We're looking to hire some talented staff to keep this shop alive and active; this time, we're looking for certists. Think you've got the drive to work regularly, and a desire to help out Soquili? Then this is the place for you!
Rules Please remember, this is a customer service position. A friendly personality, and being an ambassador to the shop, are traits we're looking for. Check your drama at the door and remember to be civil, regardless how you feel about people. We get that some people just don't click, or get along, and maybe you don't like fellow staff members. All that said, we are all volunteering our time here and you will be expected to deal with people you don't like civilly. We're a team, so please, keep the drama private. We understand sometimes people don't get along, and mistakes have been made in the past. We will not hold past mistakes against you, but do understand, if you have a drama-filled background, or we get many complaints from previous employers, this might dampen your chances of being hired. You may apply and be hired for multiple positions. Prior B/C experience is not required, so long as you are willing to learn. Discord is preferred but not required. We at Soquili do not need to explain why we choose the hires we do, or justify why we did not hire someone, and we may choose not to hire anyone at all. We do not have to give details on why one was not picked. Please note, that even if you are not hired now, this does not mean you shouldn't try again during future hire events. In July we announced our intent to change SC culture, and the large backlog that led to the decision. We still have work as old as 2015 waiting to be picked up, and while work is taken on by colorist interest more than by length of time, the effects of the backlog will be felt until it can be caught up, and there is no ETA for when this will be done. If you choose to apply, please understand what you will be getting into. If you have questions or concerns, please PM or DM them to Phail Ninja.
Applications Only use your own work in all categories. We have zero tolerance for art thieves, including plagiarism. Besides, we want to see what you can do, not what someone else can. Please be as accurate as you can. Letting us know you only have time twice a week will serve you better than telling us you can be online daily and coming on only once a week. What you put on your application is what we'll expect if we choose to hire you. (We understand unexpected emergencies and obligations may crop up; in such a case, we only ask you keep us informed.) If you have old works from past hiring attempts, we'd prefer if you put them in as "Other Samples" and make new samples for this event. We want to see what you can do now, not what you did last time. You won't be DQ'd if you do post old samples, but it may not win you any points, either. Applications are posted in this thread; however, certing samples are PM'd directly to Soquili Era. All certing samples should be sent together; they should not be PM'd separately. If you need to update your samples, please send a new PM; the new PM should have all samples. In addition, if you currently work for the shop, please indicate in your PM if you would like to migrate your primary position to "certist" if you are hired, or if the role will be secondary.
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2021 2:33 pm
Certists
....Requirements Certists are expected to fulfill certing requests. Files are shared via Dropbox; colorists must have an account or be willing to create one if hired. Certists will need Photoshop or some sort of editing program to create certs for Soquili. If your program is unable to handle folders and layers, you will not be able to work with the shop's files.
Responsibilities Work with other certists to fulfill requests posted in the General Certing Thread (GCT). Maintain the GCT directory. Post growth certs on time. Work with other certists to fulfill requested posted in individual certing threads as directed by upper management. Close retired individual certing threads as directed by upper management. As a rule of thumb, work should be done within a month.
Verify correct spelling of username, pet name, and parent names. For instance, copy and paste where possible, and use font that permit the pet name's symbols, if any. Gauge soquili and familiar breeds based on appearance. Following file naming conventions (to be provided upon hiring). Manage certing-related questions.
Pay Certists are paid a flat 1250c per month. Fulfilling 6 months of activity back-to-back entitles the tech staff to a break month where they are not obligated to work, and another staff may fill in. A cut is taken from event pay to share with eligible tech staff; however, the majority goes to colorist staff.
Application Your samples should show your abilities regarding customized decoration and background splicing. In addition, your samples should show your ability to recognize breeds; the breeds of the sample pets should be listed on your cert. Cert the samples listed below. Random samples were selected from the shop based on how much of a challenge they might provide for the two points above. If you recognize a pet, please keep it hush hush. ;) Note that there are no errors in the form; any spelling choices are intentional. Remember that the form is posted in this thread, while all certs created are PM'd to Soquili Era. All certs should be sent in one message.
