at work before over WoW, and my roommate was actually fired from one job for missing days because he'd oversleep because he was up all night on that stupid game.
Just one more reason I'm glad I don't, and will never, play that money pit.