How hard is it to get a job at EB?

[shadowforte]

I am going to try to get one in 8 months. I have never worked at a big company before, but I work for a few game sites, and as most people here, I know a lot about games.

[SaturnFan]

Knowing a lot about games doesnt get you in.

[shadowforte]

I was just saying that because they ask what systems/games do you know about.

[RetroYoungen]

If it's anything like working at Fry's Electronics (where I work, with video games and movies and such), it's more about retail than about games. Knowing them helps with selling, but you don't get as much time to play, and it's more about selling than reviewing for customers.

They'll ask, but in the end it doesn't matter much. And it shouldn't really be too hard to get in on the ground floor, just be cordial and confident and you should be able to get in without too much trouble.

[ShenmueFan]

You probably won't get a job, unless you are chummy-chummy with a manager there. EVERYONE who plays video games would love to work for a company that either makes or sells video games - plain & simple.

So not to discourage you but keep in mind that everyone in those game stores who's 16 and older has probably at one point or another tried to get a job either there or at another game place.

The closest I ever got was working the electronics department at K-Mart while in college. It was occasionally cool but more often than not dreadfully boring.

No harm in trying though...

[WarLordAG]

Judging by the people that work at my local EB, not much.
It's a retail job, and isn't too terribly hard to get into.

[bangtango]

I was just saying that because they ask what systems/games do you know about.

A serious reply......

Well, as long as you know a little about the most recent generations of gaming and you look the interviewer in the eye without stammering then you should do ok. I'm not saying the eye contact thing to be funny. I've had more than one interviewer tell me eye contact makes a lot of difference.

If you're going to be selling games and systems to people, then they are not going to hire someone who seems shy or nervous. Yeah, sometimes that is the way it works out but being outgoing and gregarious is always a good strategy.

Oh, make sure you know recent systems just a little. You don't have to be an expert but you ought to be able to identify what the consoles look like and what games go with them. I think that is all they care about. Why? Not every single parent out there buying something at EB knows what an Xbox 360 looks like or what section the games are in. That type of stuff.

[skaar]

Also don't badmouth games in the interview. Remember, Crow City of Angels was the BEST SATURN GAME EVER.

[ShenmueFan]

Oh, and mention how much you enjoy playing with your Wii every night before you go to sleep.

[shadowforte]

Lol will do.

[skaar]

Try to drool on yourself a bit too.

[exit]

The closest I ever got was working the electronics department at K-Mart while in college. It was occasionally cool but more often than not dreadfully boring.

I can confirm that, I work in electronics at wally world and while it can be fun at time, it's evened out by ridiculous customers and an asshole department manager.

I tried to apply at Gamestop one time and the guys there just rolled their eyes at me the entire time. I asked for an application and they said "It's over there.", without even hinting where "there" was. It was the same thing when I gave them the application, but I'm sure they put it right in the filing cabinet (i.e. the trash can).

I went there some time later and neither of the guys worked there anymore, so I'm guessing they were the ones replaced.

[shadowforte]

I just need a job to fund my game collection. I will tryv other places as well.

[ShenmueFan]

If I had gotten a job at Software Etc. or Funcoland years ago while in High School I'd probably have never went to college and just worked my way up.

Seriously, my career choice sucks now - I hate being a graphic designer and I'd gladly take a huge cut in pay if I could work around games 24/7.

But I got bills...DAMMIT!

[agbulls]

If you really want the low down, send me a PM or shoot me an instant message. I was an EB DM for around 3 years and even stuck around for the devil corp merger that turned a good company into GameSlop.

Here are a few requirements/things to ponder while you consider taking on this fantastic job in the "gaming business." And, while you think I might be sounding sarcastic, consider for a moment that I dealt with hiring people ALL the TIME.

1. Go to the interview in nice dress pants and a nice dress shirt. DO NOT wear sandals or a t-shirt. Yes, people actually did that. Additionally, have a few ideas or questions about the job. Show that you have conversational skills. Your gaming knowledge means jack squat.

2. Do not go to work high. Even though part time workers aren't drug tested, the company will be more than happy to call the cops on you if you do. Yes, this happened regularly.

3. Smile, nod, smile, nod, sell Barbie Horse Adventures.

4. Be happy with minimum wage for your city/state and don't expect to get any types of significant raises due to your "hard work."

5. Be happy doing TOH (title on hand; aka GameSlop devil work) and meanial tasks that have nothing to do with video games---ALL DAY.

6. Be prepared to put any kind of opinions you have totally aside while you tow the corporate line. I had to make my district push "Ride or Die" down the throats of customers. I'm talking follow up phone calls that involved one-on-one conversations with part timers for not hitting goals. I'm going to stress again--YOUR OPINIONS DON'T MATTER.

