Senior Game Master
Marvin Garden's Guide to Application Success
Introduction
So, you want to write an application?
Writing an application is never easy. However, this guide seeks to both instruct and engage in discussion about how to best present yourself as a candidate for any RP position on this server. For the purposes of clarity, this is meant for the SCP-RP servers.
This guide has five distinct sections, each one meant to advise a different part of the application writing process.
Disclaimer:
All of what is written is my own personal interpretation after having been in Jr. Cl4 for 3 months, Department Leadership for 3 months, Site Administration for 6 months, and the Overseer Council for 1 month. It does not reflect the opinions of my current employment in the Overseer Council as a whole, or judgements on any applications I have handled in the past.
1. Building a Reputation
Initial Considerations:
Before you apply, you must consider how well known you are within your department. Specifically, by the current CL4, and designated Senior CL4. For the majority of positions on the server, the ones making the decision will likely be this subset of people. Even for CL3 whitelisted positions, if you are actively on the job, you are likely being watched by CL4 personnel, people who will inevitably develop an opinion regarding your conduct and judgement. Those opinions will be crucial to your success no matter how excellent your application may be.
What kind of reputation should I be building?:
There is no catch all for how you should be acting or engaging with your department. Ultimately it will depend on your character and how you wish to present them.
But, here are a few good suggestions.
- Engage with your CL4: Present them with ideas for the department. Projects for them to approve. Even small talk can be the difference maker. They need to know who you are.
- Be professional: The wish of every department leader is for them to be able to trust members of their department to provide them with a good reputation on site. That means their CL3s aren't getting in trouble with IA (although some inevitably will), and that their people are not antagonizing other departments. In fact, if you can work collaboratively with other departments, that shows a level of maturity that is sought for CL4 positions. This is not to say that you can't have fun on the job or do a little treason RP here and there, because you can. Just do it in a way that won't cause your department leader to think "What the hell are they doing." and instead think "Wow, that was well planned/executed." or "That was a really funny thing to say that still makes sense In-Character."
- Server Rules: Most people think that their warn history is not that important. However, how you conduct yourself in terms of receiving staff punishments is. There have been many people on this server who have pulled themselves out of the quagmire of minge, simply by taking time to prove that they are serious, and that they are trying actively to improve themselves and the community.
The Trust Paradigm:
The single most limiting aspect of this server is time. People need time to figure out who you are. Which means, getting a CL4 position will take quite a lot of time.
We want people for these positions that are willing to invest their valuable time into the community. With that time comes trust. With that trust is certain level of expectation. Your superiors need to know that you are both willing and able to provide the job with what it needs. Thus, your behavior, which is an extension of your time spent, is paramount.
2. Writing the Application
When to start writing:
The moment you have any kind of thoughts regarding a CL4 position is the time to start writing it. Open a google doc or text file and paste in the application. Then, you can slowly edit and refine it as you prepare to apply.
What to write:
There is never going to be a set standard for what you should be writing, since ideally your application is unique to you and your circumstance. However, there are a few tips that may assist in the writing process. The application questions are there to gain information about you. Ideally, you should be known already. However, if due to timezones or some other factor you are not known by the Sr. CL4, you need to make your application as detailed and thorough as possible.
For this section, I will be using questions, ones that could be answered in your application. Keep in mind that these are suggestions, and by no means do you have to or need to answer all of them in order to have a good application. This is simply information that will assist your reviewer in their decision.
- How have you contributed to your department?
This is a complicated question for many reasons. Depending on the level of application, your reviewer may not know the time and effort you have expended in your current position. Thus, you must list specifically, in as much detail as needed, how you have contributed to the department on-site. This can be arrest reports, project files, links to SCIPNet locations, activity logs, etc. Your reviewer will not take the time to find all these by themselves, so you must present them yourself. Essentially, what have you done in the past that shows you are an active contributor, that speaks to how you will use the position to continue to contribute.
- Why do you want this position?