Sample Pets (All eight must be certed; all samples are possible to complete with the provided cert file.)
Quote:
NEW PETS
Name: Liam Neighson Owner: Waterbaby Temper: Smooth Method of Obtainment: Need 4 speed part 9 Colorist: Maybe
Name: Bingus Owner: Horse Temper: N/A Method of Obtainment: Breeding: Pen (Gen 6) x Apple (Gen 2) Colorist: Pineapple
Name: Princess Jellybean Owner: Jebry Temper: Moderated Method of Obtainment: Snipity Snap Flat-attack Colorist: Carl
Name: Θώθ Owner: Wammawink Temper: N/A Method of Obtainment: Summoned forth from the void Colorist: [u no who]
Name: Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Owner: Glendale Temper: Method of Obtainment: Mock Breeding: Perogie (Gen 1) x Chives (Gen 11) Colorist: ROCK A BEE
Quote:
ADDING ACCESSORIES
Add: the accessory and familiar (only one cert needs to be made with both changes); the familiar's name is Mouse.
Add: the pelted form. (No feral is necessary.)
Add: the items for both the pelted and feral versions. this should result in two certs (all other samples result in only once cert).
Form
[size=18][color=slateblue][b]CERTIST APPLICATION[/b][/color][/size] [b]Username:[/b] [b]Timezone:[/b] [b]Availability:[/b] (Describe how active you are. If we send you a message, how long should we wait until we can expect to hear back?) [b]Do you have Discord?[/b] Yes/No (You do not need to send us your Discord ID unless you are hired.)
[b]Prior B/C Experience:[/b] [b]Other Experience:[/b] [b]Please describe why you're interested in the shop and role, and describe why you feel you will be an appropriate fit:[/b]
[b]Are you good at communicating with others? If life starts to get hectic, or you start falling behind, what would you do?[/b] [b]If a customer fills out one of the forms wrong, what would you do?[/b] [b]If that same customer consistently fills out the form wrong, how would you handle the situation?[/b] (Please provide a specific example of the message you would send the customer as well.) [b]If a customer start complaining about why their certs are a day late, what would you do?[/b] (Please provide a specific example of the message you would send the customer as well.)
[b]Samples:[/b] All samples will be/have been PM'd to Soquili Era by the time this application is posted! (Note: If you currently work for the shop, indicate in your PM whether you would like "certist" to be a primary or secondary role if you are hired.)
[b]Other Samples:[/b] (Any samples that indicates you are reliable with consistent work and that you approach sensitive topics professionally and amicably will serve. Optional.)
Soquili Era Captain
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Soquili Era Captain
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Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2021 2:33 pm
Phail is a FONSH.
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2022 1:46 am
CERTIST APPLICATION Username: Mahogany Sunset Timezone: Pacific Time Availability: Generally active every one to three days, if not more. I monitor Discord several times a day and generally respond within eight hours. My ability tends to happen in spurts where I'm super active for a few weeks, then step back for a week, rinse and repeat. Do you have Discord? Yes
Prior B/C Experience: Soquili OL manager, secondary colorist, and temp certist! Also Dream Dancers OL (once upon a time), Pridelands colorist (once upon a time), Children of Rekkadar ??? role (once upon a time) Other Experience: Relevant data entry/accuracy training in retail and clerical/administrative positions IRL since 2016; customer-facing/customer service employment since 2016. Graphic design experience since 2010 (made photomanipulations/movie poster-type things). I also used to run a graphics shop right here in Soquili! Everything was hosted on PB, but it's still visible here: link. Please describe why you're interested in the shop and role, and describe why you feel you will be an appropriate fit: I love Soquili and have been part of the shop since 2010! I have been on staff since February 2019, but took an unplanned 16-month hiatus around the time the pandemic began building steam. I have found that I enjoy certing through the temporary certist role, and it has brought back some very fond memories of my days doing graphics for shop-goers. I would be excited to continue helping get ponies on their tags. My primary role as OL manager would theoretically be supplemented by certing - if I'm doing certing, I'll have a great idea of when to expect drops! It will also help me continue to learn my way around the host folders and provide more opportunities to interact with/assist customers. I love the task-based nature of certing and enjoy the feeling of "knocking out" the requests.
