Anyone work/worked for Pocket Kings??

Mr. Loverman

In fairness vaggabond I've heard from quite a few people (who work there) that it is an unpleasant place to work. But I agree with your sentiment that it depends which team you work for, etc.

mccarte2

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

In fairness vaggabond I've heard from quite a few people (who work there) that it is an unpleasant place to work. But I agree with your sentiment that it depends which team you work for, etc.

In fairness Loverman, most people who will have said that have probably moved on from the place with a bitter taste in their mouth. There's 2 sides to every story and while PK is a tough place to work the benefits are good and it's a great industry. The wages are above average and you'll get to see a lot more than in other places. With good, there's also bad but show me a job you'll never had that in. My team has people who've been there for 3, 4 and even 5 years.

Dave!

Just bumping this...

Meeting with an agency on Monday about putting my CV forward for a position with PK.

The job is in the "Security and Game Integrity – Operations division".

Any more current feedback on them as a company? This thread does not make for pleasant reading... Beggars can't be choosers, so if they offer me a job I'm taking it!

Interview process sounds intense

tHE vAGGABOND

Bear in mind Dave, that its people with negative experiences [or have "a mate" with a bad experience, be they telling the truth or not, or indeed speaking about the same people or team!] post in threads like these..

The silent majority, as Mccarte2 says, "My team has people who've been there for 3, 4 and even 5 years." dont normally post in these threads

Dave!

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

Bear in mind Dave, that its people with negative experiences [or have "a mate" with a bad experience, be they telling the truth or not, or indeed speaking about the same people or team!] post in threads like these..

The silent majority, as Mccarte2 says, "My team has people who've been there for 3, 4 and even 5 years." dont normally post in these threads

Well it'd be great if they would

Just saw from another thread that you work/ed for PK, any words of wisdom?

The position is Affiliate Security Analyst, looks really interesting (monitoring affiliate fraud), and I've done a bit of similar work. I've only got 7 months' experience since finishing college, so I'm looking for entry level stuff.

Cheers lad...

TheDoc

necro thread of sorts

Got a call from a recruitment agency today offering me an interview with Pocket Kings.

IT Analyst I think. The money being offered, packages and benefits are alot better then where I am at the moment, although its a bit journey. I'm ten minutes from my current place, but working low level technical support with no real career progression

Plus they are throwing an extra 10k salary at me off the bat, excluding all the eprks and benefits.

Told em to set me up for an interview, see what the story is

Alot of the negeative things im reading here is second and third hand information and I dont know what to take from it. I guess you cant tell until your there.

Dave!

I didn't have any joy with the Security Analyst gig... No feedback from the agency (that agency is useless anyway), they're just not progressing with my application.

Oh well

Other balls in the air at the mo

tekkenman

TheDoc wrote: »

necro thread of sorts

Got a call from a recruitment agency today offering me an interview with Pocket Kings.

IT Analyst I think. The money being offered, packages and benefits are alot better then where I am at the moment, although its a bit journey. I'm ten minutes from my current place, but working low level technical support with no real career progression

Plus they are throwing an extra 10k salary at me off the bat, excluding all the eprks and benefits.

Told em to set me up for an interview, see what the story is

Alot of the negeative things im reading here is second and third hand information and I dont know what to take from it. I guess you cant tell until your there.

hi, do you mind tell me how much they are paying for the IT Security Analyst? i am insterested in that role but the agency told me she doesnt know the salary, thanks

El Camino

TheDoc wrote: »

necro thread of sorts

Got a call from a recruitment agency today offering me an interview with Pocket Kings.

IT Analyst I think. The money being offered, packages and benefits are alot better then where I am at the moment, although its a bit journey. I'm ten minutes from my current place, but working low level technical support with no real career progression

Plus they are throwing an extra 10k salary at me off the bat, excluding all the eprks and benefits.

Told em to set me up for an interview, see what the story is

Alot of the negeative things im reading here is second and third hand information and I dont know what to take from it. I guess you cant tell until your there.

Don't let the negative comments put you off.

parkers77

Hello,

Has anyone any experience working for them? Are they busy all night?What are the tests looks like?

Looking forward to hear any details.
Par

MIN2511

parkers77 wrote: »

Hello,

Has anyone any experience working for them? Are they busy all night?What are the tests looks like?

