Are we expecting too much from staff applications?

I think that only longer, more detailed applications should be accepted.
We are a community that grows larger and larger every day, and that means we need the best of the best to moderate. The longer applications show that the applicant is dedicated to getting the position.

 

Well, at this point, the accepted apps are usually from people who have stayed here for a while and know what to expect. The standards have risen quite a bit, but the reason they did is that ones that are longer show more heart from the person and that they truly desire the position they're applying for.
Accepted apps don't NEED to be Signatured quality. Only a few lines will do.

The confusion comes in that the denied apps because off short answers are from newbies who will never get accepted anyway. Most applications from experienced members have a little bulk to it, which is fine.

It can also be considered that we accepted such low-quality answers because:

1. They were the only ones at the time
2. We were desperate for mods

It isn't really that hard to extend an answer to three or four lines.

Bottom line: This meta developed because the bad, denied, short apps were from newbies and the great, accepted, and long apps were from people who had a great chance of getting accepted anyway. With the amount of staff we have, we can afford to be more selective. The people that can be accepted (those who stay here long) will already know to put in SOME effort when applying.

Unless you are suggesting we accept the newbie apps, which will then decrease the quality of following apps.

 

Our criteria when we first started was naturally lower, hence the fact that we had just begun applying. Here, there is no application to look better than. There is only what seemed good to you and the rest of the staff. Now, we have a good amount of exceptional applications. The ones applying are aware of this, to an extent. They must beat out the others applying. At the same time, they know of the other applications accepted beforehand.

What we expect is rather natural at this time, in my opinion. The amount of staff we have is a steady amount. There is no outstanding need for staff at this time. From this, only a select few may become staff. These select few were what we expect nowadays. These select few were the best of the best; they beat out all others applying. We need exceptional staff members, for we no longer are in incredible need of moderators.

Our expectations increasing is something that I find natural. As the need for moderators is no longer as great, the competition picks up. From this, we get these applications. Best of the best. Even if their application is not extraordinarily long, yet they contain many moderator traits, they have a good chance at mod.

 

So you're saying that application should be more simplified into easier yet more detailed answers. That should work but the new application format has changed how we see applications ever since Tac introduced it to us.

 

I can not stress this enough, detail is far superior then length. Do not get me wrong, length is amazing Look at sig's app, it was really long AND detailed. However, if you are writing down random crap to make your app longer, then you are doing it wrong. If what you have to say adds greater detail, go for it I support you. One thing though, there should never EVER be a word count. People should have no boundaries on how long or short their app is. You should have complete freedom as to what you put in your app, as long as it answers the questions obviously.

 

The length is inherited by the detail.
If the length is a detriment to the application as such to that it is filled with trivial banter, it will be criticized in the responses.

 

An excellent server needs an excellent moderator. They can't be unbalanced.

I see your argument, but when you consider if we were to be "lenient", there are dramatic consequences.

The probability of being a mod right now is very low, and it should be. If we were to raise it higher, then we would have more choices. Choices is good, right? The choices we have of mods would be numerous, except that since the circle now covers more area, the possibilities of crappy mods would increase too. Crappy mods= Less traffic. Like you said in the poll, a well written application shows your dedication, as long as your not writing unnecessary sentences to make it appear longer. We tend to believe that a long application automatically makes it well written since most follow that trend. If this were true, I could easily make an application, make myself sound decent, fill it up with 2000 words, and get accepted.

There's been a study done a few decades ago, which concluded 'psychopaths' tend to have brilliant minds. Not saying that a 13-year old is a psychopath, but, if he were smart ( and evil) enough and the rules here would be lenient, he could find your sweet spot of making a long application and boom, he's got a pink name. What's next? The 13-year old wants to take the server down? He'll do it.

What the application should be criticized instead should be
-Quality ( does he types likes this or liek dis?)
-Maturity ( If I were to be proven wrong, I'd dislike his posts and continue on why I am right)
-If there is even the slightest doubt of something, then he shouldn't be considered. A good future mod will not be doubted instead trusted that he is responsible.
-Does his application match to his in-game persona? I've seen many applications on other servers in which the devilish players sound like a gentlemen from England.
-Why/How is he beneficial to the server? Such qualities could be speaking several languages, knows Java, may help with future projects other than warming another chair in the Staff section.
-Is he faithful? Stands strong in the bad days of the server.
-Are his goals/philosophy parallel to the servers? ( ex. "The player matters more")
-Does he go off topic or is straight to the point? Off topic normally leads to fake claims (proven by 911 calls)


"The Pros to Being a Psychopath." History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.

 

We shouldn't expect anything from apps at all.

IMO, we're here to judge the applicant as a person:

• Maturity
• Activity
• General conduct
• etc.

The apps should be for the admins only.

 

I kind of have to agree with Putty and Rainy on this. We are no longer a small server in desperate need of Moderators. Seeing as how we have plenty of Moderators as it is, it's natural that we are only going to pick the best of the best Applications, that have mature, helpful applicants. I spent weeks on my Application, putting lots of thought and effort into it, proofreading and proofreading, until I felt that everything was perfect. However, I still had maturity, and was still helpful on the forums and servers. I feel that your Application should at least be rather long, but still very detailed. If they really want this position, they would put more heart into it.

 

As Putty said, as the amount of players and population rises, so does the expectations.

Example:

You have to practice more and more as you get better and better at sports. You practice all the time at the pro and college level than you do at middle and high school levels.

So yes the expectations are much higher, but that is what is needed to find good people who will be good moderators.

 

Well, the member should be aware of the fact that their application should not be too short. If the answers were short, there is the possibility of it not being very detailed. If they have the correct amount of detail, without extravagant answers to go with short-answer questions, it is doubtful they would be turned down. Then again, they are always other factors on why they are shot down. What we expect differs from each person.

 

If someone really cares about the community and wants to help by being a mod, they should put in the effort to make a long, detailed application.

 

The length of you app shows dedication to the community. If your app is really long and detailed it dhows that you are willing to put the time and effort into the servers and not just take the easy way out.

 

Ah, should have worded mine better, my apologies. Detail length is the best, but random length is not good. Look at sig's app, it has great detail length. Now if someone made a long app that was not detailed, that is not good.
Still, I agree with putty as well. Filler sentences are bad, especially for the questions that just need 1 sentence. With the size of our servers today, we need excellent staff. The more people = better staff.