This is a more complex question than I believe most people consider. Your reviewer wants to know that not only do you want this position, but you can also execute it faithfully. You may have grand designs for CL5 or some other greater position, but you must present to those in charge that you want the current position you are applying to for the sake of using that position, not because you want to springboard into a higher spot. To that end, if you have ideas for ways to improve the department, now is the time to present those. Keep in mind that you should be constructive with these ideas. Implying that your leaders have been lazy is never a good look when applying, no matter how true it is.
- Why should they trust you?
As mentioned, trust and time are the two most important aspects of applying. So, why should your leaders trust you? What have you done in the past that shows you can be trusted? Let's also assume an example that you have been problematic in the past. Why can they trust you to have changed your ways? Answering questions like these are excellent in showing that you are not only acknowledging your past mistakes, but that you have grown beyond it. This trust often goes hand in hand with experience as well. Experience is more than just positions held, it is also what you did within those positions that can be applied to the one you are applying to. Make sure to expand on your experience in the application's written section.
- Why do you want the position IN CHARACTER?
This is an RP server, as much as people would like to contest that point. So, in your RP/Storyline section you should be explaining why your character would get this position. A simple recount of your path to this point can work for this purpose, or you can take a more detailed storyteller approach.
- What are the responsibilities?
This section is more important than most think. It serves to allow your reviewer to make sure you understand what the position entails, even from an outside perspective. To that end, I would encourage asking people directly in said position what they think the more niche or behind the scenes responsibilities are for that position. The more you can understand about the position you are applying for, the better your chance of success will be.
Questions like these will help direct your application to give the reviewer as much information as possible for their decision. Hopefully, if they are a good reviewer, they will be reading your application in its entirety. If they don't, it will fall on your reputation to carry the rest of the weight.
How to Write:
As long as you use good grammar such as proper capitalization and punctuation, and good spelling, your writing level is not that significant. If you can get the point across, it won't matter if you can only write at a 5th grade level. If you need, use a program like Grammarly or a spell check tool to make sure that your sentences are readable.
If you have trouble with sentence structure, don't be afraid to use bullet points.
Formatting also helps quite a lot, but don't over-format it. Just make sure it is legible.
When to Submit:
Knowing when you are ready to submit is a bit of an art form. You should ideally be at a time where you have not only developed your reputation, but the application has been drafted, written, rewritten, and reviewed several times. Make sure that if you do submit, that you are fully prepared for the position you wish to enter. A half-hearted submission will make for a short-lived unhappy tenure in your position.
Sometimes, a position will not have slots available. In this case, you should be waiting in a position that is either next in line, or related to the position, to maximize your chances of acceptance.
3. Waiting, Interviews, and the Decision.
After Submission:
The "No Advertising" clause can be taken quite seriously depending on the position. You may be approached by people both in-game and OOC regarding your application. You are allowed to engage in conversation, but I find it is better to feign ignorance. It shows that you are being modest regarding the application, and that you want the process to be as unbiased as possible.
Community Support:
Members of the community will see your application and give their thoughts. They may be negative. They may be positive. They may be neutral. Whether you want to engage with these supports is up to your personal decision. I have always chose not to engage at all with my application once posted, because if a reviewer has questions or concerns they would hopefully contact you directly. The one thing you always want to avoid is an argument in your application thread. It looks good for nobody, and achieves nothing but to annoy the reviewer due to off-topic or unneeded comments.
Another consideration, which is going to sound very harsh, is that your community support is quite meaningless towards your application. At higher level applications, they often consider the best candidate, which is not necessarily the candidate with the most support. That means that your support shows that you do have community support, but the application itself or interview is going to be far more important.
Interviews:
Depending on the position level or departmental leadership, you may be asked to partake in an interview. These interviews often last 10-20 minutes, with prepared questions in a recorded conversation. This interview is very important for resolving any concerns your reviewer may have. There will be no way to know what will be asked, but there are a few common themes.
- First, they will likely want specifics about your time in past positions or your current role. They want to know that you have been involved, and can recall realistic and verifiable details of that involvement.
- Second, they will possibly ask you repeat questions from the application. It is best to reiterate your goals and affirm your interest in the position.
- Third, they may ask you to address a concern they have, or a past situation you were involved with that came up in their review. It is best to be honest, while also ensuring they understand you have either grown past situation, or understand why what happened in that situation was wrong. Swallow your pride.