Looking forward to hear any details.
Par

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/04/fbi-cracks-down-on-3-biggest-online-poker-houses-poker-stars-full-tilt-poker-absolute-poker/1

http://www.onlinepoker.net/poker-news/poker-law-industry-news/poker-sites-shut/10323

RoboSpud

parkers77 wrote: »

Hello,

Has anyone any experience working for them? Are they busy all night?What are the tests looks like?

Looking forward to hear any details.
Par

I currently work for them. Unfortunately due to Friday's events the workload on a night has significantly decreased

Dave!

RoboSpud wrote: »

I currently work for them. Unfortunately due to Friday's events the workload on a night has significantly decreased

Any word on what the long-term effect will be? FTP are PK's only client aren't they? Talk of lay-offs? Presumably FTP will be gone from the US for a few years anyway, until this is sorted out. That's a big customer base.

RoboSpud

Dave! wrote: »

Any word on what the long-term effect will be? FTP are PK's only client aren't they? Talk of lay-offs? Presumably FTP will be gone from the US for a few years anyway, until this is sorted out. That's a big customer base.

As far as I am aware FTP is PK's only client. Expecting communication from where I work is asking and hoping for a miracle. This all went down on Friday, but it wasn't until Monday that anything resembling an official email was sent out to staff with a, due to recent events it's business as usual. Business as usual sure, but we've lost a large chunk of our userbase, those from the EU and other countries are really keen on withdrawing their funds.. So really, it's anyone's guess!

Dave!

Good luck sir! PK employ 700-800 people, would suck if it went bust. Not least of all because it would mean more competition for me on the job front!

G-Money

Interviewed there a few years ago for a job and didn't get it. In recent times I've been applying there but got nowhere. Although when I heard the news I thought it was maybe a blessing in disguise. I hope though it works out. I've a friend working there so wouldn't like to see him out of a job.

Joey.G

I am currently working with an ex-FTP-employee in Malta and she told me that working in the customer service for them was the worst thing ever. The only thing she keeps on telling me is "STAY AWAY FROM THEM AT ANY COST"

On the other hand, I have another friend who is still working for them, in a different department (marketing) and got recently promoted.
I believe it really depends on the department. Customer service is usually a sh*tty job anywhere - specially with bad management and stupid customers.

I am actually looking forward to moving back to Ireland as my partner will be working there very soon. I might apply for the night-shift fraud analyst.

But, still, I hear that almost all the benefits were cut down which basically means that the menu sucks (for the day shift) and bonus and other extras are not as before.

There's a huge uncertainty atmosphere at the moment.

I believe everyone who works there is currently looking for different jobs, taking in consideration the current US scandal around them. They don't know what is going to happen to the company.

Truth is, after all the feedback I got, I wouldn't like to work for them, really, but still, it's a very good salary and, for me, it'd be temporary. I could do with stupid people and bad management for 6 months.

I will apply in a few weeks, so, lets see how it goes.

If you have any feedback from the fraud department there, please, feel free to share.

tHE vAGGABOND

which basically means that the menu sucks (for the day shift) and bonus and other extras are not as before.

Whatever about the uncertainty, to be honest, I would like to know a couple of things..

a) What department this person works for, where they were due a bonus in the last few weeks [and thus for it to be cut], as I want to work there and get bonuses in April and May

b) I think its a complete farce that people complain that there are now only 3 options on the lunch menu and not 5, and only "some" items freely available in fridges. I really think that such people need to get a clip around the ear and speak to some of their family and mates and ask what 99% of companies do for their employees at lunch and what are in their fridges, ie: nothing :rolleyes:

Joey.G

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

Whatever about the uncertainty, to be honest, I would like to know a couple of things..

a) What department this person works for, where they were due a bonus in the last few weeks [and thus for it to be cut], as I want to work there and get bonuses in April and May

b) I think its a complete farce that people complain that there are now only 3 options on the lunch menu and not 5, and only "some" items freely available in fridges. I really think that such people need to get a clip around the ear and speak to some of their family and mates and ask what 99% of companies do for their employees at lunch and what are in their fridges, ie: nothing :rolleyes:

Not a farce at all. It's all about 'signs' that show that something is not right. I believe these complaints are not because the menu is not as before but because something changed, and not for the best.

Lets put it this way - a company offers 100% of awesome extras. All of a sudden these amazing extras get cut off following a scandal of fraud/money laundering. It ain't easy for anyone there, specially now that unemployment is reaching 14% and we're talking about 700 to 800 people as stated before.

Still, I can't say anything about the working environment. People usually dramatize a lot more than it actually is, therefore, I will rate it once I go through it.

