Hiring Young People....

If you were hiring for Entry Level Jobs, in a Tech environment, How would like the applicants to answer this question? “ How do you spend your leasure time? “ How would you evaluate their answer, if they said, “ Video Games”....

 

I'd like to know they had other interests to go with the tech talent. Methinks playing 'puter games isn't going to win me over.

 

If they said "creating video games" I would probably rate them higher than "playing video games"

 

If they said, "I write code for my gun forum", I'd hire them on the spot!

 

I think this is an age gap thing.... and maybe just an odd interview question. Most folks in Tech related jobs have or are currently involved in gaming to some degree. I am working on a new electrical/data project for a company right now, that's number one concern is how their virtual reality lab comes out.

I like video games, my X-box gets used often when I want to disconnect from reality and relax for a bit. I am "almost" 50 and see nothing wrong with playing games as a hobby. I have been screwing around with console and PC games since Atari.. I kicked the shit out of Frogger.

Asking about their off time hobbies is no interest to me, I never go that personal when I interview (I interview folks often). I am more concerned about how they tick (think), work experience, work habits, goals and aspirations. If a 20, 30 or whatever something said in casual conversation during the interview that they liked video games, I would not bat an eye.....I give a shit. I drive a pretty hard line with my personnel and rarely get into their personal stuff, unless they want to vent or talk about an issue.

I am currently Level 28 on Survival mode with Fallout 4..... that is an interest of mine and if I hear someone talking about FF4, Civ or similar games, I listen.

 

What would be wrong with that, especially if they have video to share........

 

I actually have a tech that is a lead guitarist in a hard rock band. He is one of my best guys and is a real pusher to his crew.

 

what RH/RG DR Sea YD said

plus Moto Bandit VT plus all yall have made gud points

BT plus GH yall are right to be apprehensive n

some gamers have exceptional skills that sometimes help in the real world, others do not .. depends on the individual ..

In Tech if yer not a gamer or former gamer there might be something seriously about ya, n that might be a warning sign

certain types of games might be a warning sign n might need to be factored into hiring decisions ..

if they answer that question in the affirmative there are dozens of follow up questions that ya should ask or ya should get a gamer to ask em a yuuuuuuuge number of questions ..

ya should also polygraph em n tell em 'show me' .. in some states that might get ya sued ..

.mil is usin games n simulators extensively plus they are sponsoring certain games, they have determined there is value in games n sims ..

 

I was once asked if I ever lost money on a project. I answered that I had..... he then wanted details, what I learned and so on.
After the interview he asked if I had any questions. I went back to this one and asked how my response was. He said that if you had never lost money on a project, you were either lying or had not been in the trade long enough.

 

plus ya gotta test em for illegal drugs .. not once n not twice ..

that applies to all applicants from zero to 120 years old