- Finally, don't stress about it. If you need to take time to think, they will not care. The interview is to better understand you as a candidate, not to torture you or make you cry. Focus on presenting the best side of yourself possible, and to alleviate any concerns they may have about you.
One thing to note: Not all applications will have an interview. If you do receive an interview, you should consider it as a sign that they either want to know more about you as a candidate, or have seen merit to elevate your application. It does NOT mean you are guaranteed to pass.
Acceptance:
If all goes well, congratulations! You have achieved your dreams. Or, at the very least, put yourself in a position where you can develop and learn further how to be a contributing member of the SCP Foundation. May you take flight and soar into the distance like an albino eagle, indistinguishable to the clouds.
Rejection:
If you are rejected, the first step is to remain calm. You may be feeling sad, confused, or angry. However, it is best to swallow that for now because you have something more important to do.
In order to maximize your chances of being accepted in the future, you must determine where you can improve. This means reaching out to the designated contact and asking for areas of improvement. You should not automatically assume you were denied because they don't like you. In fact, most applications that get denied are because there is simply not enough information about the applicant, either provided or reputation wise, in order to trust enough to accept. I have highlighted this several times in this guide, but your reviewers will not know you as an applicant if you do not explicitly tell them what you have done, pioneered, or contributed to.
In most cases, you will receive a response which may not be satisfactory to you. Keep in mind that your reviewers make decisions like this constantly, and it may not be what you expected as the reason. Take it in stride, and seek to improve for your next application.
4. Post-Application Considerations
The Cooldown:
For all applications, there is a two week cooldown. This is a very long time. However, if you immediately apply off of cooldown, it almost never looks good unless you have made drastic efforts to change your reputation or application. I would suggest a good buffer of at least 3 weeks between applications, even if it is painfully long. It will show that you are taking the time to both synthesize feedback, and make changes to give yourself a better chance of success.
The One Rule:
For your second application:
NEVER APPLY WITH THE SAME APPLICATION TWICE
I will say it a little bit louder for people in the back:
NEVER, AND I MEAN NEVER, APPLY WITH AN IDENTICAL APPLICATION
Not only is it lazy, but it shows a lack of respect for your reviewer and the time they take in giving you a full holistic application review.
You can take bits and pieces of your previous applications, but an identical format and text is a big no.
Use of Artificial Intelligence:
Do not assume that your reviewer will not be able to tell if you write an application using AI. This is especially true if you have written applications in the past for them to compare, because human vs A.I. writing styles are usually quite distinct. This does not mean that you cannot use AI to give you advice, but always keep in mind that it is a language model. Its responses will likely be wholly inapplicable if not downright incorrect. And it will always respond exactly how you either expect it or suggest it to.
Out of respect for the proccess, and your reviewer, just write it yourself even if you may not be the best writer.
5. Final Notes
The Reviewer:
One final thing to note: Not every application will have a thorough review process. Humans make mistakes, and your reviewers are no different. Sometimes applications are denied for simple reasons, sometimes for ones more complex. However, sometimes it is for something arbitrary. Sometimes, another candidate just stood out more. This is part of the reason you ask for comments or advice. Figure out why someone else was chosen, or why you were denied, and learn from it. As terrible as it sounds, complaining will get you nowhere other than to further antagonize. Feel free to ask on a personal level as well. Have a conversation in-game or on TS. Just keep in mind that most people will have recording softwares, or explicitly ask them not to record it.
If you really truly feel your application denial was unjustified, you could seek to escalate to a higher power. Just keep in mind that your application will not be accepted through this process. Instead, reforms will be made for the next applicant, and changes implemented for a more fair process.
Closing Statement:
Hopefully, what you have read here today has helped guide your application writing process, and given you some insight into what makes a successful application.
I will try to respond to questions in the comments of this thread, just make sure to @ me or quote part of the text.
Also, if you wish to contribute to this guide, feel free to do so below. I will be making edits as needed in certain sections.
The Fun Disclaimer:
At the end of the day, this is funny gmod server, so all of the above should not be taken super seriously. Try and have fun, and always remember if you have RP ability, its usually a boon.