7. Be prepared to lie about the quality of GameSlops "Great Used Gaming Systems" and the value of "Game Replacement Plans." Did I mention GameSlop removed all spiff/incentive plans that EB had in place?

8. Smile, nod, smile, nod, sell Barbie Horse Adventures.

9. Be prepared to start wanting to play LESS because you get sick of talking about shit you could care less about. "Hey man, when does Madden 2025 drop?" Oh, and by the way---you better LOVE taking reservations ;)

I'll stop there. Like I said, if you're still interested, send me a PM. I'll be more than happy to answer any and all questions :)

[megamaniaman]

Here is the key. Act extremly arrogant and cocky. Also make sure that you have the latest hair style and have an Ambercombie and Finch shirt on. Also make sure to have a friend call you while you are getting interviewed, then take the cell phone out and look at it and put it back into your pocket. Also when the interviewer asks you about the Atari 2600 say "What's that?". When he asks you about the NES. Laugh and say"That crap is for gay emo kids." If you do all these things, the manager will probably higher you on the spot.

[shadowforte]

lol ok thanks. Well unless some in kent, ohio or evansville,indiana (or around these places) wants to hire me, I have to start thinking about jobs. This just happens to be one of them.

[GillianSeed]

I think the only thing you might run into is that retail chains generally aren't looking to hire right after the holidays -- they tend to stock up on extra workers around September, and let them go after the Christmas rush.

[8-bitNesMan]

If you really want the low down, send me a PM or shoot me an instant message. I was an EB DM for around 3 years and even stuck around for the devil corp merger that turned a good company into GameSlop.

Here are a few requirements/things to ponder while you consider taking on this fantastic job in the "gaming business." And, while you think I might be sounding sarcastic, consider for a moment that I dealt with hiring people ALL the TIME.

1. Go to the interview in nice dress pants and a nice dress shirt. DO NOT wear sandals or a t-shirt. Yes, people actually did that. Additionally, have a few ideas or questions about the job. Show that you have conversational skills. Your gaming knowledge means jack squat.

2. Do not go to work high. Even though part time workers aren't drug tested, the company will be more than happy to call the cops on you if you do. Yes, this happened regularly.

3. Smile, nod, smile, nod, sell Barbie Horse Adventures.

4. Be happy with minimum wage for your city/state and don't expect to get any types of significant raises due to your "hard work."

5. Be happy doing TOH (title on hand; aka GameSlop devil work) and meanial tasks that have nothing to do with video games---ALL DAY.

6. Be prepared to put any kind of opinions you have totally aside while you tow the corporate line. I had to make my district push "Ride or Die" down the throats of customers. I'm talking follow up phone calls that involved one-on-one conversations with part timers for not hitting goals. I'm going to stress again--YOUR OPINIONS DON'T MATTER.

7. Be prepared to lie about the quality of GameSlops "Great Used Gaming Systems" and the value of "Game Replacement Plans." Did I mention GameSlop removed all spiff/incentive plans that EB had in place?

8. Smile, nod, smile, nod, sell Barbie Horse Adventures.

9. Be prepared to start wanting to play LESS because you get sick of talking about shit you could care less about. "Hey man, when does Madden 2025 drop?" Oh, and by the way---you better LOVE taking reservations ;)

I'll stop there. Like I said, if you're still interested, send me a PM. I'll be more than happy to answer any and all questions :)

Man that company continues to find new ways to piss me off and make me hate their f'n guts!

[DefaultGen]

.....

[drewbrim]

lol ok thanks. Well unless some in kent, ohio or evansville,indiana (or around these places) wants to hire me, I have to start thinking about jobs. This just happens to be one of them.

Kent!?! Dude, just roll into the Exchange there on the corner of Route 59 and South Lincoln. They hire decent people and the ('"retro") game inventory pisses on anything Gamestop and the like have to offer. I would say that I built at least 50% of my collection on the Exchanges in the Cleveland/Akron area. I know a few people down there as well (mostly at the Chapel Hill and Fairlawn stores), not that I could get you a job but I could definitely talk to some people and let you know if/when they need someone. How old are you by the way? Do you have day availabilty?

Even though I have a decent career type job, I still think of working holiday hours during the Christmas season just to snag all of the $10 Valkyrie Profile's, Crono Trigger's, and whatnot that roll through there every year for those trading stuff in for extra Christmas money

[Garry Silljo]

Kent!?! Dude, just roll into the Exchange there on the corner of Route 59 and South Lincoln. They hire decent people and the ('"retro") game inventory pisses on anything Gamestop and the like have to offer. I would say that I built at least 50% of my collection on the Exchanges in the Cleveland/Akron area. I know a few people down there as well (mostly at the Chapel Hill and Fairlawn stores), not that I could get you a job but I could definitely talk to some people and let you know if/when they need someone. How old are you by the way? Do you have day availabilty?

