Who here has ever worked at a GameStop/EBGames before?

RiCeBo1

RiCeBo1

CAGiversary!
How did you get the job? What did you put on your application that made them be interested in you? I might get flamed for asking this because a lot of people hate them, but I just want a place where I can work that's close to where I live, and GameStop is just down the street in the mall. So yeah, what did you put on your application that made them be interested? And how long did it take for them to call you for an interview after you turned in an application?
 
I knew the manager from shopping for about 10 years. Since I'm a decent person and he knew that, I was hired instantly. Says alot about the types of retards that are usually working there.

Its a job, nothing else. If you love games and dont mind answering the same questions everyday then you'll be set. Just make sure you dont piss any gangsters off when they go into buy madden.

Its only a shitty retail job to support for school.
 
I threw on a lot of BS, but I think they were expecting that. Using fancier terms for upselling, cleaning the store, and cash register experience helped, as well.
 
So how long did it take for the call-back-for-an-interview process? I just called the local GameStop and the guy said that they are always hiring, but I turned one in a while back (along with 3 other GameStop's) and none of them called me for an interview. What do I need to put on the application to stand out more?

For the video game knowledge part I basically put down all the Next Gen including handheld. Being a gamer I know a lot about games so...yeah...how do I make this stand out?
 
Make sure to list several genres, not just systems. Just knowing systems isn't good enough if you don't know what kind of games are on them.

It took me a couple of days for a callback, after getting help on what to put on it. My only other job at that time was coming from Game Crazy, and they seemed real interested in me after that.
 
There's two keys to getting jobs besides going to college or having tons of expierence.

1) Knowing somebody to get you in. Make friends with the Managers and go from there. Eventually a spot will open up and you'll be the first person they turn to.

2) Follow up. Call them once a week. All my jobs I've had to call them, they never call me. Then again, I didn't apply at Taco Bell either.
 
For a retail job, they are very selective.

a few years ago, I applied to this one store twice in a year, got rejected both times saying they had a stack of applications and it was just too much to pick from, blah, blah, better luck next time. I had to bug the hell out of them for an official rejection even.

Then a couple months after the second time applying, I walk in, shoot the shit with the manager for 5 minutes, guess I impressed him with my game knowledge, and he offered me a job there, starting in a week. (too bad I was moving in a few weeks.) I guess it's just luck. I imagine gamestop jobs mostly get passed down to friends and good customers.
 
OP, do you have any other job experience? Because that really helps, from what my manager told me when he was turning down applications.
 
[quote name='Mr. Beef']OP, do you have any other job experience? Because that really helps, from what my manager told me when he was turning down applications.[/QUOTE]
SeaWorld
Target
 
Game knowledge is good to have, but really just showing you can be reliable, follow instructions, and are willing to sell is what's important. Some of the stores have such small staffs they can't really afford to have any slackers like larger retail stores. Prior retail experience is a plus. I got my job in college just by going in as a regular and preordering stuff, but they also knew I sadly had a lot of retail experience. The best time to get in is September or October when the holiday hiring begins. If you can prove your worth during the busy season, you're in. It is good to know about games, but the main thing as far as games is just be enthusiastic about them and stay up to date. That way you can help drive pre-orders and new release sales just by knowing about the things that are coming out. Good luck to the OP in getting a job.
 
Thanks guys, I'm gonna go in there tomorrow and preorder something, maybe Lair and then drop off the application there. Should I ask to speak to the manager or something and introduce myself? What times are managers usually there? I know where I worked they just show up whenever they wanted to lol.
 
At the GS I worked at, a manager had to be there everyday. Try around opening (11-noon works best), start some small talk, then casually ask about if they may be hiring.
 
Drop off the app, ask them when a manager is gonna be around to look at it, call the day after. You're not being too eager or a pain in the ass, if they need somebody, they need somebody and you want to be the first guy they think of when they pick someone. Maybe he's too busy to call back, or it gets to be late and he doesn't want to call back out of respect for you, just keep calling till they tell you you got it or that you should fuck off and go some place else.
 
