Penny Arcade Forums› The Penny Arcade Hub
The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.

[TRENCHES] Friday, May 22, 2015 - Checked Mate Check

GethGeth LegionPerseus VeilRegistered User, Moderator, Penny Arcade Staff, Vanilla Staff vanilla
edited May 2015 in The Penny Arcade Hub
Checked Mate Check


Checked Mate Check
http://trenchescomic.com/comic/post/checked-mate-check

Just to impress a boy!

Anonymous

I was directed to this site by someone after telling them this story, and wow. I’m SO glad this archive exists.

In mid-2011 I applied for a localization testing position in Birmingham, UK. I have 2 years of translation experience and plenty of good references, so I knew my chances were good (I want to be part of the industry and I don’t care which end I get in). I sent in my CV and received an email back on the same day with a date and time for a phone interview. I was through the roof, you have no idea how long I had been trying to get into the industry. So the date of the interview arrived and my phone rang. A nice lady talked to me first to confirm my identity. Then she passed the phone to a gentleman who would be doing the interview proper.

He asked me some questions regarding my previous translation job. I filled him in. Then he asked me why I wanted the job, I said I wanted to get into the gaming industry. There was this really awkward pause.
I started to panic and was about to tell him about my mod work for various games, involvement in communities, etc, when he cut me off and the following exchange happened:

Interviewer: Look, madam, I will be frank with you, I don’t actually believe you want this job.
Me: (very stunned) No?
Interviewer: No, I don’t believe your interest in the gaming industry is genuine as a woman.
Me: ...No?
Interviewer: I regret to let you go since your experience is good, but I get the impression you are trying to impress someone.
Me: ...I am?
Interviewer: A boy, perhaps? It was great interviewing you, and I wish you best of luck in the future.
Me: (too stunned to defend myself) Thank you sir, you too!

I didn’t even tell my husband until months later. In retrospect I should have sued his ass. The only good that came of this experience was that it helped me make the decision to apply for a degree in literature and video game writing, which I am starting in the next few weeks.

If the scumbag who interviewed me ever reads this, I just want to tell you that you are part of the reason this industry is in the middle ages as far as gender equality is concerned and I hope you burn in hell. <33</p>


Geth on

Posts

  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu PIGEON Registered User regular
    Jesus, that's a fucking tale.

  • GaslightGaslight Registered User regular
    edited May 2015
    Looks like Marley has found himself in zugzwang.

    Gaslight on
  • DjiemDjiem Registered User regular
    To impress a boy? Really?

    Holy shit.

  • Gamer8585Gamer8585 Registered User regular
    I legit lol'd at the comic, but that Tale...Christ people are fucking terrible. Too bad she didn't get a recording of that. Not familiar with the nuances of UK law, but I have a feeling the authorities don't take kindly to overt gender discrimination over there.

  • lawragatajarlawragatajar Registered User regular
    You would think people would at least have the sense to hide their discrimination. Finish the interview normally instead of outright giving ammo for a lawsuit. I suppose it's better this way so we know that it's happening, but how does someone not realize that acting this way is not accepted?

Sign In or Register to comment.
Penny Arcade Forums› The Penny Arcade Hub