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Monthly Archives: July 2008

Into the Breach

I went to Bay Area Gaming Studio this morning to sign my offer letter and complete other paperwork. Same as the day of my interview, I waited in a lobby with a couple other anxious people, no longer candidates but new hires. Another immaculate HR person hands us each a thick packet of documents, to [...]

What’s your Greatest Weakness?, Pt. 2

Additionally, interviewers: I don’t see the advantage of putting the spotlight on your candidate’s major flaws: What if an 18th century Marshall of France looked at a Corsican cadet’s diminutive stature and said, “Je suis desolé, Napoleon, but you just don’t command the presence of an officer.” Benjamin Franklin was reported to be a robust [...]

What’s Your Greatest Weakness?

I’ve been thinking a lot about interviews lately, and inevitably about classic questions. It’s pretty presumptuous to ask a stranger about their great weaknesses. I’d just as rather brush the question aside with a curt and innocuous response. Here are Jig’s Top 10 ways to curtail this annoying question. 10. I’m terrified of bugs. Arthropods, [...]

Quick Delicious (and Vegan!) Banana Bread

I stumbled upon a brilliant muffin recipe at Tiny Vegan Kitchen. UPDATE – You must, and I mean absolutely must watch this batch in the oven. Don’t go anywhere. Don’t go to the toilet, check the mailbox, or play Tomb Raider with the egg timer widget ticking on your laptop. Because this recipe employs such [...]

Clinched the Play

HR called me back: I have an offer! Bay Area Gaming Studio thinks I’m a promising game tester, apparently. Yay for me! I’m on the train bound for Prism Enterprise. I get to tell the guys there that I made the cut.

My First Tech Interview

I have never felt excited about an interview before. To prepare, I sought advice from several engineering friends, and selected an interesting outfit: my vintage silk happi over a summer dress and my Daria boots. A little class, a little hip, a little edgy, but no skin. No stupid man-trousers for me – heavens no. [...]

Heeeey. Wazza-mah-dah you!

I’m riding home in the dark tonight, all done up in lights like a rolling Christmas tree. A white Corolla passes on my left, then shortly after turns across my path to parallel park on the right side of the road. On the approach, it was uncertain if he meant to make a Y-turn, which [...]

They like me? They really, really like me?

Crazytown! I emailed a covered resume to Bay Area Game Studio on Sunday afternoon. I got a call from their HR rep at 10 o’clock Monday morning. They want to arrange an interview in a couple days. Wicked Sweet! This is already universes better than retail courtship.

How do you get the Best Job Ever?

My frequent visits to Prism Enterprise has got me interested in finding work in game testing. Been scouring Gamasutra for Bay Area gaming companies. I didn’t realize how many are seated nearby: Eidos, EA, Ubisoft, LucasArts, and Crystal Dynamics. I will contact some of these companies this weekend.

Intersection Drama

I was idling in my pedals at the intersection of Fremont and Mary, when my wandering thoughts were interrupted by a loud blaring noise. Someone is sounding their horn in the car directly behind me. My eyes shot up to the traffic signal, which was still red. There was the horn again — not a [...]