Filled out all parts of the app, had some good experience, stapled a professional and complete looking resume and cover letter to the app, and I got a call the next day.

Might have been overkill to add a cover letter and resume to an app for a minimum wage job but from what I've noticed, it definately gets you noticed if no one else is doing it.
 
[quote name='vietgurl']Filled out all parts of the app, had some good experience, stapled a professional and complete looking resume and cover letter to the app, and I got a call the next day.

Might have been overkill to add a cover letter and resume to an app for a minimum wage job but from what I've noticed, it definately gets you noticed if no one else is doing it.[/QUOTE]
I was actually thinking about doing something like that, but I haven't wrote a resume in a year (last time I wrote one was in class and learning how to). Are there sites that show you how to do this?
 
[quote name='GizmoGC']You are atleast 18, right?[/QUOTE]
17 in September, but I don't think age matters because I believe they hire you if you're 16 and older
 
[quote name='RiCeBo1']17 in September, but I don't think age matters because I believe they hire you if you're 16 and older[/QUOTE]

You have to be 18.

Why? Because you are a minor and they can't leave you alone in the store, keep you past certain hours, and they don't want to work around your school schedule. You didn't ask this before applying? Personally I would never hire anyone under the age of 18 even if I could. I would not want to work around your school schedule and have to give you time off for 'finals' and whatnot. Atleast if your over 18, and out of school, its up to you if you want to show up or be fired. If they hire you knowing you are underage (if they could, Wal-Mart is a better example I'm sure) they have to legally work around your schedule.
 
[quote name='GizmoGC']Personally I would never hire anyone under the age of 18 even if I could. I would not want to work around your school schedule and have to give you time off for 'finals' and whatnot. Atleast if your over 18, and out of school, its up to you if you want to show up or be fired.[/quote]

Because no one goes to college or has finals in college.
 
[quote name='Scorch']Because no one goes to college or has finals in college.[/QUOTE]

At the age of 18 and out of school (meaning high school) its up to them to either show up or get fired, regardless of College finals and what not. You're an adult at that point and the decision is yours. When your under 18 you have to allow them to miss any days/shifts due to almost any reason which is why many places simply will not hire anyone under the age of 18. Damn, wish I could call in and say 'Sorry, can't make it, I have class today' to my job every other day and not get written up/fired for it.
 
[quote name='GizmoGC']Damn, wish I could call in and say 'Sorry, can't make it, I have class today' to my job every other day and not get written up/fired for it.[/quote]

Me too. I stick with the "Hey, i've got the shits, i'm not coming in". Works every time. You can thank JimmieMac for that golden excuse. No one argues with the shits.
 
You can be hired at 16/17, its just you are limited to 20 hours maximum when you are in school or in general, and you can't be a keyholder (where you have access to open and close the store) plus your access in the Gamestop computer is limited (i.e. you can't send out stuff, view shipment, check e-mails etc). That is what the rule was over here in Southern California when I was working there.

But honestly RiceBo1 Gamestop is a shitty place to work for. You will be hired in as a game advisor, and that is the lowest of the totem pole. Your pay will be minimum wage most likely, and you will be given all the bitch work to do. Plus thats not to mention the constant nagging for pre-orders/magazines subs you have to sell to keep your job and hours etc.

Although it varies store by store, district by district Gamestop could be okay to work for if you have a cool staff, manager and DM etc. It was cool for me when it was EBgames, but once Gamestop took over they started clearing out all the EBgames managers and managment etc or at least drive them to quit and replaced them with people who didn't know what the hell they were doing. Eventually the store I used to have fun working at became a true Gamestop, and everything went downhill from there. Leading to me and five other employees all quitting on the same day this past April because we all had enough of the bullshit the manager, district manager, and the company in general were giving us in our area.