Even though I have a decent career type job, I still think of working holiday hours during the Christmas season just to snag all of the $10 Valkyrie Profile's, Crono Trigger's, and whatnot that roll through there every year for those trading stuff in for extra Christmas money

If your Exchange is like the ones near me, you can't work there without at least 5 visible piercings and three visible tattoos. Girls get a pass on the tattoos as long as their hair is pink, purple, or green. I love the store, I just don't understand the "uniform."

[MonoTekETeA]

Alright, my personal experience added up to working at the ole Devil Corp.

Q: Why do they always ask me about Subscriptions?
A: Because the employee sitting behind the counter needs the numbers. Generally they have to get at least a subcription a shift in order to be on par with everyone else.

Q: Well then why do they bother me with a reservation, I mean, I can just give them the five dollers when the game comes out eaither way!?
A: Because that is also something the employee is rated on, again, they should get at least a reserve a shift also.

Q: Why do they pester you about it though?
A: Well a number of reasons, one, there manager could be the hard ass working right next to them, and they have to look good, two, they are trying to meet the quota, or three, if you are like my store, you just want the store to look good to the 5 mile higher ups.

Q: Why are the workers so stupid!? I mean I know most of these release dates off of the top of my head!
A: Why?! Well let me tell you, between school and working, I on one hand, have little time to play games. I have a decent collection, but with games I haven't even put an hour on. Plus, the job its self is a buzz killer, and you just get tired of scum bags. I had a guy trade in games today, and there were dead bugs in the case. Though, I'll tell you right now, if the store had an internet connection, me and all my co-workers would all be on our A-Game, but we don't, and I just look like an idiot when I don't even know the correct title to Take Two's 2K8 Football game.

Q: So how can I make my self stand out?
A: Well, I know a good way is just be a "Cool" customer, be open to different gaming ideas when talking to employees if you do get into a converstation. Give us reserves every once in a while. Treat us like people who don't want to be there an service you, even though it is our job, to be handling used systems that their owner didn't give a crap about, with them full of weed riddled dust just sucks. Don't come running in 15 minutes be for the closing time, and think "Thank god I made it on time to trading in my 50+ games."
Oh, and don't be a guy to chill out waiting for us to open...we know what it is like, to wait for a store to open for a game you really want, but when we just woke up are are the ones selling stuff to you, it sucks. At that point of time, we aren't open to jokes or ideas or anything of the sort. Don't play the demo units for 30 mins. Ask if they want you to place new game's case you brought up to purchase, to place the gut cased back on the wall, we like that. And that is it...long list, but it is true, alot of the things that can place you on a good side of things.

Q: Hey man, can I trade these things in for cash?
A: No you weed smoking crackhead! Leave us alone and take your stolen games someplace else, leave me out of it. They are most likely scratched beyond recongnition, and yes, you need a drivers licence, no a county ID won't work! No not your car registration, how the hell did you get here in the first place!?

Bleh, well that was a rant/inside look to a store or what not. And don't use stupid shortenings for games for systems, like the P2 or the P3 or Ma'en 08 or The Boxing(Fight Night Round 3) or P2P or anything else stupid like that. I may expand this list later.

[Push Upstairs]

Screw EB.

Get a job at Best Buy. You still have to put up with meeting numbers and shit, but you at least get a discount that (mostly) makes up for it.

Discount isn't much on games/movies/CD's, but a lot of other departments have awesome discounts.

[Nick Goracke]

I just need a job to fund my game collection.

You'd be better off choosing a part time job that pays well, then.

Working at a game store is not a dream job, or even a good job. It's tolerable only if you enjoy the people you work with day in and day out. Just keep that in mind.

If you do decide to interview there, however, keep the following in mind.

-Dress well. Most gamers are clueless in this department, but it is important. Chances are you have no resume to speak of, so what else do you have to show for yourself?

-Don't be shy. Your job is to sell magazine subscriptions, talk people into reserving games, and helping people spend money. Nobody cares about your game knowledge, but they do care that you're confident, sociable, and willing to tow the company line.

-Be flexible. The more shifts you can work, the better... and the less hours you require to be happy, the better. Stores have limited hours to dole out, and will likely only need you for specific oddball shifts. In other words, unless you're on fulltime, you won't be working many hours, but you will be working many shifts.

Really though, unless you're buddy-buddy with the staff already working there, don't bother. If you don't enjoy the people, you won't enjoy the job... and you can make a lot more money for a lot less grief checking people out at Walmart.

