[US] - Customer Support is Hiring for WAR!

[Toady]

Originally Posted by Vid

This intrigues me highly. I've always wanted to work with the game industry and a foot in the door is better than no foot in the door.

Just remember that it's customer support, a hellish nightmare that makes you want to extinguish humanity.

[Gemini]

Wow... I just did a cost of living comparison... wow. Things are not cheap there, espicially housing. So far every city I had compared mine to had been cheaper, but not Fairfax. 37% more expensive overall, and housing is 91% more expensive on average. my god.

[LastingPeaceOS]

Well, I'm going to be putting my application through now. I think this would be a great opportunity to put my foot into the door of the gaming industry as well as obtaining what I think would be an awesome job. Getting to get into the lore of the game, getting given the chance to move up in the company, making new friends, and playing WAR - I just can't see the downside... besides...

The relocation part would suck - currently in Orange County, California, but without anything holding me back and being able to do community college over there I think this would be awesome. I'm young - 21 ... So... not trying to sell myself but look out for my application and accept it with a blindfold on

I'd be the what Steve Jobs is to Apple, but for the customer service industry

Oh: And people should apply. Like one of the previous posts said the worst they can say is no - then your consolation prize is playing the game when its comes out!

[Vegetta]

Rent is really high in that area I mean REALLY high - you'll have to get a room mate on 12.07/ hour (unless you like the excitement of living in crime central or a lengthy commute and driving in that area is not fun at all)

I was offered a Web Developer job in the area in 2003 and the housing prices just made it not feasible (average rent was like 950.00 plus per month)

But for a young single person it could be a great opportunity - Just get a room mate and you should be fine

[Vid]

Originally Posted by Gemini

Wow... I just did a cost of living comparison... wow. Things are not cheap there, espicially housing. So far every city I had compared mine to had been cheaper, but not Fairfax. 37% more expensive overall, and housing is 91% more expensive on average. my god.

I was actually looking at this last night. In other parts of the country $12.07 would be a decent pay, but due to Fairfax county's close location to Washington D.C. the cost of living is higher. I think I saw a place saying that the average female income for the ares was $45,000 a year, I recall male being $75,000 a year. Since I can't find the link again I can't double check the figures.

I would say it would be possible for someone to live there but don't expect to have a surplus of cash anytime soon. I'd foresee a large amount of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and instant mac & cheese being consumed on a regular basis living there.

Earlier Gemini said that the worst they could say was "no" when you applied for the job. For me the worst would be them saying "yes" then not being able to find a place to stay when I relocate and then have to turn the job down.

[DeathTrap]

Well I got an interview already but didnt get the job this time around, I believe you guys were only looking for like one more right now for the customer support team because someone got promoted up to the WAR team. I hope to have another shot at it when you do the big hire in July/August. Or a chance to get on the QA team, one of my friends who I put in contact with the EA Recruiter got a QA position, he starts on monday... lucky ... So yeah, Ima keep trying, office was really nice, got to see where they are expanding to have the computers for the WAR CS team, and I saw the squig prop from one of the videos, theyve got it sitting by the front desk. I was happy. But yeah, nice big building, cool looking lobby.. hope to be heading back there sometime soon!! I'll have to see if I cant make friends with someone at Baltimore this weekend and get a leg up!

Edit: also, I live like 30min from there, so I am still in the cheap living area zone! could really suck with traffic to and from depending on hours, but cost of living is still a lot cheaper!

[SKYeXile]

Originally Posted by Toady

Just remember that it's customer support, a hellish nightmare that makes you want to extinguish humanity.

Yea but Im sure after a year or so you can move up and get yourself a banstick and have revenge on the player base.

[Nerak]

I would recommend people who want to apply for this have some CS background as well.

[Vid]

Originally Posted by Toady

Just remember that it's customer support, a hellish nightmare that makes you want to extinguish humanity.

I missed this earlier. I've worked for two and a half year in retail, which I consider a form of customer support. I understand that its not exactly the same and that I'd have to deal with people being rude, but thats just life.

Also DeathTrap, mind saying how much you pay for rent where your located? If you rent.

[James_EAMythic]

To answer some quick questions:

GOA is handling CS support for their supported EU regions. While we are working together to achieve parity on many levels we do not provide them with staff

For the Oceanic region our CS support for WAR is 24/7 so regardless if it's 3AM here and you're getting ready for dinner and a keep siege...we're open for business!

At this time we're not intending to have a local CS center in the Oceanic region.

But yes as Josh said it's a great way to get into the industry, it requires passion and drive to see it through though

To give you a slice of my own life I moved all the way across the country and took a paycut to do it, but at the end of the day I'm doing something I love!

It's definitely not for everyone, but best of luck to anyone who gives it a go and I look forward to working with you

[lnquisitor]

There needs to be a CS guild where all the people who get the job move together and find a place place to live. Or EA might consider something putting together something in anticipation of people not familiar with the area moving there.
I was in a similar situation where I almost took a job at GW CS but could not figure out a way to find a place to live there either.

[Raccool]

Just to put it in perspective, Josh Drescher drives for hours just to get to and from work everyday. And the ad only says that you have to be willing to relocate NEAR Fairfax, VA. 30-60 mins really isn't so bad of a commute, though it depends on what you drive.

I'll be sending in my app when I get back this afternoon, on my way out the door right now. Gemini, if we get the jobs, i'd be happy to room with you.

[Steel]

[FONT=Calibri]I went ahead and gave it a shot. Got to be in to get It. I would not mind moving to Virginia I have lived there before well in southern Virginia, and it was great. My Fiancée is from that area and her parents live outside of Richmond it would be awesome not to mention this would be a dream job. [/FONT]

[Josh_Mythic]

Originally Posted by Raccool

Just to put it in perspective, Josh Drescher drives for hours just to get to and from work everyday.

To clarify, I USED to drive hours every day. For the first three years I worked for Mythic I commuted from just north of Baltimore, which was about 120 miles round trip. It wasn't a financial issue for me, I just didn't want to move away from my friends in that area at that point.

These days I'm about 15 minutes away in Centreville, VA (cost of living decreases SUBSTANTIALLY if you go 15-20 minutes south/west of the office).

[Gemini]

Originally Posted by Josh_Mythic

These days I'm about 15 minutes away in Centreville, VA (cost of living decreases SUBSTANTIALLY if you go 15-20 minutes south/west of the office).

Awesome, good to know.

Originally Posted by Vid

Earlier Gemini said that the worst they could say was "no" when you applied for the job. For me the worst would be them saying "yes" then not being able to find a place to stay when I relocate and then have to turn the job down.

Hah, well, tell ya what Vid. If they hire both of us, we can split a two-bedroom apartment.