If playing video games is the love of your life and you regularly spend time doing this, then surely being paid to play would be the ideal career? The question is, do these jobs exist in the real world?
Well the plain truth is that these jobs really do exist, but the definition of dream job might have been stretched somewhat by unscrupulous online retailers trying to make a fast buck.
Playing video games for a living is like many other dream roles, achievable, but only with a strong work ethic and an eyes open approach. Read on to discover what areas you need to concentrate on to give yourself the best possible chance of securing a video game tester job.
1. Keep your wits about you and don’t buy into the industry get rich overnight schemes. You only have to run an internet search for ‘video game tester’ and you’ll be inundated with search results from websites offering you millions from their latest e-book.
Now we’re not saying that all these online guides are scams, in fact some actually work, but a large majority sucker you in with high earning figures, when the reality is in stark contrast to the claims.
New video game testers won’t achieve much more than $7-$10 an hour when they start out in this career. Experience is counted on previous roles within the industry, not how many hours you’ve played COD non-stop. You’ll need to graft to show willing and work hard to make opportunities your own.
2. Brush up on your business skills for any possible role. The budgets that games companies work with stretch into the millions and this is reflected in the professional manner in which they are run. You’ll need communicable skills to liaise with other employees and proficient skills in both spoken and written English will be required.
Communicable skills are vital so that you can get across your point of view in meetings, conferences and tester sessions. There’s little benefit in finding game problems if you can’t communicate this to the developers.
3. By showing perseverance and determination in your actions you’ll set yourself up for success and avoid the failure that many other people fall prey to. These factors apply to every job in the world.
Becoming a QA tester will not be an easy road to success. You’ll no doubt experience plenty of setbacks and rejections, so turning this negative into a positive will determine your success in the long run.
If you need to study at an institution, either full time or via night classes, you have to have the will to stay the course. If you lack certain skills or qualifications, do something about it, just remember the goal you’re striving for.
4. Professionalism will set you apart from your peers, but make you ultimately more employable to companies. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can earn large amounts of money by sitting on a bean bag at home all day gaming and snacking away.
Working from home will be no picnic, you’ll still be expected to tow a company line and send reports, work long hours and communicate to your employers at regular intervals.
More over the likelihood is that you’ll be going to a workplace, in which case you’ll need to adhere to possible dress codes and behavioural standards.
As with any role a quality up to date and accurate resume will elevate you above the masses, so ensure this is well written and coherent. At no part on the resume or job application should you mention video game tester – you’re now looking to become a quality assurance employee.
5. Be realistic about this new career path and keep the other points in check. Video gaming is extremely popular and so are roles within the industry.
Depending on your qualifications, experience and contacts it might take you months or even years to obtain a video game tester job. Know that if you do the right things you’ll eventually get a chance and it’s then up to you if you seize that chance or let if fall away.
E-books are not the devil, some of these products will make you money, but go in with your eyes open and be prepared to make small amounts at first.
Keep the realism point in the back of your mind at all times. Playing video games for fun won’t be the same as playing them for a living. You’ll be most likely testing certain parts of a game to find code anomalies and this might involve massive repetition to prove there is a fault.
If you approach the whole idea of playing games for money as a job, not a hobby with rewards, you’ll keep your expectations grounded and your morale high.
Looking to find the best advice on a career as a video game tester, then visit www.videogametesterz.com to find the best advice on video game tester roles.