Hiring Young People....

Who gives a flip? Is it a "how popular with me are you" position, or a "how well can you perform your job" position? I grill my potentials on knowledge base and general demeanor with customers.

 

My son is a gamer. But while he is gaming he is also streaming youtube and listening to documentaries or something. He absorbs info like a sponge. Also because he is a gamer, he understands computers and systems.

 

Most of the young guys I've hired are all gamers to a certain degree. Many older guys are too they just don't talk about it as much. I'm not and never have been. Just not my gig. I'd rather build stuff with my hands. The only time I used job applications was when I was looking for office help. As far as the shop hands go, the interview was FtF with a weld/fit/print test right there in my shop. I looked at what they drove up in, how they were dressed, how they spoke, how comfortable they were setting up for and during the test. I made my decision on the above.
I personally don't give a crap what they do in their off time as long as they show up on time, sober and ready to hit it.

 

I've got Maxis SimCity on 5 1/4 .. does that count?

 

Gamer... Does Atari 2600 count, and I really enjoyed MS Flight Simulator, or drinking in a bar playing Pac Man, or Space Invaders...
Life is a game, if you don't play it right, you get out quick, and there are no do-overs.

Rancher

 

To you it may seem as though he understands them, but trust me a gamer's understanding of the machine itself is typically superficial. Even building a PC these days is only slightly more difficult than playing with Lego.They know the buzzwords, how to overclock, how to join video cards to increase the speed and detail of the game, but how many know what a register is or how the work? What about the program counter or ALU? How do they work together to make the magic happen? Could they build a simple interface to a port using a breadboard and a handful of parts to,say turn an LED on or off? How about something as basic as knowing what 0d0a hex is without having to look it up? Driving a Ferrari does not in and of itself give you an in depth understanding of its design.

What your son does have going for him is a mother who understands the job of a parent, the ability to focus his concentration, as well as to multitask. Using YouTube for knowledge as opposed to entertainment also bodes well.

 

The most money i ever made in a year was made playing Eve online and selling in-game currency, items and characters on ebay.....

 

I think the stigma of playing computer games is fading fast. Let's face it, the gaming industry has come a long way. I have been in the computer industry, in one form or another, since its inception in the early 80's (built a Sinclair with 8Z processor and 4K or was it 8K of memory), degree is in Computer and Information Science, and at 64-yrs I do play games. In fact, I play one that the learning curve takes months if not years to just understand some of the basics to play well. It's what is called a strategy game (history, diplomacy, economics, administration, military, etc..), a huge accomplishment that is on its 4th iteration. I bet there is a million lines of code in it. I am quite addicted to it. And, why not? I can think of no good reason since I enjoy it and it relaxes me...

The Gaming industry is what drove the computer industry to its current heights and continues to do so. Also, while I was overseas I saw something that showed me the industry continues to grow and spawn off new enterprises. They now have huge gaming contests with teams participating from around the world for quite a bit of money/prizes. I know a young man in Central Asia whose team is from America, Canada and other parts of the world and they were competing for $50,000! That's $50,000 for playing a game...it's now a international sport.

I guess what I am trying to say is Gaming is really no different than Bowling, neither are very strenuous and both has pros and cons, and it depends what you like to do to relax. For me, I enjoy it because when I am playing a game I cannot think of all the worries, troubles and woes of life as it forces me to concentrate on something else same as when you read a good book (yet another addiction of mine). The same for Bowling except one only needs to concentrate when you're rolling the ball - so - I much prefer gaming, not all games, of course, but ones of interest to me.

@Motomom34 "Also because he is a gamer, he understands computers and systems."
Exactly! And, this strengthens my point that the gaming industry really is the driver behind the computer industry. We do not need a extremely fast processor and certainly not a graphics card to do normal everyday word processing, spreadsheets, correspondence (email), to manage our work, home, and everyday chores. It's the games that give computers interest because of what they can do outside of the normal management chores for which they truly were designed and excel - the same as race cars like the Ferrari brings interest to cars.

 

This is true but it does instill interest and curiosity. Which I would bet got you into the industry as it certainly did me. Plus, like cars, (more specifically 'motors') one does need a certain amount of knowledge about them in today's world. The depth of that knowledge to either build, maintain or simply use depends on one's level of interest. My wife knows computers like she knows her car - she turns the key and she goes. That's it. She has a husband to suffer all the other mundane stuff like maintenance or why it is not working. She has no interest to learn about either of them and her concern is simply limited to that 'she turns the key and she goes.' While I could criticize her, she is an excellent seamstress and has great interest in it which to me is like watching grass grow...until I need my jeans shortened and I have no idea how to work that damn sewing machine which in itself was a marvel of its time...and is still a marvel and mystery to me. LOL!!!

