Employers screening World of Warcraft players?


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I know 3 well paid, well respected and high-up people within my workplace who have in the last year called in sick to play WOW.

Now compare that to the n'th amount of people who called in after a heavy night on the tiles.

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And employeers are usually interested to know if the peopel they hire are heavy party goers, and will usually ask on interviews.

Either way those peopel are easy to spot. if you don't grow up fast and learn not to drop mondays or your other favourate drinking days when you are working and frequently drop work. then you won't be workign there for long and the next guy to hire you will probably find out your a partu bum from your last employer.

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On the original topic, They shouldn't even know their employee's play WoW anyhow. This also sounds frighteningly similar to racism. Don't companies that pull that stunt normally get Owned? Only difference is that instead of Blacks not getting jobs, its people that like to play MMO's in their spare time.

I welcome you to Neowin, but trying to classify your game addiction to a race is not the best way to start. Not allowing someone to work somewhere because of the color of their skin and not allowing someone to work somewhere because of an addiction is a completely different thing.

Having gone through a slight drug addiction, I know how angering it can be for people to be pushed away because of their habits...but at some point, you have to take control of your own life, regardless of what your problem is. It is your duty to take care of your life, not your employers.

And it's not WOW per-say, but the personality type of these people who get addicted. It is a serious problem, and I agree completely with not wanting to hire them. I played WOW for about 3 days, found it to be extremely boring and went back to normalcy. I can see how it could be addictive though to certain people.

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And it's not WOW per-say, but the personality type of these people who get addicted. It is a serious problem, and I agree completely with not wanting to hire them. I played WOW for about 3 days, found it to be extremely boring and went back to normalcy. I can see how it could be addictive though to certain people.

First of all, what does that even mean: "...went back to normalcy."? You open that paragraph saying it is not the game but the personality of the player, yet you then refer to it as some abnormal activity.

I'm new to WoW, about 3 weeks in, but I wouldn't care if my employer knew I played. I work in an ICU and I know of 3 other people directly who play a good amount of time. It can be an addiction if you let it. I know I go to work, as well as these 3 other folks, and we focus on work - we aren't in an environment where slip-ups can happen.

I have fun playing the game - that's all it is.

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lol this thread is the funneh!

I have two kids and just this year (while playing ALOT of WoW) I got a promotion at work (Noice) got Married in July (again...Noice!) and 2 weeks ago bought my first house. It is addictive but you just gotta know where your priorities lie...and its not with your /played time lol

Wow players are stereotyped as much as the next person.

I'm in a similar situation. Recently married, first baby on the way, just bought a brand new house. What you said about priorities is spot-on.

As far as the stereo-typing of WoW players: it's an extreme. People think you either are casual or you give your life to it.

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I'm in a similar situation. Recently married, first baby on the way, just bought a brand new house. What you said about priorities is spot-on.

As far as the stereo-typing of WoW players: it's an extreme. People think you either are casual or you give your life to it.

+1 The people who have self-control, and know it is and isn't playtime are the ones who still manage to succeed. There are others who simply sit on their azz all day playing WoW are endangering their health and their future. Being in college, its not hard to find WoW players. My roommate stays up late couple times a week playing WoW, yet still manages a 3.9 GPA very well. Then, there is my other friend's roommate who sits in front of the computer all day literally drinking cans of mountain dew and eat fatty snacks, and you never see him doing much else (oh and he dropped out after freshman year). So, as far as stereotyping goes, its certainly addicting. But to what extent it affects one's life is solely dependent on how well they can handle themselves.

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I welcome you to Neowin, but trying to classify your game addiction to a race is not the best way to start. Not allowing someone to work somewhere because of the color of their skin and not allowing someone to work somewhere because of an addiction is a completely different thing.

Having gone through a slight drug addiction, I know how angering it can be for people to be pushed away because of their habits...but at some point, you have to take control of your own life, regardless of what your problem is. It is your duty to take care of your life, not your employers.

And it's not WOW per-say, but the personality type of these people who get addicted. It is a serious problem, and I agree completely with not wanting to hire them. I played WOW for about 3 days, found it to be extremely boring and went back to normalcy. I can see how it could be addictive though to certain people.

fair enough point, Lets try a new one then, What would happen if I told my recruiters not to hire anyone that has or has done any smoking or drinking regardless of whether its at work?

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fair enough point, Lets try a new one then, What would happen if I told my recruiters not to hire anyone that has or has done any smoking or drinking regardless of whether its at work?

Well again, an employer has the right to choose against people who smoke or drink just the same way with WoW players. However, I do think smoking or drinking is more of a social norm than playing WoW, so it's less likely to be an issue as long its only remains a light activity. It once again comes back to the point about who can handle themselves better than others.

