Austin, TX to get some love from Blizzard

[Driakos]

Blizzard is opening a support satellite in Austin.  Lots of experience to pilfer in the area.  They probably stand to save a lot of money rather than paying California wages.

[Driakos]

... and now for the official job posting

Customer Service Representative (Austin, Texas)

Blizzard Entertainment is looking for experienced customer service representatives to serve as in-game support representatives for our massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), World of Warcraft.

IGSR's are customer service specialists who offer support to our customers within our World of Warcraft. Their main role is to provide assistance and guidance to players through a typed-chat client. IGSR’s will serve as the direct link between Blizzard and its customers. Additionally, IGSR's will be responsible for in-game customer support, as well as email-based customer support. The ideal candidate is an experienced customer service representative who is very organized, with excellent communication and customer service skills. MMORPG experience is a plus.

These are hourly full-time positions (40 hours per week) at our office in Austin, Texas. Shift hours and days may vary. The in-game support department is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Please note that applicants must be able to work additional (overtime) hours and weekends as needed. Please note that there are no internship-level positions open at this time.

Blizzard offers a fun, creative, and technically challenging environment with excellent compensation.

Requirements

    * Excellent customer service, typing, spelling, and communication skills
    * Must have a passion for games
    * Previous experience as a GM for an existing MMORPG a big plus, but not required

Please send a cover letter, resume, and salary history to gmjobsaustin@blizzard.com Please list this job and your name in the subject line.

No follow-up calls or e-mails, please. At times we will have part-time positions available during specific shifts, so please inquire if interested.

Relocation services or compensation will not be available for this position.

This is a full-time position in Austin, TX.

CS really isn't a bad way to get into the industry, and you get to have the giant on your resume'.  No relo though, makes it clear the pay-range you would be in here.

[Riggswolfe]

Isn't this just a glorified call center job? It sure looks like it from the description. That means <$15 an hour, and being worked to death and fired at the first sign you're not perfect, like actually having the balls to get sick.

[Driakos]

Isn't this just a glorified call center job? It sure looks like it from the description. That means <$15 an hour, and being worked to death and fired at the first sign you're not perfect, like actually having the balls to get sick.

It is definitely a call center job.  Queues, metrics, just no phones.  I did the GM thing for a different MMO.  It was a good job.  We had PTO and everything.  No whips.  It was a good foot in the door.  Not sure for WoW, as currently they have 500+ GMs in Irvine.  We had.. ohh.. 18-24.  So you got a lot more face time outside of the department.  It is a better in for sure than QA though. 

[Riggswolfe]

Isn't this just a glorified call center job? It sure looks like it from the description. That means <$15 an hour, and being worked to death and fired at the first sign you're not perfect, like actually having the balls to get sick.

It is definitely a call center job.  Queues, metrics, just no phones.  I did the GM thing for a different MMO.  It was a good job.  We had PTO and everything.  No whips.  It was a good foot in the door.  Not sure for WoW, as currently they have 500+ GMs in Irvine.  We had.. ohh.. 18-24.  So you got a lot more face time outside of the department.  It is a better in for sure than QA though. 

I've always wondered, do you actually get to play a little with your GM character?

[Driakos]

I've always wondered, do you actually get to play a little with your GM character?

No.  But you learn so much about the game, that you have an advantage right there.  The big downside, is your job is the game, so on your off hours, you don't want to play the game.  Then things just decline over time.  Optimally there are projects and other tasks to do, aside from direct queue-work, you end up being a lot more productive long term (and keep your attention/infatuation with the game, which makes you a much more valuable resource).

WoW's CS team is so huge, I would imagine that the front line GMs follow a strict runbook of documented processes/issues.  It is probably not until the SR GM/LD GM level that you deal with more one-off issues that require creative solutions or arbitration.  So at first, it is going to be an easy, but boring job.

I'm just glad Austin is getting studio attention, no matter what form. I lived there a few years ago, and it is a great town.

[schild]

Austin doesn't need more studio attention.

[WayAbvPar]

Austin doesn't need more studio attention.

It just needs to relocate to somewhere more palatable than Texas. Like maybe the 3rd Circle of Hell.

[schild]

Austin doesn't need more studio attention.

It just needs to relocate to somewhere more palatable than Texas. Like maybe the 3rd Circle of Hell.

Or Baghdad.