Listing Games as a Hobby
- Thread starter Kosmiche
- Start date
just claim it as being a team player who works well under stress
they arent looking at the hobbies section of his CV to just see how he will perform at work , hopefully he has already shown them this in his work experience and education sections. they IMO are looking to see what type of person he is and how he will fit into the company. eg i once got a job because my future boss was interested in bikes and so was i.
Soldato
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On the other hand, some employers' trains of thought will go like this.
Bikes > danger > hospital > time off work > rejection
for sure! it goes either way. for example the team at work that OP is going to be put into might all hate computer games or they might all be into them. id expect in a computer technician role the odds are in his favour though!
better to be yourself than to have an empty list of hobbies and look boring !
better to be yourself than to have an empty list of hobbies and look boring !
I currently have it as a interest/hobby on my CV will take it out when I get a bit older and have more to put on my CV in the first place. I was also asked by my placement year boss last year what games I play in the interview. I got the job and proceded to win at COD during our "extended" lunch breaks for a year, its all luck of the draw with who is interviewing you / reading the CV. Keep it in i say!
I don't write it personally as some people will be prejudice against people who play lots of computer games and wouldn't ever dare mention wow or raiding because of this.
You must have other hobbies that are more interesting or not.
You must have other hobbies that are more interesting or not.
Associate
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I wouldn't ever put "gamer" or "computer games" as a hobby on a CV or application form. You have to remember, to the masses in society, "gaming" is sad and those who actively do it are best avoided.
The only time I have ever stated an interest in video games on an app form is when I took up a part time post as an assistant store manager at Pink Planet (games exchange). Then, I'm sure, it played in my favour.
All other times... nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
The only time I have ever stated an interest in video games on an app form is when I took up a part time post as an assistant store manager at Pink Planet (games exchange). Then, I'm sure, it played in my favour.
All other times... nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Playing computer games is plenty interesting, and if people are going to be that prejudiced against them as to potentially avoid giving you the job, then do you really want to work with them?
People put down that they're interested in "films" all the time. I bet if you asked half the people saying that you'd find they watched 3 romcoms or crap action films a year and that would be it.
Anything you can talk about is good, and it's worth giving the interviewer plenty of options for things to ask you about. Put down games by all means, because one day you'll run into an interviewer who is into them as well and you'll be in there. Yes, put down other things too, but don't hold off putting down games.
This Side Up said:
It's not 1995 any more.
Associate
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You are quite correct, sir. Alas, some companies are run by the older generation, the very same generation who held such negative views regarding gamers. Some of these dinosaurs haven't changed their views.
Even the current generation, few of them are 'gamers' in the traditional computer gaming sense. In fact, few are casual gamers at all. They much prefer random sex0r and knifing grannies in the park for their pensions etc.
/edit to add: I guess I'm trying to say: even though gaming is more "acceptible" than it was in 199x, there is still a LARGE element of those who still view gaming negatively. I wouldn't mention gaming as a hobby/interest and if I did, I'd ensure that I had other, more out-doorsy, more social-orientated hobbies (e.g. face-to-face, not on-line) listed as well, else they MAY look at that negatively, e.g. if gaming was your only interest etc.
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Well depends really but if I saw an application stating plays games I would think so what - same if saw read books - if I saw reads history books and say science books to further my knowledge of the world etc then I would think ok - if I saw play games run a guild of 200 people including running the website etc then I would think ok etc. Said earlier but if it does not add to your CV leave it out - but if what you do improves you as a prospective employee put it in.
That's exactly why you shouldn't include it, they will assume you'll be up all night playing games and not fit for work in the morning.
In fact I think American companies already discriminate on this (read it somewhere).
I'd only put down hobbies that have obvious transferable skills, I wouldn't say computer games fulfilled that criteria.
Not my line of work by any means, but I would certainly find it odd if someone put down computer games. It's like saying watching films. Exercise or playing a musical instrument, for example, sound infinitely better.
Not my line of work by any means, but I would certainly find it odd if someone put down computer games. It's like saying watching films. Exercise or playing a musical instrument, for example, sound infinitely better.
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What does he need to do in order to join the professional ranks?
Its completely subjective isnt it like previously posted... If someone wrote on a CV "I raid lead in a MMO for 20h a week and we have cleared all the big dungeons," id read that better than "I like to read and go fishing."
Depends on the job - the OP stated he was going for a job entitled 'Computer Software Technician' I can't see it being a negative there.
Conversely if you're applying for a sales job then...
FWIW at my previous employer (proprietary trading firm) an interest in computer games and poker were both seen as positives on CVs when hiring traders.