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Its beyond messed up i can see it now "Man fired from microsoft cause he owns playstation and wii." Bah. Games should *not* affect your ability to get or keep a job. period. When it starts to this world is messed up... oh wait.

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lol. Thought MVC's were people who didn't bother with stupid ignorant comments. And could be respected. Guess not.

Your talking about how hiring a WoW player is bad news, when you admit to taking drugs, at that "hardcore" drugs "casually" and your saying a WoW player is a worse person to hire than yourself? Then discuss how you can beat drug tests to keep up this "habit", yet you claim your not addicted to it, but you know how to get away with it pretty well.

WoW players = stereotype just like black people = love watermelons. Never 100% true, and the person stating it is an ignorant mother ****er.

butthurt WoW player detected

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Just don't mention world of warcraft in a job interview it's that easy, and to the people that are comparing it to racial stereotyping..seriously? There is always going to be ignorant people around but just deal with it, especially if it's something minor like this.

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I used to play WoW, I stopped as soon as I started working full time just because I didn't have any time left to myself. :p

I think I would like to still play it, casual as before; but I wouldn't let many people know that I played it - it's a geek thing in my opinion. :D

Unfortunately for me, it was just down to the lack of time and realizing how much time I had spent on it; it's addictive yes but anyone can quit as it's only a game at the end of the day.

I can see it from an employer's point of view, but not everyone is "hardcore" so I cannot see the 50% (or whatever) of casual players having lack of sleep/concentration from the game.

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I used to play WoW, I stopped as soon as I started working full time just because I didn't have any time left to myself. :p

I think I would like to still play it, casual as before; but I wouldn't let many people know that I played it - it's a geek thing in my opinion. :D

Unfortunately for me, it was just down to the lack of time and realizing how much time I had spent on it; it's addictive yes but anyone can quit as it's only a game at the end of the day.

I can see it from an employer's point of view, but not everyone is "hardcore" so I cannot see the 50% (or whatever) of casual players having lack of sleep/concentration from the game.

And those people won't feel the need to voice what they do in their spare time. We all like to drink, but very few of us walk around telling everybody about how drunk we get on our offtime, or how much weed we smoke, or even how our dance classes are going. Anybody that is in love enough with WoW to put it on their resume, or that can't think of anything else to talk about when they're around other people, isn't serious enough about themselves to consider IMHO. And that goes for drinking, smoking, or any other behavior.

The thing about WoW is that in many jobs the empoyee will have access to an internet enabled computer and they dont need to be on the wow website/forums, their guild website, etc. Lets face it... MOST people who would like to tell you about their lvl80 Death Knight's uber DPS in Battlegrounds are distracted, and an employer is saving themselves time and money by not hiring them.

Right or wrong it's real, and valid (IMHO).

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First of all, what does that even mean: "...went back to normalcy."?

Sorry, wrong choice of words. By normalcy, I went back to my life pre-WOW. Didn't make that clear enough.

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I think it's unfair to assume that all World of Warcraft players have some sort of addiction to the game. Sure, there are players out there that spend hours upon hours racking up experience points and whatnot but there are casual players out there. To ignore those players is just plain ignorance. And this is coming from someone who used to hate World of Warcraft with a passion. Nowadays, I play for an hour or so a night with my friends. Personally, I can't stand playing alone as I get bored quickly. Anyway, I don't understand how a game can take over someone's life and I'm glad it hasn't taken control of mine. I guess I'm "one of the lucky ones".

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It depends of you own personality.

I have been playing for 4+ years now and at one time was in a hardcore raiding guild. Now I just play casual when I'm at home in the evening, just to pass time and have fun. Why I stopped being a hardcore raider? Less time, more focus on real life and boredom with the game.

Those articles about it gives you jobskills etc are a load of crap. Managing a guild is not going to give you management skills, at best it gives you how to lead a classroom skills. As I've been in a hardcore guild I don't see how managing it is any different than for example manage your hobbyclub or anything else. It surely is not going to help you in an enterprise where there is a lot more politics and money involved, not to mention what job position you have and what your reach is.

Maybe some people are convinced that it will help them but I think they're in for a little surprise.

Anyways, why would you even talk about games to your employer. People at work know my hobbies but they don't know how much time I spend on them. It's personal, I don't need anyone else besides my friends knowing what I do outside worktime.

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The whole thing is lol.

In the work place:

Tom: "I hear Brian spends his free time playing a video game!"

Mark: "No ****? Dude, I'm totally getting that promotion instead of him!"

Tom: "Right on buddy!"