Are you good at communicating with others? If life starts to get hectic, or you start falling behind, what would you do? I am pretty communicative through staff discord/guild section, generally letting others know if I'm going on a trip or having technical difficulties, etc. The only time I am not communicative is if I drop off the face of the earth, which has happened before, but usually only when life gets so hectic so suddenly that I blip out. If I need to be reached, I am friends with some Soq folks on FB and a couple have my phone number. Given where I am in life now, though, that's unlikely to happen again. I have used the official staff resources to alert to absences more recently and will continue to do so. If a customer fills out one of the forms wrong, what would you do? Generally, a friendly quote in their post to let them know what is missing (or what is not necessary) is my approach! I try to be very specific and provide instructions about how the issue can be fixed so they can avoid doing the same in the future. If that same customer consistently fills out the form wrong, how would you handle the situation? My approach is to be friendly and make contact in good faith! I always screenshot messages to customers for accountability. My approach hasn't changed much from my OL manager application, so I am using a modified version of that here.
Quote:
Hello! I've noticed that you seem to be having a little trouble filling out the forms to request a cert for your pet in Soquili. Please see the examples below of forms filled out correctly, with notes which I hope will offer some guidance. If you have any questions about these, or if you need additional help, please let me know - I'm here to help! Thank you! [Examples here.]
If a customer start complaining about why their certs are a day late, what would you do? Given the busy lives of staff, especially considering current events, I stick to the response that Soquili is a hobby and that there are official channels to go through if someone feels a request is late or missing. (This response is also a modified response from my OL manager application.)
Quote:
Hello! Thank you for your interest in ensuring that certs are completed in a timely manner. However, as has always been the case, staff members do have lives outside the shop. Please know that certists devote time behind the scenes to getting certs and requests completed, which can be quite intensive. Your pet will be certed in a timely fashion! However, requests are handled in a specific manner, and some take more time than others. If your request has not been completed, and it has been more than a month, you are welcome to initiate contact using a form from this post in the General Certing Thread, where it will be handled through official channels. In the future, please use that thread to report issues, and be sure to follow the guidelines that are in that thread. Thank you!
Samples: All samples have been PM'd to Soquili Era! [Role for primary/secondary was noted.] (I DID use the trial cert for all of them, no cheatin'.)
Spliced backgrounds & custom feathers: Custom feathers: Fun with splicing/hue-shifting decorations: Various others that I just like :3 Familiar addition: Recerts: Old cert for reference. Old cert for reference.