I am not really into the extras there but, truth be told, I have been following offers for e-gaming in Ireland for quite a while already and their salary offer didn't really change. Dunno, as I said, about the bonus.

flash harry

I think PK will inevitably scale back from what I've gleamed from some industry clients. Simple fact is way less customers means way less customer service staff at a minimum.

The good news is it is a recession resillient industry, and a growing sector in general in Ireland/Europe.

If anyone in PK has ants in their pants, PM me - recruiting a lot for Ireland, UK, and Spain with a couple of players in the industry.....

mccarte2

flash harry wrote: »

I think PK will inevitably scale back from what I've gleamed from some industry clients. Simple fact is way less customers means way less customer service staff at a minimum.

The good news is it is a recession resillient industry, and a growing sector in general in Ireland/Europe.

If anyone in PK has ants in their pants, PM me - recruiting a lot for Ireland, UK, and Spain with a couple of players in the industry.....

:rolleyes:

Good to know the recruitment agents are keeping tabs on the thread anyway

supersizeme

I have been working there for 2 years, here's some clarity.

Joey.G wrote: »

I am currently working with an ex-FTP-employee in Malta and she told me that working in the customer service for them was the worst thing ever. The only thing she keeps on telling me is "STAY AWAY FROM THEM AT ANY COST"

It's customer service, what do you expect. Find me a job were CS are treated the same as someone working in a HR dept, security dept, fraud dept etc.

Not to say they get treated poorly but they do have less extras/bonuses available to them. This would have been discussed prior to receiving the position so there can be no argument there.

Joey.G wrote: »

But, still, I hear that almost all the benefits were cut down which basically means that the menu sucks (for the day shift) and bonus and other extras are not as before.

There is still a lunch menu offering a 4 course meal for the morning and afternoon shift.

Joey.G wrote: »

There's a huge uncertainty atmosphere at the moment.

That is absolutely untrue. It's rumors like this going around the office that are putting people at unrest.

Joey.G wrote: »

I believe everyone who works there is currently looking for different jobs, taking in consideration the current US scandal around them. They don't know what is going to happen to the company.

Again, see above. This is untrue. In my dept not one person has mentioned seeking new work.

Joey.G wrote: »

Truth is, after all the feedback I got, I wouldn't like to work for them, really, but still, it's a very good salary and, for me, it'd be temporary. I could do with stupid people and bad management for 6 months.

Management is fine. In fact, I would say that we have some of the best people in the industry working for FTP.

Joey.G wrote: »

I will apply in a few weeks, so, lets see how it goes.

I sincerely hope you don't get the job as you clearly don't want it. Somebody who actually has a desire to work in a thriving environment would be more suited.

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

Whatever about the uncertainty, to be honest, I would like to know a couple of things..

a) What department this person works for, where they were due a bonus in the last few weeks [and thus for it to be cut], as I want to work there and get bonuses in April and May

I received a bonus recently.

Joey.G

supersizeme wrote: »

I have been working there for 2 years, here's some clarity.



It's customer service, what do you expect. Find me a job were CS are treated the same as someone working in a HR dept, security dept, fraud dept etc.

Not to say they get treated poorly but they do have less extras/bonuses available to them. This would have been discussed prior to receiving the position so there can be no argument there.



There is still a lunch menu offering a 4 course meal for the morning and afternoon shift.



That is absolutely untrue. It's rumors like this going around the office that are putting people at unrest.



Again, see above. This is untrue. In my dept not one person has mentioned seeking new work.



Management is fine. In fact, I would say that we have some of the best people in the industry working for FTP.



I sincerely hope you don't get the job as you clearly don't want it. Somebody who actually has a desire to work in a thriving environment would be more suited.




I received a bonus recently.

Well, I am happy for you, really.

Note that what I said was taking under consideration what YOUR colleagues said, so, maybe you can help stabilize such uncertainty by assuring them all that all is well - everyone has to do its part after all.

It's customer service, what do you expect. Find me a job were CS are treated the same as someone working in a HR dept, security dept, fraud dept etc.

Not to say they get treated poorly but they do have less extras/bonuses available to them. This would have been discussed prior to receiving the position so there can be no argument there.

That is exactly what I said above. Do not be so patriotic to the point of thinking that I was exclusively including your management. I was generalizing it... even though the customer service in the company I work, gets, sometimes, extras that go higher than the management...