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though its kinda ennoying,they're right, i'd be playing with my laptop at work all day long if i could :) (if i had a job, seems 14 year olds aren't allowed to work in mines anymore )

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Im a hardcore wow player and I have 2 jobs. Plus im married. I lack some sleep because of the 2nd job. But the wife doen't like me playing "video games since its for kids". I watch Naruto and Bleach, and still its "its not your age to watch these kind of stuffs". Im free on sundays, and I send lots of time cleaning up the my 2 gardens, now Im a grown up person.

I admit WoW is addictive. Im addicted to it, but since I care for my job, I play only when I dont have anything to do.

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The point at which you should get concerned, is when your gaming life starts bleeding into your work/personal life, and it starts affecting it in a negative way. What if you become sleep deprived, it will start affecting your performance, your well being and quite possibly your state of mind.

Employers have to watch out for this, because as many of you know, playing an MMO is a lot different from playing something like a shooter. With MMOs many players feel the need to obtain the best feats first, to get ahead of their friends. If they are in guilds, they have to organise group events which often leaves them playing at stupid-o-clock in the morning. It will affect you, and out of the 11 million people playing WoW, how many do you reckon can safely say they can turn it off if they wanted to. IMO, you'd be quite shocked.

So now look at it from the employer's perspective. If your in the process of hiring new staff, and you have to decide between two people (for arguments sake, they are equal skillbase), one plays WoW, one doesn't, which one are you likely to hire considering the above comments?

Oh and for Slane, if you can't take a comment in the light in which it was spoken, I would't bother replying. And this has nothing to do with MVCs. MVCs earn the right to be highlighted in the community for contributions the commit. Thats not the be-all end-all of what an MVC/person is into, so if I also have comments on a particular topic, I will express them. I haven't insulted anybody, so why insult me?

/endrant

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Loving the demonizing of wow players. What makes them different to anyone in a FPS Clan or whom plays MMO`s? I play wow , Im in one of my servers top guilds having made a few reaslm firsts etc. I also work in IT. 8hr days 5 days a week and Im a reliable trusted employee.

Yes Im a wow addict but I see it as a hobby something to do in my down time. Not something to obsess over. Its not the game these people become addicted to in many cases its the social interaction, or feeling of accomplishment and worth they get from completing tasks.

I think if your intelligent enuff you can pretty much manage your time accordingly and still enjoy a normal life, just cause you play wow doesnt make you an outcast in the real world. Most folk here play computer games and watch TV in the evenings / days off. So why cant wow players use that time?

Id also argue that not employing someone cause they play wow is discrimination as theres no proven link that playing wow will destroy your career or make you any less productive than the next person.

Oh and the idea of being sleep deprived, well I get 8hrs a night and raid 3-4hrs night 3-4days a week and have done so for 3yrs now and Im prefectly fit

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I think it's unfair to assume that all World of Warcraft players have some sort of addiction to the game. Sure, there are players out there that spend hours upon hours racking up experience points and whatnot but there are casual players out there. To ignore those players is just plain ignorance. And this is coming from someone who used to hate World of Warcraft with a passion. Nowadays, I play for an hour or so a night with my friends. Personally, I can't stand playing alone as I get bored quickly. Anyway, I don't understand how a game can take over someone's life and I'm glad it hasn't taken control of mine. I guess I'm "one of the lucky ones".

Casual players aren't the ones that in the job interview or on their CV go

"And I've got plenty of experience working in teams from radis with my WoW guild, I've also got team leadership experience from being part of the guild leaders and leading several of the raids. I'm also really good at math and goal oriented as proen my by perfectly tweaked Orc character"

Casual players they just play the game every now and then, they don't talk abotu it at every opportunity or any outside of the game itself.

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hihi

I'm here for the gold reward, but lets be quick I have a raid in 20min, lets PWN this! Here are my specs. Like? What? Careful nOOb, you're in my Chuck Norris roundhouse kick range. Do I have experience? Check my armory plz. Gear yes?...wha..what is a tie? Festival item? I don't know about that one. I'll thottbot it. Am I prepared? YOU are not PREPARED!

*things go downhill from there....proceeds to kill boss for loot*

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hihi

I'm here for the gold reward, but lets be quick I have a raid in 20min, lets PWN this! Here are my specs. Like? What? Careful nOOb, you're in my Chuck Norris roundhouse kick range. Do I have experience? Check my armory plz. Gear yes?...wha..what is a tie? Festival item? I don't know about that one. I'll thottbot it. Am I prepared? YOU are not PREPARED!

*things go downhill from there....proceeds to kill boss for loot*

... I concur.

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Ive seen roommates drop School b/c of WOW and these days employers can do background checks on just about anything like Facebook. So its no surprise to me that WOW is now one of those checks

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