xo maho Crew
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Kitsune Mistress Nyoko
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2022 6:26 am
CERTIST APPLICATION Username: Kitsune Mistress Nyoko Timezone: Eastern (GMT -5) Availability: Barring any all-day activities that require me to be away from my computer, I'm typically online daily. Even during days where I spend the majority of my time playing video games, I will at minimum check my messages and reply to anything before I do anything else. Were I hired, I would anticipate certing at least one full page a week, if not more during periods of heavy demand. Do you have Discord? Yes
Prior B/C Experience: Soquili (Certist), Gaian Kennel Club (Certist), Extrasensory (Christmas Gram Helper) Other Experience: General dicking around with graphics. Please describe why you're interested in the shop and role, and describe why you feel you will be an appropriate fit: I'll be honest. I miss being on staff. And from a purely selfish standpoint, I miss being able to cert my own s**t, add my own Soquili to my teepee, and find my own uncerts. Dumb little things, I know, but that's the honest truth. That and certing backlogs make me sad. Please. Just let me get them caught up. :'(
Are you good at communicating with others? If life starts to get hectic, or you start falling behind, what would you do? I'm usually pretty good at communicating, although I admit I definitely could have been better about it in the past. (Although a lot of my past failures have to do with past staff cultures and fearing repercussions if I wasn't able to complete my duties for an extended time.) With the current staff culture in Soquili, however, I don't foresee that being an issue. In the event life really came and bit me in the a**, depending on my consecutive monthly activity I'd likely start by taking a paid break month to deal with real life. If things continued as they were, I'd take a formal hiatus until I was able to return to work as a certist. If a customer fills out one of the forms wrong, what would you do? I'd drop them a quote in the appropriate certing post to gently point out whatever error they might have made. (Whether that be using an incorrect form, posting in the wrong thread, or misunderstanding a section of the form.) If that same customer consistently fills out the form wrong, how would you handle the situation? While I would once again quote them with corrections, I would also send a more detailed PM. Rather than risking potential public embarrassment, I feel it best to handle more detailed corrections in private.
Quote:
Hey, [Customer]!
I've noticed you seem to have trouble with your certing forms. I've had to clarify things quite a few times, and I thought I'd reach out more personally to see what you're misunderstanding about the forms. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me, either here in PM or on Discord, with any questions you might have! If you would find it helpful, I would be happy to go over the certing forms with you and answer any questions you have about them to clear up your confusion.
If a customer start complaining about why their certs are a day late, what would you do? I assume this question is referring to a cert overdue by a day, rather than a cert that had just been posted the previous day. In that situation, I would privately message them through whatever contact method they used to complain in the first place - either on Gaia or Discord.
Quote:
Hey, [Customer]!
While I understand your frustration with overdue certs, please note that there are official channels to lodge formal complaints about them. I welcome you to fill out the Missed Request? form in the General Certing Thread so I can investigate this issue for you. This may be a case of your request having been overlooked, or we might be dealing with a bit of a backlog due to an overwhelming influx of new Soquili. I appreciate your patience in this matter!
Samples: PM has been sent.
Other Samples:
Some longs names fit into limited space. (Also worth noting, GKC assigns each dog a specifically formulated ID number and one of a certist's duties was to consistently keep these ID numbers following the pattern laid out by the shop.)
Previous work for Soquili.
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 7:42 pm
CERTIST APPLICATION Username:Niyaru Delacroix Timezone: Eastern Standard Time Availability: I am on/off in the evenings (I either take a nap or eat dinner and relax for the night) and check Discord periodically while at work. I am also on/off on the weekends (I like to catch up on sleep and watch stuff/play video games) Do you have Discord? Yes
Prior B/C Experience:Certist for Jokoa, Game Manager at My Four Seasons/Everchange, Colorist/Certist for Natures Wonders
Other Experience: Customer Service for a car dealership & customer service for a newspaper. (I would answer phone calls, assist customers at the window with transactions for their car work and down payments for cars.With the news paper, I would answer calls and try to "save" the customer by any means possible [free month, etc] ) I am currently working as a vacation home attendant and that requires a lot of communication too. I communicate with house keeping and help them out since they are short staffed and they help me by letting me know if there is a rental that has damages if they get to it before I do. There is also communication with owner services, they let me know if the owners have any complaints or issues and I do my best to take care of them in a timely manner.
Please describe why you're interested in the shop and role, and describe why you feel you will be an appropriate fit:I've grown up with the shop being a part of my life. I would love to give back and help out since its been there for me. I have previous experience with certing and know this is something I can do well.
Are you good at communicating with others? If life starts to get hectic, or you start falling behind, what would you do?Communicate. Communication is always key. Talk about falling behind or life being too chaotic with the appropriate party. Explain the situation and what is going on as well as when you think you can catch up or life will calm down.
If a customer fills out one of the forms wrong, what would you do?Reach out to said customer and explain kindly that they filled out the form wrong and provide an example of how it should be done so as to give them a guide. Also ask if they have any questions about the form to see if they misunderstood something on the form.