Introduction
So, you want to write an application?
Writing an application is never easy. However, this guide seeks to both instruct and engage in discussion about how to best present yourself as a candidate for any RP position on this server. For the purposes of clarity, this is meant for the SCP-RP servers.
This guide has five distinct sections, each one meant to advise a different part of the application writing process.
Disclaimer:
All of what is written is my own personal interpretation after having been in Jr. Cl4 for 3 months, Department Leadership for 3 months, Site Administration for 6 months, and the Overseer Council for 1 month. It does not reflect the opinions of my current employment in the Overseer Council as a whole, or judgements on any applications I have handled in the past.
1. Building a Reputation
Initial Considerations:
Before you apply, you must consider how well known you are within your department. Specifically, by the current CL4, and designated Senior CL4. For the majority of positions on the server, the ones making the decision will likely be this subset of people. Even for CL3 whitelisted positions, if you are actively on the job, you are likely being watched by CL4 personnel, people who will inevitably develop an opinion regarding your conduct and judgement. Those opinions will be crucial to your success no matter how excellent your application may be.
What kind of reputation should I be building?:
There is no catch all for how you should be acting or engaging with your department. Ultimately it will depend on your character and how you wish to present them.
But, here are a few good suggestions.
- Engage with your CL4: Present them with ideas for the department. Projects for them to approve. Even small talk can be the difference maker. They need to know who you are.
- Be professional: The wish of every department leader is for them to be able to trust members of their department to provide them with a good reputation on site. That means their CL3s aren't getting in trouble with IA (although some inevitably will), and that their people are not antagonizing other departments. In fact, if you can work collaboratively with other departments, that shows a level of maturity that is sought for CL4 positions. This is not to say that you can't have fun on the job or do a little treason RP here and there, because you can. Just do it in a way that won't cause your department leader to think "What the hell are they doing." and instead think "Wow, that was well planned/executed." or "That was a really funny thing to say that still makes sense In-Character."
- Server Rules: Most people think that their warn history is not that important. However, how you conduct yourself in terms of receiving staff punishments is. There have been many people on this server who have pulled themselves out of the quagmire of minge, simply by taking time to prove that they are serious, and that they are trying actively to improve themselves and the community.
The Trust Paradigm:
The single most limiting aspect of this server is time. People need time to figure out who you are. Which means, getting a CL4 position will take quite a lot of time.
We want people for these positions that are willing to invest their valuable time into the community. With that time comes trust. With that trust is certain level of expectation. Your superiors need to know that you are both willing and able to provide the job with what it needs. Thus, your behavior, which is an extension of your time spent, is paramount.
2. Writing the Application
When to start writing:
The moment you have any kind of thoughts regarding a CL4 position is the time to start writing it. Open a google doc or text file and paste in the application. Then, you can slowly edit and refine it as you prepare to apply.
What to write:
There is never going to be a set standard for what you should be writing, since ideally your application is unique to you and your circumstance. However, there are a few tips that may assist in the writing process. The application questions are there to gain information about you. Ideally, you should be known already. However, if due to timezones or some other factor you are not known by the Sr. CL4, you need to make your application as detailed and thorough as possible.
For this section, I will be using questions, ones that could be answered in your application. Keep in mind that these are suggestions, and by no means do you have to or need to answer all of them in order to have a good application. This is simply information that will assist your reviewer in their decision.
- How have you contributed to your department?
This is a complicated question for many reasons. Depending on the level of application, your reviewer may not know the time and effort you have expended in your current position. Thus, you must list specifically, in as much detail as needed, how you have contributed to the department on-site. This can be arrest reports, project files, links to SCIPNet locations, activity logs, etc. Your reviewer will not take the time to find all these by themselves, so you must present them yourself. Essentially, what have you done in the past that shows you are an active contributor, that speaks to how you will use the position to continue to contribute.
- Why do you want this position?
This is a more complex question than I believe most people consider. Your reviewer wants to know that not only do you want this position, but you can also execute it faithfully. You may have grand designs for CL5 or some other greater position, but you must present to those in charge that you want the current position you are applying to for the sake of using that position, not because you want to springboard into a higher spot. To that end, if you have ideas for ways to improve the department, now is the time to present those. Keep in mind that you should be constructive with these ideas. Implying that your leaders have been lazy is never a good look when applying, no matter how true it is.
