Hi everyone!
I was wondering: if you own/owned a successful business in Second Life, which made you a decent wage and were applying for a real world job, would you include your in world business on your resume? Like, if you were the founder and owner of XXXX in Second Life, would you list it and your relevant experience in world on the resume? I know people who have run in world businesses with thousands of satisfied customers, and who have made tens of thousands of real world USD$ after selling their earned L$. Should they add that onto their resume?
Lastly, do you think a real world business, especially the federal government, would take such experience seriously?
Thanks!
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Would You Place Your SL Business Experience on Your RL Resume? |
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Pan Fan
Registered User
Join date: 2 Jul 2006
Posts: 306
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10-23-2008 22:46
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Ponsonby Low
Unregistered User
Join date: 21 May 2008
Posts: 1,893
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10-23-2008 23:35
You'd probably get a better response if applying for a creative job (say, with an advertising agency) than if applying for a bureaucratic job--such as one with the government.
That's just my gut reaction, though---I don't have any evidence to offer. I CAN offer some anecdotal evidence that putting ANY kind of 'second job' on a resume is something to be careful about. Employers are going to wonder if they'll be getting your 'all'. If you could point to a record of business success in SL AND point to the fact that you're no longer registered in SL, then that might work. |
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Pserendipity Daniels
Assume sarcasm as default
Join date: 21 Dec 2006
Posts: 8,839
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10-23-2008 23:55
It would probably have the same effect as claiming to be good at John Madden's Football would have in applying for an NFL coaching post . . .
Pep ("I always win at Monopoly - because I cheat"  _____________________
Hypocrite lecteur, — mon semblable, — mon frère!
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PeterPan Price
Enthusiastic Amateur
Join date: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 178
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10-24-2008 00:27
I wonder why those people who claim to be making pots of money in SL are wanting real jobs as well.
When I told NASA how good I was a Space Invaders, they were so keen to employ me. Seriously though. I wouldn't want any potential employer to know how much time I waste playing here in SL. (Even if I made lots of money there - which I don't ) |
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Kelli May
karmakanic
Join date: 7 Oct 2006
Posts: 1,135
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10-24-2008 00:34
Anyone running a SL business to a level where they are managing an advertising budget, staff, rent and product development might consider adding it to a resume. Unlike a sports coach simulation, they are dealing with a real business, and possibly even extracting taxable levels of RL money. That's business success, and could be presented as such.
However, framing the information so it doesn't look like you've been playing a video game is the tricky bit. Perhaps referring to it as an online company would look better to an employer? Ponsonby's warning that an employer might not like your energies going into a second job is probably sound, though. _____________________
Do worried sheep have nervous ticks?
Karmakanix@Sin-Labs http://slurl.com/secondlife/Circe/170/197/504 Karmakanix on SLX http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&MerchantID=61062 |
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Cal Kondo
Low impact
Join date: 7 Oct 2006
Posts: 143
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10-24-2008 00:34
You would certainly want to tailor it for the job you are applying for. If it was a graphic artist type position it probably would be fine to mention work done in SL. If the job you are applying for is unrelated I would probably be best to leave SL out of it. However if you wanted to show that you are an enterprising person you could refer to it without mentioning SL. Maybe just saying you made an income selling graphic art on the internet. If you were lucky enough to get an interview and it came up, you could expand on it then.
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FD Spark
Prim & Texture Doodler
Join date: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 4,697
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10-24-2008 00:40
Maybe if the job was creative oriented and I had something remarkable
to show what I created here in a Portfolio. _____________________
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Pserendipity Daniels
Assume sarcasm as default
Join date: 21 Dec 2006
Posts: 8,839
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10-24-2008 00:41
they are dealing with a real business, and possibly even extracting taxable levels of RL money. That's business success, and could be presented as such. Like kids running a lemonade stand . . . Pep (Acid test: could you earn more if you spent the same amount of time working at McD's?) _____________________
Hypocrite lecteur, — mon semblable, — mon frère!