[Half Japanese]

There has been lots of good info/advice so far, but one thing that needs reiterating is this: try your absolute best to get a job at an independent retailer if possible. These aren't the kinds of jobs where you'll be making great money anyway, so you might as well enjoy it, right? A good independent is vastly more fun to work at than the best chain store because you won't have to deal with "corporate" bullshit, sales numbers and a tacky uniform. The problem here lies in the fact that you will often need to know someone or be known by the staff to get a job at one of these places. I've been at an independent record store for over a year and a half, and I don't miss the old job at Circuit Shitty one bit.

Of course, do your best to get out of retail as quick as you can as soon as your credentials can net you a better job. Many (not all) of the 'lifers' at CC were sad, self-loathing, hateful people, and no one should have to live like that.

[Kitsune Sniper]

The local Gamestop is run by arrogant morons. I just know they looked at me funny when I told them I loved my Dreamcast.

On the other hand, the one a few miles away? That one rocked. Half the size, twice the games, and a really awesome guy working there.

I wouldn't get a job there, though. It's not worth losing your own integrity over it.

[GuyinGA]

I know people at both EB Games I go to frequently....guys at both places would say the job's not really worth it. One of the store has GREAT selection but they seem to be run by arrogant idiots. They would have Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on the PS2 for instance. The other one has really great people but crappy selection.

It's minimum wage like someone said earlier.....and be prepared to say a long spiel for a 1 minute or so when answering the phone. I called over there one time and one guy was giving them their "Welcome to EB Games-we-sell-new-used-game-systems-etc-etc" for at least a minute and a half.

Hopefully, the store doesn't have Guitar Hero set up ANYWHERE. I get annoyed when I walk into a store (Best Buy, CC, etc) and see these douche-baggy kids playing GH, finishing, then walking out without buying anything. I don't know if they looked around or not.

And the prices at EB Games are really outrageous.....unless you've done your homework on them, you occasionally get a steal. I don't know how it was pre-merger (signs point to the prices being better), but it sucks now. Like I picked up Escape from Monkey Island from them for $9.99 when the average price for it online was $17 - 25.

[Captain Wrong]

Haven't we had this topic about a million times?

I can pretty much sum up all the past discussion:

1) All the typical rules for applying for a retail job apply.
2) Being a hardcore gamer isn't necessarly a leg up and could even be a minus.
3) You're going to hate working there, so why bother?
4) OMG THEY THROW AWAY BOXES AND GIVE NOTHING FOR TRADE!!!111!!#!*(

[NeoVenom]

No wonder half of these EBGames workers don't know JACK about video games... I was thinking about working there but nevermind. LOL I, for one, thought that you had to know about video games to be hired but how absurd is that...knowing about games in a video game store. However, I did met some employers that DO know about games and are gamers, not just recent but old school as well.

[Chadt74]

one thing that has not been mentioned for any retail job

Bring all your information with you.

Most places make you fill out an application and things like your high school address and references can be on there, bring them with you there is no rule against that and as a manager it shows this person is prepared. Also take your time and fill out the form neatly, once you leave that is all they have.

Good luck!

[Ryu]

I'm going to put in an application there tomorrow. My friend works there and might be able to get me in.

[tonyvortex]

i worked at a funco for six months,i liked being around the games and answearing questions but i HATED everything else about the job .

[Darren870]

I worked there for 4 years off and on and quit during the merger.

Honestly, don't bother. Unless you know people that work there and have a lot of retail experience you probably wont get the job.

Even if you do, you will be doing the bitch work for the first 6 months and will hate it anyways. I lucked out working there because

1) I got hired from a friend
2) I know how to sell shit

Once they took away all the extra money you could make I quit, because honestly I was making more from the extra warranty, subs, cards etc then what I was getting paid.

Don't be lazy and look somewhere else.

[Muscelli]

I cant stand shopping inside of a gamestop, those annoying ass beeping things on the doors are so stupid. Not to mention the employees are pretty busy or have nothing to do at all. One or the other.

[PallarAndersVisa]

Ive tried getting jobs there at various locations in 2 different cities since I was 17, I'm 22 now and tried last year to get a job at one near campus and no luck. Theres always a shit ton of people trying to work at those places, and chances are some of them know people "on the inside."

Unless you live in a pretty dead city with 3,000 people, you probably won't get a job there.

[MonoTekETeA]

I am in a pretty slow store that only uses applications to fill for the winter seasonal help. Truefully, that is the only time they are looked at, and have have to have about at least 75 applications upwards to 200. And we are a slow store.

[Habeeb Hamusta]

I work at GameStop and it was easy as shit for me to get in. All you have to do is make yourself look good. And talk a bunch of crap to make you seem like you can be a good salesman. They don't care what you know about games...they just want you to selll pre-orders and subscriptions. That's all they care about. so when you get interviewd...just talk about how it's important to sell used merc, reserves, and subs and they should let you in.