- Why should they trust you?
As mentioned, trust and time are the two most important aspects of applying. So, why should your leaders trust you? What have you done in the past that shows you can be trusted? Let's also assume an example that you have been problematic in the past. Why can they trust you to have changed your ways? Answering questions like these are excellent in showing that you are not only acknowledging your past mistakes, but that you have grown beyond it. This trust often goes hand in hand with experience as well. Experience is more than just positions held, it is also what you did within those positions that can be applied to the one you are applying to. Make sure to expand on your experience in the application's written section.
- Why do you want the position IN CHARACTER?
This is an RP server, as much as people would like to contest that point. So, in your RP/Storyline section you should be explaining why your character would get this position. A simple recount of your path to this point can work for this purpose, or you can take a more detailed storyteller approach.
- What are the responsibilities?
This section is more important than most think. It serves to allow your reviewer to make sure you understand what the position entails, even from an outside perspective. To that end, I would encourage asking people directly in said position what they think the more niche or behind the scenes responsibilities are for that position. The more you can understand about the position you are applying for, the better your chance of success will be.
Questions like these will help direct your application to give the reviewer as much information as possible for their decision. Hopefully, if they are a good reviewer, they will be reading your application in its entirety. If they don't, it will fall on your reputation to carry the rest of the weight.
How to Write:
As long as you use good grammar such as proper capitalization and punctuation, and good spelling, your writing level is not that significant. If you can get the point across, it won't matter if you can only write at a 5th grade level. If you need, use a program like Grammarly or a spell check tool to make sure that your sentences are readable.
If you have trouble with sentence structure, don't be afraid to use bullet points.
Formatting also helps quite a lot, but don't over-format it. Just make sure it is legible.
When to Submit:
Knowing when you are ready to submit is a bit of an art form. You should ideally be at a time where you have not only developed your reputation, but the application has been drafted, written, rewritten, and reviewed several times. Make sure that if you do submit, that you are fully prepared for the position you wish to enter. A half-hearted submission will make for a short-lived unhappy tenure in your position.
Sometimes, a position will not have slots available. In this case, you should be waiting in a position that is either next in line, or related to the position, to maximize your chances of acceptance.
3. Waiting, Interviews, and the Decision.
After Submission:
The "No Advertising" clause can be taken quite seriously depending on the position. You may be approached by people both in-game and OOC regarding your application. You are allowed to engage in conversation, but I find it is better to feign ignorance. It shows that you are being modest regarding the application, and that you want the process to be as unbiased as possible.
Community Support:
Members of the community will see your application and give their thoughts. They may be negative. They may be positive. They may be neutral. Whether you want to engage with these supports is up to your personal decision. I have always chose not to engage at all with my application once posted, because if a reviewer has questions or concerns they would hopefully contact you directly. The one thing you always want to avoid is an argument in your application thread. It looks good for nobody, and achieves nothing but to annoy the reviewer due to off-topic or unneeded comments.
Another consideration, which is going to sound very harsh, is that your community support is quite meaningless towards your application. At higher level applications, they often consider the best candidate, which is not necessarily the candidate with the most support. That means that your support shows that you do have community support, but the application itself or interview is going to be far more important.
Interviews:
Depending on the position level or departmental leadership, you may be asked to partake in an interview. These interviews often last 10-20 minutes, with prepared questions in a recorded conversation. This interview is very important for resolving any concerns your reviewer may have. There will be no way to know what will be asked, but there are a few common themes.
- First, they will likely want specifics about your time in past positions or your current role. They want to know that you have been involved, and can recall realistic and verifiable details of that involvement.
- Second, they will possibly ask you repeat questions from the application. It is best to reiterate your goals and affirm your interest in the position.
- Third, they may ask you to address a concern they have, or a past situation you were involved with that came up in their review. It is best to be honest, while also ensuring they understand you have either grown past situation, or understand why what happened in that situation was wrong. Swallow your pride.
