Two Degrees Of Separation

I know a guy who knows John Carmack. That's because two degrees of separation is probably about the average in our industry - if somebody linked up the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" server to
Mobygames instead of IMDB, that might be what we find out. This has an interesting side effect: if you're looking for a new job, somebody at the place you're looking probably knows somebody who used to work with you. So if you aren't careful, "You'll never work in this town again!" might be a very real possibility...particularly if you managed to piss off a hub - one of those people that everybody knows.
Side note: if you badmouth somebody to a prospective employer, they can sue you for defamation of character. The only thing it's legal for you to say, as I understand it, is, "I would hire him again," or, "I would not hire him again." Unless you trust that prospective employer not to reveal their sources...mua ha ha.

Comments

[Adam V.]

It's so true! I'm "in" the game industry more or less by random chance, and not for very long, and I'm 2 and 3 degrees away from lots of these guys.

[Ken]

And when you send a resume out, how do you get the perspective company to pass it around to their review crew (good), and not let those people call up their friends who are working at your current company (bad)!?!

Checking up is one convenient thing, but that's an ugly gossip session waiting to happen!

[z to the uh.. sizzah?]

I hear this "Jam-ee Firestorm" guy is a total dork. Anyone else agree?