If that same customer consistently fills out the form wrong, how would you handle the situation? (Please provide a specific example of the message you would send the customer as well.) Greeetings!
It has been brought to my attention that you have filled out the form wrong a few times, do you have a question I can help you with? Or is there something about the form that is confusing? I'm here to help you and don't mind answering any questions you may have.
Thank you for your time & have a great day!
If a customer start complaining about why their certs are a day late, what would you do? Greetings!
Thank you for bringing it to attention that they are a day late. I will personally work to get this resolved for you and the certs posted within the next few days.
Thank you for your time and patience & have a great day!
Samples: All samples have been PM'd to Soquili Era by the time this application is posted!
Other Samples: (Any samples that indicates you are reliable with consistent work and that you approach sensitive topics professionally and amicably will serve. Optional.)
Jokoa Certing Drop offs - unfortunately the images don't show up at all anymore but you can see my posts for drop off starting here I edited posts to say I was here and am certing it, those start here
CERTIST APPLICATION Username: Nyx Queen of Darkness Timezone: EST Availability: I'm usually on everday for a few hours. Even in times when I can't be on my computer, I check in on mobile to make sure I'm up to date on things.
As previously stated, whether this has any bearing on your decision or not, I have no inclination or desire to move up from tech staff should I get hired. I'll be happy to leave the coloring to other people. Do you have Discord? Yes
Prior B/C Experience: I worked at a BC shop on the owner's list a long time ago, but the shop is closed and the person has left gaia. As far as I can find, the threads no longer exist or can't be found.
Other Experience:
Ran 24 authors, 24 tributes (a fanfiction collaboration written by 24 authors into one cohesive story) after the initial person running it left. I organized about 12-14 authors at that time (some characters had been killed off). Set up a storyline led by the characters and made logical choices on which characters would die next (because of wounds, status of sponsorship, etc.) This was a large fanfiction collective for the Hunger Games.
I also organized follow-up stories in what-if scenarios (What if *name* had won?) I set a release schedule and generally corralled a bunch of people into getting things in on time with revisions.
This brought recognition to my own fanfiction stories on the Hunger Games resulting in an interview that was included in an article in the Wall Street Journal.
In high school, I did some in school substitution/teacher's aide in a K5 class of about 12 students. I kept them organized and working. I answered questions calmly and explained things that they didn't understand. I helped where needed and instilled confidence for them to try again since there's no shame in having to learn an ask for help. It is my hope that by presenting a positive learning environment where questions could be asked that it would help them be more confident students.
In college, as an aide I graded papers and in general did whatever my professor asked me to do.
I've had serious personal setbacks that I've overcome to learn to walk again. I don't quit or give up. If I don't know it, I plan to figure it out. I try to be tenacious and encouriging/uplifting to others.
I'm currently working on phoenics with my kindergartner.
Please describe why you're interested in the shop and role, and describe why you feel you will be an appropriate fit:
I've been here 11 years, this place just feels like home now. I love the setting and I love the people here. I love being able to interact in such a welcoming environment. The ideas and concepts keep me interested and I really want to be a part of that.
I want to create a cert that I am proud to show, that the owner is proud to show off. It's a small way of giving my love back by pouring a bit of myself into it this way.
I love to try new things and I'm willing to put myself out there to try to learn.
Are you good at communicating with others? If life starts to get hectic, or you start falling behind, what would you do?
I believe I am.
I plan to be open and honest if anything does come up, letting upper managment know. If something should occur, I'd try my best to give an ETA as to how long until the situation would be resolved.
I don't plan on taking on loads of work to the point of being overwhelmed. I plan to try my best to stay on top of everything by doing smaller, more frequent workloads rather than creating a backlog.
If a customer fills out one of the forms wrong, what would you do?