 

I work hard and play hard. 'Puter Games to me is being a non winner, you spend a lot of time sitting in a chair, get stiff , get your heart rate up, and if you win you're still empty handed.

Except over time your belly gets big,your ass gets big and your legs go to sleep.

If I'm gonna play I want to accomplish something besides see a number on a screen.

So to answer BT, I'd figure they were introverted, unskilled in the work world and more willing to stay up late playing games and show up late for work or be a no show.
( I saw a lot of this type person in University when I graduated in 2007, none had a decent GPA)

Entry Level Jobs, in a Tech environment require a sharp mind and a ready "to change direction" work ethic.

YMMV

 

NO programmer in the business world gets that deep. None know machine code or assembler anymore. Thirty years ago in VoTech IT school, we learned just enough Assembler to get a taste. Most hated it, I loved it. I could make the program do anything.
In my state IT shop, we worked with higher order languages like COBOL and EasyPlus. Basically, if you could follow cookbook instructions, you can program.
The new object oriented languages struck me as weird, hard to follow. But kids nowadays sre as fluent in itcas English, more so for many who failed third grade English.
There are many different levels of programming, and few get to machine level. No need for them to.

 

I should imagine that finding one that didn't play way to many video games would be the difficulty!

My 15 year old grandson can write code, designs games and websites at a high level! He's been in special schools or programs since kindergarten! Aside from the straight computer expertise he has a strong base in Robotics! We have a photo from when he was 10yrs showing about a dozen teachers and staff surrounding him while he fixes the auditorium computer! OK, I took advantage so I could brag shamelessly, so sue me.
I've really got to get a photo of the primitive, bamboo, fishing spear he made!

 

This is true. And, I agree with you...and them. Why learn a machine language when you can use an interpreter language to do 90-95% of everything you want/need to do? Besides, processors are so fast now that one seldom have to worry about going to that level (machine or assembler) to maintain speed. Like you, I had to take Assembler and of course Pascal, COBOL (God! I hated COBOL! It drove me nuts because you had to write a ton of crap to do so little...but it paid very well ), of course C++...SAP stuff (ABAP) is pretty big now around the world, in factories, utilities, not sure about here stateside.

My understanding is they teach basic programming in elementary school here in the states now? Very impressive if true...besides programming makes much more sense than English for at least it is logical and follows a specific rule set. English, in the words of my old professor, is based on where 'exception makes the rule.' LOL!

@HK_User "... If I'm gonna play I want to accomplish something besides see a number on a screen."
This is a good point. And, I agree it is not the best use of one's time but I suppose one can say that about numerous things, especially if not done in moderation. For example, I read constantly but not always books that are beneficial to me, basically eye-candy. Currently, I am reading a fiction about a British officer leading up to the Battle of Waterloo and another book, historical fiction, about WW2. My point is that neither of these books benefit me in anyway that I can truthful admit - except - they entertain me, pure escapism. However, even though my current reading benefits me not one bit (or not one byte ) I still enjoy it tremendously and it relaxes me...but one can say this about writing, painting, singing or eating ice cream (or bacon for some here), on and on... I think the key is 'moderation' but that can be said for most things in life.

@azrancher "I still chase skirts, but in a skirt they run real fast!"
Ahhh Rancher...Could it be possible that you're just slowing...down?

 

About the only games I have are Wolfenstein and Ghost Recon, Does that count?

 

WOW ! & I just spoke to (PMed) about this !

 

I ask a question like that and most people just tell you what they think you want to hear. Now I am not a tech company but one kids response "I masturbate a lot and like to post dick pics on craigslist." He did not get hired but got a A+ for unrestrained tactless honesty.

 

Average age for gamers is 35. Here are some statistics:

• Gamers age 18 or older represent 72 percent of the video game-playing population, and the average gamer is 35 years old.
• Adult women represent a greater portion of the video game-playing population (31 percent) than boys under age 18 (18 percent).

Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry - The Entertainment Software Association

Remember the Farmville game craze? that was mainly older women on FB.