Darath Mithar

As a student just finishing Uni i've recently started wondering whether some of the stuff ive done and learnt in UO could actually mean something in the outside world, especially in the world of work.

After pondering it for a while i can genuinely say that i feel it has, and will, help me in any future jobs. The problem is, in this day and age, how would you go about discussing what you’ve achieved in a virtual online game?

To illustrate this with an example; i have been a member of BoC command for a while know. Ive had to deal with all kind of real things; admin, OOC diplomacy, mentoring etc. Some of these things i feel had put me in good stead for similar situations IRL. However i cringe with the idea of talking about some of the stuff, for example, in a job interview. Staring a sentence "I role play in an virtual world" doesn’t feel to me like you would giving the right impression. What, therefore, is the solution? Do you re-word the thing make it sound more accessible like "i have been a member of a 10 man team running an online community 150 people strong"?

It will be interesting to see what you guys think about this topic. Do you think that RP does/has helped you IRL, especially in your job? Do you think in the near future talking about achievements in a MMO like UO in a job interview will be more acceptable?

Ditriteous/Locke

I feel just about ready to get into a axemans duel now *Nods*

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Geronimo

RP doesnt help IRL...

other way around.

and no i would never say in a work interview that i rp in virtuel world. thats a game...

The experiences you say you got from RP you had before.. just didnt know about them. So in a work interview id say i got good leadership abilities. But then again.. leadership behind a computer can be alot easier than really put a foot out irl... question is do you do that as much as over a screen? (That question goes to others as well)

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callumf

Interestign question. Ill have a think on this one =)

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Aisha

You could probs say you have uber typing and mouse clicking skills from playing online games too much :P

However u will spell like dis 2 save effort.

Chaismene Volte

To take your last question first: Yes, I do think leading an online community will be "safe" to add to a CV in the near future. For now, I would evaluate the job you are applying for, and those you then will work with before you mention it during an interview. As you mention, it might sound strange to some. For others - it might be exactly what they are looking for.

If you are in a leadership role in an online community, you face the same problems and challenges that you do in RL. Because it`s the same "mass" you are working with, real people. Even if those are only avatars on your screen. No MMO is "only" a game. They are social constructs, because it`s run and played by social beings. Us.

Just look at the work put down in Wow for example, with 40 man raids several evenings a week. Leading a group of people from all over the world, with social and cultural differences and make them work towards a common goal is exactly the same experience one face in many a RL job. Having that kind of experience is valuable, and of course it matters in the long run. No question about it.


Check out the Daedelus project and read what others have said on the topic.

Jessica Nubtus

Helps with LARP?

Do I win?

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Darath Mithar

Chaismene, that link you post is very interesting. A quote that i found answered, at least in part, some of my queries:

Geronimo

Cant agree, I've seen it so many times. Might fit a 1/8 of the people tho.
People lead good in a game because they are hidden themself. When it comes to stand face to face its a totally other story. I've met many people from UO and DAoC. People that lead and/or scream at people when they do wrong. Wont lift a finger in rl - why? They cant boost it up with their rl selfesteem?

For writing being a member/leading a online community in a CV - I would never use it. Since 85% still see more negative parts of it than the positive. Like time consuming, person might day dream about the game (How many here havnt done that?) Can just line it up. But me as a Boss would lift my eyebrow if that stood in a CV i read.

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Ditriteous/Locke

I agree with Gnomy, its alot differant giving people shit and bossing them around when your hidden behind a computer screen, as there is very little in the way of repercushions, however when you do it in person theres always the risk of getting punched. <---- Speaking from personal Experiance

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Snubson

Only thing (dependant on the work place, obviously) is..getting punched isnt really..a big threat in such a place (altho..seen and been involved in such things fun ). But as gnomeys said...its a lot different hiding behind a screen and saying this that and the other, compared to face to face communication, where you have to back yourself up there and then, or at the very least, come across as though your confident enough to do so "if the occasion" arises.

Shifting from college to work and back to uni has shown me a lot of differences from those with a fair bit of works experience, viewable from peoples bodytalk, to the way they dont come forward to complete stuff on the course by themselves, or part of a group. I dont tend to go forward, nor push myself into the limelight for all to see, but I dont back down now either, compared to those who've come straight from college and sit at the back and only with a lot of egging on and pushing, will say something.

Best thing to do for any job application or interview, is the same as what you'd do (or should...) in an exam. Research into the place, what the job is, what it'll entail and how you could offer a good decent service to them. Tends to impress so much more than saying "well..theres an online community I help to organise events, rulings and so on with". If I'd ever put that upon an application...it'd have to be well below a lot of things, including "going to the pub" and "socialising outside with friends". As..most businesses will tend to go on face to face exp rather than typing..

...wall of text alert mind >.> sorry :P

cherry

following on from one of Snubson's point - if you do play up the element of being part of an online game many employers might take it you are the reclusive geek type, unable to interact socially face to face with people etc.....on a CV better to emphasise aspects of your life which highlight how capable you are in the real world and how you can be part of a team there- i dont think many people who havent played an online game would realise that you can be exactly this virtually and have a circle of friends online that can be as significant as those in reality.

interesting question though

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Chaismene Volte

Of course theres a lot more to leading in RL then what you get in an online community. I take that as a given. Nor is leading in the year 2007 much about "bossing" people around. If you do that, you will not survive long in any position. At the core though, the experience of leading even in an online community is very much alike what you face in RL. If you read some of the statements in the link to Daedelus project, there are people there talking about increasing their self esteem and self confidence, discovering new sides of their personality and then exploring those further in RL.

I am not talking about online communities as a way to fully educate yourself, but rather a learning experience you would not otherwise have. Daedelus project is an interesting read, as it explores different sociological impacts our online gaming has.

As for the CV, yes - I would still be weary putting it on display. But looking at the development, I think such an experience will be valued in the future. Some say that as much as 70% of the future`s jobs have not yet been created. If we just look back a few years we can see the same pattern: Back in 1991 Berners-Lee and team came with the first ever web browser, making the net open to "every man". Now some years later we see that many new professions have developed that was unthinkable in 1989.

The youngest of you lot will in the future have jobs that we do not know the name of now. In such a scenario having experience leading an online community will have a whole different value...

callumf

Good posts all round!

My first observation would be - if you put it on your CV you have to be able to eloquently discuss it in perhaps a lot of detail and maybe even show the prospective employer a website and or forum. That could be a good or a bad thing =)

More thoughts to come as I have them!

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