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Curtis Dresler
Registered User
Join date: 6 Apr 2008
Posts: 155
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10-24-2008 01:01
Anyone running a SL business to a level where they are managing an advertising budget, staff, rent and product development might consider adding it to a resume. Unlike a sports coach simulation, they are dealing with a real business, and possibly even extracting taxable levels of RL money. That's business success, and could be presented as such. However, framing the information so it doesn't look like you've been playing a video game is the tricky bit. Perhaps referring to it as an online company would look better to an employer? Ponsonby's warning that an employer might not like your energies going into a second job is probably sound, though. As someone that has gone through a lot of resumes OTHER than graphic artists etc., I would be worried if anyone over, say, 25 had nothing else to put in their resume to use up the real estate on those two or three pages. Sorry, it may take similar skills, but it isn't enough like RL to use on a business resume or even one for the typical non-profit. Running a very successful Tupperware franchise is easily more useful and most people would not list hat unless coming back on the job market. I think most people that think running a SL business is anywhere close to RL has not been awake at night worrying about making a payroll on Thursday with cash to cover checks and taxes. Or where product development mistakes can destroy a business in a matter of months if done wrong and with too many resources devoted to it. |
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Marine Kelley
Your cutest PITA
Join date: 19 Nov 2006
Posts: 111
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10-24-2008 02:06
It is very unlikely that I'm going to put whatever I do here on a resume, nor how much money I make. LOL
Besides, as Curtis said, it is far easier to run a SL business than a RL one. |
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Elanthius Flagstaff
Registered User
Join date: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 1,534
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10-24-2008 02:14
As a programmer I'd probably consider putting it down in the "interests/hobbies" section. Also if I had a big gap in my employment history I'd consider filling it with my work in SL.
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Argent Stonecutter
Emergency Mustelid
Join date: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 20,263
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10-24-2008 02:20
If you're making a living at it - if that's your day job - you absolutely need to put it on your your resume instead of leaving a gap. Otherwise, it's a hobby.
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Kelli May
karmakanic
Join date: 7 Oct 2006
Posts: 1,135
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10-24-2008 02:23
Like kids running a lemonade stand . . . Pep (Acid test: could you earn more if you spent the same amount of time working at McD's?) Kids running a lemonade stand rarely organise staff and advertising budgets. They generally don't pay rent. They are not famed for paying tax on their profits, or performing product research beyond "How much sugar should we add?". I did make the point that not every business venture in SL was worthy of putting on a resume. The OP even mentioned businesses that had "thousands of satisfied customers, and who have made tens of thousands of real world USD$". Most SL businesses are beer money ventures, at best (and very small beer indeed, in my case). Some are the real deal. _____________________
Do worried sheep have nervous ticks?
Karmakanix@Sin-Labs http://slurl.com/secondlife/Circe/170/197/504 Karmakanix on SLX http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&MerchantID=61062 |
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Pserendipity Daniels
Assume sarcasm as default
Join date: 21 Dec 2006
Posts: 8,839
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10-24-2008 03:16
Most SL businesses are beer money ventures, at best (and very small beer indeed, in my case). Some are the real deal. One swallow doesn't make a summer Pep (Although once upon a time I remember a beach and a girl . . .) _____________________
Hypocrite lecteur, — mon semblable, — mon frère!
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Jesseaitui Petion
king of polynesia :P
Join date: 2 Jan 2006
Posts: 2,175
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10-24-2008 03:38
Only if what I did in SL entailed graphic design and I were applying for a graphic design job. Anything else I can think of, like the countless "SL Police," - definitely not. You would get laughed at.
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Atashi Toshihiko
Frequently Befuddled
Join date: 7 Dec 2006
Posts: 1,423
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10-24-2008 05:11
It's all in how you phrase it, really.
* February 2007 - Present : Designed & programed hundreds of applications for an immersive 3d software platform ((I've run a modestly successful shop selling products I designed, built and scripted, for over a year. )) * March 2007 - Present : Managed & operated hosting service for several dozen clients, providing server space & technical support ((I run a modestly successful private estate.)) * July - August 2007 : Designed & implemented remote data collection system to gather data from a number of geographically diverse locations, consolidate to a central database, with access and reporting via web-based UI. ((To help monitor performance of my estate, I set up a system with sim monitors inworld that send data to an RL database, so I can see how the regions are doing without logging in.)) If I were ever in need of an RL resume, I would have no hesitation adding those three points to it. -Atashi _____________________
Visit Atashi's Art and Oddities Store and the Waikiti Motor Works at beautiful Waikiti.
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HoneyBear Lilliehook
Owner, The Mall at Cherry
Join date: 18 Jun 2007
Posts: 4,500
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10-24-2008 05:31
As a programmer I'd probably consider putting it down in the "interests/hobbies" section. Also if I had a big gap in my employment history I'd consider filling it with my work in SL. 1 User Agreed. _____________________
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URL=http://virtualfreebiesblog.com The Mall at Cherry Park - new vendors, new look! |
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Desmond Shang
Guvnah of Caledon
Join date: 14 Mar 2005
Posts: 5,250
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10-24-2008 06:51
I work for myself in all worlds; as such, a sheet of paper listing my accomplishments doesn't have much point to it.