- Finally, don't stress about it. If you need to take time to think, they will not care. The interview is to better understand you as a candidate, not to torture you or make you cry. Focus on presenting the best side of yourself possible, and to alleviate any concerns they may have about you.
One thing to note: Not all applications will have an interview. If you do receive an interview, you should consider it as a sign that they either want to know more about you as a candidate, or have seen merit to elevate your application. It does NOT mean you are guaranteed to pass.
Acceptance:
If all goes well, congratulations! You have achieved your dreams. Or, at the very least, put yourself in a position where you can develop and learn further how to be a contributing member of the SCP Foundation. May you take flight and soar into the distance like an albino eagle, indistinguishable to the clouds.
Rejection:
If you are rejected, the first step is to remain calm. You may be feeling sad, confused, or angry. However, it is best to swallow that for now because you have something more important to do.
In order to maximize your chances of being accepted in the future, you must determine where you can improve. This means reaching out to the designated contact and asking for areas of improvement. You should not automatically assume you were denied because they don't like you. In fact, most applications that get denied are because there is simply not enough information about the applicant, either provided or reputation wise, in order to trust enough to accept. I have highlighted this several times in this guide, but your reviewers will not know you as an applicant if you do not explicitly tell them what you have done, pioneered, or contributed to.
In most cases, you will receive a response which may not be satisfactory to you. Keep in mind that your reviewers make decisions like this constantly, and it may not be what you expected as the reason. Take it in stride, and seek to improve for your next application.
4. Post-Application Considerations
The Cooldown:
For all applications, there is a two week cooldown. This is a very long time. However, if you immediately apply off of cooldown, it almost never looks good unless you have made drastic efforts to change your reputation or application. I would suggest a good buffer of at least 3 weeks between applications, even if it is painfully long. It will show that you are taking the time to both synthesize feedback, and make changes to give yourself a better chance of success.
The One Rule:
For your second application:
NEVER APPLY WITH THE SAME APPLICATION TWICE
I will say it a little bit louder for people in the back:
NEVER, AND I MEAN NEVER, APPLY WITH AN IDENTICAL APPLICATION
Not only is it lazy, but it shows a lack of respect for your reviewer and the time they take in giving you a full holistic application review.
You can take bits and pieces of your previous applications, but an identical format and text is a big no.
Use of Artificial Intelligence:
Do not assume that your reviewer will not be able to tell if you write an application using AI. This is especially true if you have written applications in the past for them to compare, because human vs A.I. writing styles are usually quite distinct. This does not mean that you cannot use AI to give you advice, but always keep in mind that it is a language model. Its responses will likely be wholly inapplicable if not downright incorrect. And it will always respond exactly how you either expect it or suggest it to.
Out of respect for the proccess, and your reviewer, just write it yourself even if you may not be the best writer.
5. Final Notes
The Reviewer:
One final thing to note: Not every application will have a thorough review process. Humans make mistakes, and your reviewers are no different. Sometimes applications are denied for simple reasons, sometimes for ones more complex. However, sometimes it is for something arbitrary. Sometimes, another candidate just stood out more. This is part of the reason you ask for comments or advice. Figure out why someone else was chosen, or why you were denied, and learn from it. As terrible as it sounds, complaining will get you nowhere other than to further antagonize. Feel free to ask on a personal level as well. Have a conversation in-game or on TS. Just keep in mind that most people will have recording softwares, or explicitly ask them not to record it.
If you really truly feel your application denial was unjustified, you could seek to escalate to a higher power. Just keep in mind that your application will not be accepted through this process. Instead, reforms will be made for the next applicant, and changes implemented for a more fair process.
Closing Statement:
Hopefully, what you have read here today has helped guide your application writing process, and given you some insight into what makes a successful application.
I will try to respond to questions in the comments of this thread, just make sure to @ me or quote part of the text.
Also, if you wish to contribute to this guide, feel free to do so below. I will be making edits as needed in certain sections.
The Fun Disclaimer:
At the end of the day, this is funny gmod server, so all of the above should not be taken super seriously. Try and have fun, and always remember if you have RP ability, its usually a boon.
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