Valve employee handbook

[fellix]

Gamers have been afforded a rare insight into how gaming giant Valve operates, with the publication of the Valve Handbook for New Employees.

Subtitled "A fearless adventure in knowing what to do when no one's there telling you what to do," the handbook - first published this year - is provided to all new Valve employees as a means of indoctrinating them in the attitudes and approaches of one of gaming's biggest names.

'So you've gone through the interview process, you've signed the contracts, and you're finally here at Valve,' the handbook - illustrated in the manner of a classic children's book - begins. 'Congratulations, and welcome. Valve has an incredibly unique way of doing things that will make this the greatest professional experience of your life, but it can take some getting used to.'

Article (http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2012/04/23/valve-employee-handbook/1)

Handbook for New Employees PDF (http://cdn.flamehaus.com/Valve_Handbook_LowRes.pdf)

[Rodéric]

It's both exciting and scary.

Can I have the same in europe ? I'd send a CV right away !

[pcchen]

Michael Abrash wrote a blog post a few days ago about this topic:

http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/abrash/valve-how-i-got-here-what-its-like-and-what-im-doing-2/

[Scott_Arm]

I work in a fairly autonomous group at work, and it is mostly flat. There is one guy at the top, and he does divy out projects, but for the most part it is a collaborative approach where people work fluidly and carry great individual responsibility. It is the greatest thing ever, after having worked in manager driven business units. It would be hard to go back. The positives outweigh the negatives, by a landslide.