If I was going to hire anybody though, the stuff they did here would be worth adding to their accomplishments. Provided it was anything good. The truth might be funny, though. Imagine your typical straight-laced accountant or something with all the usual dry education and job experiences, plus his second life experience as a barbie-looking escort. Then again the guy who he might approach for the job might be gorean or something, you never know... _____________________
 Steampunk Victorian, Well-Mannered Caledon! |
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Ordella Halley
~HERETIC~ Fashion&Design
Join date: 19 Mar 2007
Posts: 53
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10-24-2008 07:24
When applied for current job in february, I had a part in my portofolio under "Hobby / Online" section.
If your stuff is any good you can easily get plus points for creativity. _____________________
"I don't see how an article of clothing can be indecent. A person, yes." Robert A. Heinlein
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Phoenixa Sol
Dance Addict
Join date: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 315
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10-24-2008 07:31
Ordella, I think your stuff is awesome! Keep em coming!
/me smiles proudly and wears one outfit in her picture. _____________________
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Pserendipity Daniels
Assume sarcasm as default
Join date: 21 Dec 2006
Posts: 8,839
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10-24-2008 10:43
It's all in how you phrase it, really. * February 2007 - Present : Designed & programed hundreds of applications for an immersive 3d software platform ((I've run a modestly successful shop selling products I designed, built and scripted, for over a year. )) * March 2007 - Present : Managed & operated hosting service for several dozen clients, providing server space & technical support ((I run a modestly successful private estate.)) * July - August 2007 : Designed & implemented remote data collection system to gather data from a number of geographically diverse locations, consolidate to a central database, with access and reporting via web-based UI. ((To help monitor performance of my estate, I set up a system with sim monitors inworld that send data to an RL database, so I can see how the regions are doing without logging in.)) If I were ever in need of an RL resume, I would have no hesitation adding those three points to it. -Atashi "And how can I contact your references? BlackAdder Phang, Tigerlily Kutanaga and Jon123456789 Sideshow did you say their names were? Do you have phone numbers for them?" Pep (Maybe they could find them on Facebook?) _____________________
Hypocrite lecteur, — mon semblable, — mon frère!
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Pserendipity Daniels
Assume sarcasm as default
Join date: 21 Dec 2006
Posts: 8,839
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10-24-2008 10:45
Imagine your typical straight-laced accountant or something with all the usual dry education and job experiences, plus his second life experience as a barbie-looking escort. Damn you Desmond for blowing my cover. Pep (Was an accountant but is better now) _____________________
Hypocrite lecteur, — mon semblable, — mon frère!
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Atashi Toshihiko
Frequently Befuddled
Join date: 7 Dec 2006
Posts: 1,423
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10-24-2008 10:57
"And how can I contact your references? BlackAdder Phang, Tigerlily Kutanaga and Jon123456789 Sideshow did you say their names were? Do you have phone numbers for them?" Pep (Maybe they could find them on Facebook?) LOL - having never had to apply for a real job, it didn't occur to me that someone might want to verify stuff you put on a resume. -Atashi (being self employed kicks ass!) _____________________
Visit Atashi's Art and Oddities Store and the Waikiti Motor Works at beautiful Waikiti.
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Klang Wopat
"The Consultant"
Join date: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 212
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10-24-2008 12:17
It's all in how you phrase it, really. * February 2007 - Present : Designed & programed hundreds of applications for an immersive 3d software platform ((I've run a modestly successful shop selling products I designed, built and scripted, for over a year. )) * March 2007 - Present : Managed & operated hosting service for several dozen clients, providing server space & technical support ((I run a modestly successful private estate.)) * July - August 2007 : Designed & implemented remote data collection system to gather data from a number of geographically diverse locations, consolidate to a central database, with access and reporting via web-based UI. ((To help monitor performance of my estate, I set up a system with sim monitors inworld that send data to an RL database, so I can see how the regions are doing without logging in.)) If I were ever in need of an RL resume, I would have no hesitation adding those three points to it. -Atashi From an IT perspective, this is exactly what you are doing when you are utilizing SL. It's on my resume for that reason. Nice one, Atashi. |
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Briana Dawson
Attach to Mouth
Join date: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 5,855
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10-24-2008 17:29
No.
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