So bottom line Gamestop just treats their employees like shit, and doesn't care because they know a lot of people would love to work at a game store, and all the people on their payroll are just expendable, and easily replaced. Try applying at a BestBuy or Gamecrazy if you have those in your area, but if you are still interested in Gamestop be warned.
 
you can get hired at 17 years old at gamestop, ive hired people that are 17 and seen plenty of other people that are 17 work there. really, putting "game knowledge" on your app wont help much, everyone puts it. it helps to know the staff, someone to put a good word in for you. but really, its more a matter of timing, GS/EB have very small staffs, usually under 10, unlike say walmart that has over 100. so timing is a big part, the summer is also a time when a lot of apps will be turned in. if you want to get a job at GS/EB try turning in an app around september/october when they start hiring for season, they often double or triple their staff sizes so your chances of getting hired go up quite a bit.
 
[quote name='yukine']So you already quit the Target job? I guess Strell wasn't lying about it being hell eh?[/QUOTE]
No not yet but I rather work at a place closer to my house :lol:
 
I don't know how long ago you posted this but, I just applied this morning at Game Stop and I recieved a call about an interview like 3 hours later! Now, I haven't got the job I'm only telling you how I got the interview (or how I think I got it...my sister says it's because not a lot of girls visit the Game Stop I applied at lol) Anyway, on the application, I listed all the game systems I have or ever used and had to make a new line so I'm pretty sure that's why I got the call for an interview. I also listed as experience being a cashier, closing clean-up duties, stocking, and experience with customers so that should have helped a little. Also, when you bring in your application, SMILE!!! and make eye contact with whoever you're passing it in to and if they ask if you want to talk to the manager, say yes but you probably already know that. Anyway, good luck I hope you get a job at Game Stop I hear it's awesome!
 
I currently work at the local Gamestop.

I was given the job in November. I would stop by whenever I had to go to Target (they're right next to each other) and play some GH2 and hang. Eventually, the manager offered me a position, and after I told him about my exceptionally limited schedule (I spend 40-60 hours a week on school), we worked something out.

It really *really* depends on who you're working with. If you've got a cool staff, it's a decent job. If you're working with people you don't like, it will be hell.

Expect douchebaggery. Your DM will make you push preorders/subs like a drug dealer. Also, you might get yelled at for retarded shit. When Odin Sphere was coming out, I was answering the phone with "Thanks for calling Gamestop, where you can preorder Odin Sphere.". Sure, almost no one knew about it, but I was trying to push games that were unknown and get people interested.

The DM called, I answered with that, and then he immediatly asked my manager what the fuck Odin Sphere was.

I now have to answer with "where you get top value for trades", even though I know for a god damned fact that it ain't. =\
 
So do you think there is anyway that a 15 year old could get hired at Gamestop? I really need to get a job now and gamestop is the only decent retail store around where I live. Also I am know the manager pretty well and would pretty much be ivesting my whole paycheck back into gamestop:).
 
It was six years ago and I was 19. My friend was the assistant manager and got me the job as the 3rd key holder. It was a crap job and they axed our 25% discount and fired me.
 
[quote name='GizmoGC']You have to be 18.

Why? Because you are a minor and they can't leave you alone in the store, keep you past certain hours, and they don't want to work around your school schedule. You didn't ask this before applying? Personally I would never hire anyone under the age of 18 even if I could. I would not want to work around your school schedule and have to give you time off for 'finals' and whatnot. Atleast if your over 18, and out of school, its up to you if you want to show up or be fired. If they hire you knowing you are underage (if they could, Wal-Mart is a better example I'm sure) they have to legally work around your schedule.[/QUOTE]

I think even GameStop realizes that a 18 year old fresh out of high-school does not aspire to work a minimum-wage job for a video game store for the rest of his life. If you're going to college (as one should be right after high-school and not working full time at a GameStop), most stores will usually still offer a part-time job (if they need someone).
 