I would point out the issue with the form in a kind and constructive manner. As long as it was not something that prevented me from knowing what the request meant, I would go ahead and fulfill it after sending a heads up.
If that same customer consistently fills out the form wrong, how would you handle the situation?
I would politely contact them to see if there was something that was unclear in the form or if there was something specifically unclear for them.
A broad based, generic idea of a PM.
Hey,
Your recent cert request had a few issues *insert here*. I've noticed that you've had some issues with the form before and I was wondering if there was some way I could assist you? Is there something that's unclear in the form? I would love to talk with you and see if we can figure this out.
-Nyx If a customer start complaining about why their certs are a day late, what would you do?
I would first check into the matter to see whether the certs were late or not. I'd then contact the customer to let them know if it was an oversight, missed, or incorrect.
Sample if cert is late:
Hey,
Thank you for contacting me about your certs. I apologize if they're not posted exactly exactly on time. I do try to get my certs done as soon as possible, but sometmes life proves inconvienent and they wind up delayed. I will remedy the situation as soon as possible and I'm sorry for the inconvience..
--Nyx
Samples:
Other Samples: I think I actually put some of that up above.
Thanks for your consideration, I've really learned a lot. ^_^
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2022 11:37 am
CERTIST APPLICATION Username: Fatal Irony Timezone: EST Availability: I'm reachable anytime I'm not sleeping. I don't work and I always answer Discord. I'm on Gaia pretty much all day most days so I'd say the longest to expect to hear back from me via Gaia is 24hrs. Do you have Discord? Yes
Prior B/C Experience: Colorist and Certist at Foxhole, Colorist and Certist as Faekats Other Experience: Does a BFA count? Please describe why you're interested in the shop and role, and describe why you feel you will be an appropriate fit: I'm very active in the shop and would love to help out certing and dropping off ponies for people. I have a lot of free time these days which makes me a convenient choice! I work well with others and take criticism well.
Are you good at communicating with others? If life starts to get hectic, or you start falling behind, what would you do? Most of my jobs as an adult have centered in customer service in some way or another and I find I'm quite good at it. If life gets hectic or I fall behind I would reach out to my superiors to see what we can do to work it out. I don't like leaving people hanging so I would let anyone waiting on me know what's going on. If a customer fills out one of the forms wrong, what would you do? I would contact them for clarification and explain why the form needs to be done correctly. If that same customer consistently fills out the form wrong, how would you handle the situation? Dear User:
I've noticed that often when you submit a request for certing that some of the information is placed in the wrong places. It's very important to fill out the forms correctly so I can accurately cert your Soquili. We've had this discussion before, but some things are still done incorrectly. Is there another way I can walk you through the cert request form to help you understand how it needs to be filled out? Going forward I'm not going to be able to cert your requests until they're done correctly, so let me know how best I can help you! If you have questions or need me to walk you through again don't hesitate to reach out! I'm here to serve you.
All the best, Fatal
If a customer start complaining about why their certs are a day late, what would you do?
Dear User:
I'm so sorry for the delay in posting. I know it can be frustrating when you're waiting on something for it to not appear when you're expecting. I do my absolute best to drop things on time, but I am human and sometimes things come up that hinder my ability to drop things when I want to. Please bear with all of us and be patient as we continue to work hard to serve you the best we can. Thank you for your understanding!
All the best, Fatal
Samples: All samples have been PM'd to Soquili Era by the time this application is posted!
Other Samples: I don't really have samples but I was staff at faekats for years and I think i handled things well when they came up.
Thanks for your applications! This place takes a lot of work to keep running and we appreciate everyone who's willing to step up to help. <3
I'm just swinging by real quick to let you all know that judging is going to be delayed a little longer due to real-life circumstances.
Thank you for your understanding!
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2022 3:39 pm
After careful consideration (and an irresponsible number of fish jokes) we have decided to hire Mahogany Sunset and Kitsune Mistress Nyoko on as our newest certists.
Thank you, again, to everyone who applied to this round of hiring!
