Games Maker - selection event

Wow, what an Olympic-tastic day today – Games Maker selection event and (finally) some more ticket news.

Let’s forget the ticket stuff – I’m sure most of you will be following the BBC’s James Pearce, who is fast becoming an Olympic ticket guru. Don’t know who I mean? Well check him out on Twitter.

But back to my Games Maker selection event. In true over-eager fashion I was fashionable early – 45 mins early, in fact. A good thing, sure, but not when you are wondering around a deathly quiet ExCeL centre with only a Costa Coffee and newsagents as entertainment. The rather nifty Dyson hand dryers in the toilets were about as exciting as that three quarter of an hour got.

Finally, it was time. On arrival there were two burly security guys on the door. Is this some kind of nightclub, I thought? An Olympic Movida, perhaps? Unfortunately not. But after ascertaining that I was there at the right time, I was allowed into the ‘holding area’.

When I say ‘holding area’, I mean a rather uncomfortable looking couch and about 30 people looking at each other, nervously sussing the competition.

I had clearly pitched my attire correctly – most people were in very casual outfits. In fact, there was so much faded denim and backpacks on show that it felt a bit like a ramblers convention. Still, my shirt and dark jean combo made me one of the more smarter candidates.

We then had to register and were given a name badge, a coloured rubber wristband (cool, man) and an information sheet.

You are then pushed through to another section where they scan your identification document and take your photo. Beware, if you are tall you will have trouble having your picture taken. Being 6’ 5” I was that person.

Cue a cute little stool to perch on in front of everyone queuing up behind. I felt a bit of a plumb – like a member of Boyzone about to launch into a power ballad.

You are then whisked through to an ‘exhibition’ area, which is very small. As one of the first through, I had a few minutes waiting around. Then some of the team – in this case Press Operations – gave a run-down of the roles on offer.

It certainly sounds fantastic, with Russ (the Press Ops guy) saying that some roles would involve escorting athletes through a ‘mixed’ zone of journalists, and others actually interviewing them for an Olympic news service. All sounds good to me.

We then moved into the ‘cinema’. Again, quite small but we then watched a short film fronted by Lord Coe and Eddie Izzard (very funny).

And then – the interview.

You are pre-assigned a booth number (it is on your name badge) and I made my way to booth seven (lucky?) where I was met by a very friendly chap called Hugh. There he went through the questions, making notes of my answers.

As promised, here is what I was asked:

What are your favourite Olympic/Paralympic events and why?

What attracts you to being a volunteer?

Volunteering is about going the extra mile. Can you give me an example of when you have done this?

Volunteering is all about teamwork – can you give me an example when you have had to work effectively in a team?

Often you will be working in a busy environment and you will have to deal with lots of requests – can you give me an example of when you have done this?

Can you talk me through a challenge you have overcome in your personal/work life?

I must point out that he skipped a couple of sections, saying that they related to skills which I already had so he didn’t need to ask me them. If you do go to an event, expect more questions than these, just in case.

There was then a brief conversation about whether I would be willing to be a team leader and to confirm the time I was prepared to give up. And that was it, I was done.

Hugh then walked me out, showed me where to get my free chocolate (only Bourneville’s left – boo), invited me to write on a big white board (never one to miss an opportunity I put my blog address on there!) and then off I went.

I have to say it was a positive experience and very well organised. Most interesting point was that several members of staff seemed surprised that I had been asked to work a test event before I had attended the selection event. One said it was a good sign, so fingers crossed.

I will be working the BMX event in August and then shortly after that will find out about the main event itself.

Do let me know your experiences and thoughts, as I would love this blog to become a place where Games Makers share their experiences.

Until next time.