Don't know your management, therefore, I can only opine through I was told by employees/ex-employees.

Somebody who actually has a desire to work in a thriving environment would be more suited.

Note, once again, that my comments on getting the job were being based on what YOUR, once again, colleagues said (and please, see what all other people said about it in case you feel like answering by quoting them all one by one).

Maybe I am willing to work for them more than what you think... maybe I am one of the best choices for a "thriving environment" and maybe we'll see each other one of these days at FTP, who knows...

Thanks for clarifying though, good to, finally, have some positive feedback amongst such negativeness.

May you prosper professionally there.

Fannymcslap

Any changes in the Pocket Kings employment situation? Is it shutting down or are people leaving in droves?

Trying to get my foot in the door there!

RoboSpud

Since FTP lost it's operational license almost 2 months ago, we're generally working 10 hours a day, 4 days a week, doing ABSOLUTELY nothing!

There is NO communication from management apart from sporadic "Business as usual" emailings. When clearly it isn't business as usual.

Rumours going around at the moment are from Monday the lunch that is supplied Mon to Fri for the Morning and Swing shifts is going to disappear. This doesn't worry me as much as whether or not I'm going to have a job in a few weeks or not.

People are leaving in droves, the situation is untenable and I'm pretty convinced it's HR's way of forcing people to seek employment elsewhere, so that when the company does announce redundancies, there'll be a lot less of us there to receive it!

Like most people I know that work there, I am actively seeking employment, just incase this ship does sink.

Fannymcslap

Jesus mate I'm sorry to hear that. Might hold off on my application so. I'd heard FTP were attempting to relocate to Canada on a new license, would that make any odds?

RoboSpud

Fannymcslap wrote: »

Jesus mate I'm sorry to hear that. Might hold off on my application so. I'd heard FTP were attempting to relocate to Canada on a new license, would that make any odds?

FTP relocated to Dublin from Canada, or at least some of their operational departments made the move from Canada. While this rumour might be welcomed, I was there during the previous move, and from what I heard or understood at the time, the Canadian operatives were taken into a meeting, and told that was it, then escorted from the premises. This doesn't exactly fill me with confidence.

Dr_Spock

Just as an FYI to everyone, Pocket Kings are recruiting again now. However even though the company has/is changing hands, the same people are in charge of the general day to day running of the place, HR and middle mgt etc... I have heard first hand that nothing has changed, infact if anything its gotten worse. What I mean by this is all of the gripes listed above are still in effect as much as ever, ie:
- Being hired for one role then being told you are expected to do a completely different job.
- Not being told about or being told there was little or no "oncall", there will be even more "oncall" as the staff numbers have been decimated with all the good talent having left. Even if you've been up all night on an issue, you are expected to report for work at 9am sharp or warnings will be issued.
- Being passed over for promotion, infact little or no chance of career progression as its based on cronyism not ability or qualification.


My advice would be if you are currently unemployed then go for it, but do not under any circumstances leave a job you even remotely like with the thoughts of furthering your career as Pocket Kings is not the place where that will happen.

Samba

Dr_Spock wrote: »

Just as an FYI to everyone, Pocket Kings are recruiting again now. However even though the company has/is changing hands, the same people are in charge of the general day to day running of the place, HR and middle mgt etc... I have heard first hand that nothing has changed, infact if anything its gotten worse. What I mean by this is all of the gripes listed above are still in effect as much as ever, ie:

Slightly disappointing to hear this, the company needed a complete overhaul imo, especially if it's true that most of the talent has left.

But in their defence, I've heard a mixed bag of reviews from people i know who've worked there, some good, some bad. I do wonder will shark fin soup be back on the lunch menu? :pac:

I dealt with their HR dept. back in '08, I got a call for the affiliate manager position for a phone interview, 9 months after applying,but my plans had changed considerably in that time, and i was literally packing my bags to move country when I got the call. Can't say it was my best interview

I think you could find far worse employers than PKs, especially considering the current jobs market, there was a time they were considered to be an excellent employment prospect, where did it all go wrong?

LFC5Times

Any idea of how much they would pay per hour? Do they have just basic gaming support jobs?

Samba

LFC5Times wrote: »

Any idea of how much they would pay per hour? Do they have just basic gaming support jobs?

http://www.pocketkingscareers.ie/

They pay an annual contractual salary, not by the hour afaik.

Still nothing listed, a limited number of positions were recently advertised on a number of employment sites, but from what I gather most if not all were foreign language support positions.