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Q: Would a personal RPG blog be off-putting to most hiring managers?

Jesse CohoonIn my spare time I write a RPG (roleplaying game) blog - stuff like D&D, White Wolf, BESM, etc. Nothing I write is controversial or adult in the least. I've gotten paid for my articles in this field at times (and have the previously published ones I've been paid for listed on my "writing" resume....

I read RPG and thought "Rocket Propelled Grenade", thought "That's a bit much to take to an interview"
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@TheWanderingDevManager Perhaps, but it would be negotiating from a position of strength.
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Started to put this as an answer, but since it's a non-answer, realized a comment would be better. It wouldn't have been a problem with any of the bosses I've had over the past (mumble mumble) years, so my impression is "It won't be a problem for most hiring managers, and if it were, would you really want to work there anyway?" But the sample set of ones own employment history is inherently both limited and biased, so I don't know if this is true in generally. And it's easy to say "would you want to work there if you had to keep that much of your life under wraps" while I'm currently employed.
Related question, probably not a duplicate: Should I mention my published short story in my resume?
I am a firm believer of 'How you do anything is how you do everything'. This blog will act on behalf of you, showing your employer your personal side. Opening this blog may be the deciding factor as to whether or not they hire you. When they do hire you, you come with this aspect of your life regardless of whether or not you share it upfront. Provided that it is workplace appropriate, never suppress any personal passion. What are we if not an amalgamation of our passions and interests?
23:43
are you applying for jobs as a writer, or in the software development / IT field? i suggest editing the question to answer that.
How bad do you need the job? Really bad, then be their perfect fit. Not so much, then feel free to express your personality. There are times in our life were we have to work for whoever will hire us. There are others when we are blessed enough to be picky.
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If you're young/not desperate for a job in X location because you already have a mortgage and kids, toss that blog on your resume. You'll be better able to find coworkers that you genuinely get along with. Even if they don't care at all about your blog, that would be easier to get along with than someone who thought it was super childish/geeky to be passionate about a hobby and to enjoy writing :-/
"If a website asks for a personal blog or website, is giving this information a bad thing?" - if you are applying for a job as a writer or game product manager, probably not (assuming it's well-written).
"it also showcases that I know how to do HTML because the website supports it" - hmm. So because the website itself "supports" HTML, you feel that this fact alone showcases that you "know how to do HTML"? What kind of job are you seeking. I'm not sure many would have a requirement that you "know how to do HTML", but perhaps that's still a thing... And I'm trying to think of any website that doesn't support HTML...
Too short for an answer, but if you have enough other writing samples, you might list a generic line in your resume ("Regularly updated gaming blog, reaching xx visitors/week"), and just talk about specifics in the interview if you feel "safe" doing so.
This is what I thought of when I read the title, I had never heard "Role Playing Game" as an acronym: RPG (Report Program Generator) is a programming language that originated as a report-building program used in DEC and IBM minicomputer operating systems and evolved into a fully procedural programming language. A BLOG about it would seem really strange, like designing a robot to ride a horse.
23:43
My personal feeling on it is that, as long as it's well-written and professional, if they would hold it against you for personal reasons, then it's not a place I want to work, or a person I want to work for... But if it's because they feel that it reflects my skills negatively, then I'd want to get feedback and hope they'd give it to me
@whrrgarbl the problem is my updates are too sporadic to claim a "readership" in the traditional sense of the word. The articles that I write and aren't being paid for are actually a creative outlet for ME, based on inspiration received from a variety of sources, but I write them and share them in order to give others ideas about how to run their games.
@JoeStrazzere what I meant is that the blog supports HTML coding. (the back end of all webpages ARE coded with HTML, but I didn't think i needed to spell that out so specifically!
If you're looking for a job as a game-designer - that would almost be a portfolio! Otherwise it depends on the type of job and company you're looking to work for. I'd almost guarantee positive feedback from a game-dev company but it's really hard to tell without knowing who you talk to and how good your blog is ;)
Keep in mind that most hiring managers do not use SE sites. The answers from hiring managers will mostly represent a small group of them
@JesseCohoon - there are very few jobs where using HTML coding on a blog page would be considered a significant benefit. (Unless the job involves HTML coding on blog pages). It might be like touting your abilities to use Notepad.
@JoeStrazzere Actually quite a few positions I apply for talk about the need for wordpress, which while it is a WYSWYG, it supports a certain amount of HTML.

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