[quote name='darthbudge']So do you think there is anyway that a 15 year old could get hired at Gamestop? I really need to get a job now and gamestop is the only decent retail store around where I live. Also I am know the manager pretty well and would pretty much be ivesting my whole paycheck back into gamestop:).[/quote]Sorry, but the answer is no.
 
i worked there back in 2005 for the summer. how i got the job was actually a pretty funny story. i just went in there to trade in some games and the assistant manager was jokingly complaining about quitting his job, and the manager looked over at me and was like well will you work here now that he's quitting? and i said yeah sure. i filled out the application on the spot and the next day i was working there. the most painless summer job hunt i had ever been on. haha
 
I've been tying pretty hard to get on the good side of the people at my Gamestop in hopes of getting a job there someday. I was doing a pretty good job too, until my friend screwed it up. I was buying Silent Hill 2 and the guy asked me for my ID and my friend jokingly said "Oh here, use mine!", which did not make the guy happy at all. Now he thinks I'm just some punk kid who tried to get away with buying an "M" game with no ID. So much for all my hard work.

[quote name='darthbudge']So do you think there is anyway that a 15 year old could get hired at Gamestop? I really need to get a job now and gamestop is the only decent retail store around where I live. Also I am know the manager pretty well and would pretty much be ivesting my whole paycheck back into gamestop:).[/quote]

Most definitely not going to happen. I'm pretty sure you have to be 16 before you can legally be hired anywhere. Even then, Gamestop doesn't hire until you're 18.
 
[quote name='RiCeBo1']How did you get the job? [/QUOTE]

At my local Gamestop you apparently have to be willing to hang out the front door and chain smoke.
 
[quote name='Mr. Beef']Actually, you DO have to be 18. This may actually answer a lot of questions.[/QUOTE]

I was gonna say... I don't think they'd be too thrilled about hiring a 16 year old.

OP, you're probably best off starting at a job anyone can get, like Chik-Fil-A or something. But hey, you're already working at Target, so mission accomplished!
 
UPDATE:
So I've learned how to write cover letters and a resume in my English class, so I completed an application and attached a cover letter and resume to it. When I walked into the store, I asked if a manager was present. He showed up, and I said I wanted to personally introduce myself and personally drop off my application to him. He looks at it for a couple of seconds flipping it, and asks if I was still in high school, I said yes and that I was a senior. He then asks me a couple of more questions and then tells me come back some other time or give him a call to update him on my application and see if he has time to set up an interview for me.

I'm gonna call him tomorrow, but what else should I do? It would be extra sweet if I can get that job.
 
UPDATE:
So I went to turn in another application with a cover letter and resume to a different store, but this time I asked to see the manager and drop it off personally. So he tells me to call him back to see what he can do about an interview. I call him today and we talked a little bit and he tells me to come in on Saturday for an interview. fuck YEA!!

Anyways, what questions are they gonna ask me during the interview so I can be extra prepared?
 
Why should we hire you?

Whats your greatest flaw? (don't try to be clever and say something that is actually a strength like.. "I know TOO much about games and people say thats nerdy")

Whats your greatest strength?

If we were to hire you would you X, Y, Z?

-Personally I've never had any problems with interviews, but I'm seriously just that fucking awesome. Just answer truthfully and don't try to make up shit you think sounds good.
 
"if you were left in charge of the store for a week, how would you motivate your employees to maintain high numbers in terms of Edge cards, preorders, etc?"
 
[quote name='Chitown021']I worked there back before the merger (Funcoland). Does that count?[/quote]

Ah, Funcoland, those were the days...

Pros
- Really nice discounts (25%, 35% during Employee appreciation week)
- Commisions for selling Cleaning Kits, Game Informer subs,
and the "focus" games (games they bought way too many of and
we got $1 for every one we would sell)
- Being able to guarantee (both for you and the customer) a copy of any
new game or system coming out if they reserved it
- Store "check-out" policy

Cons
- $4.50 an hour
- My store was in a complex with Old Country Buffet, and every Sunday
the white trash families would gorge themselves at OCB while the
kids would hang out in the store and ask to play every 8-Bit title
we had in stock.
- Those same kids losing control of their bodily functions in the store
because we didn't have a public restroom and there 'parents' were still
at OCB.
- Nightly product inventory counts after the store closed....sometimes
we would be there for 2 or 3 hours if the counts were off from the
previous night.
 
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