Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Fun of Game Testing Jobs

Do you love video games? You have probably spent some time daydreaming about working in the gaming industry in game testing jobs. This may seem like it is just a dream, but there are actually people who do just that. There are jobs available to test the games and help those video game manufacturers perfect their games before they hit the market.

The job is much more than just playing games all day. You would actually be performing a great service to the video gaming industry. The programmers who create the games that are sold on the market, must have the input of actual players to find the bugs, understand how the game is perceived by a player and make changes that will help the game to be more successful.

How many times have you played a video game and wondered why a certain bug wasn’t found or why they didn’t change a certain aspect to make the game more fun? This type of thinking is exactly what the gaming industry needs. The opinions of those who are familiar with video games can help the gaming industry make the games that the public will want.

There are some things that you can do to get in on this industry. The first thing that you have to do is understand what the gaming industry is looking for in their testers. You should be able to provide the programmers with valuable information. It is much more than simply saying that you either liked or disliked the game. You should be able to explain why you did or did not enjoy the game.

The programmers are also interested in creating a game that is challenging to experienced gamers. You can provide the video game company with information on how long it took you to get through the game and how difficult you found it to be. This will help the programmer determine if there is more that they could do to make the game more challenging or if an extensive guide book will be needed to get through the game.

Game testing jobs are out there if you know where to look for them. First find out what you need to get started in this lucrative field. The information is available to help you get started with your new career choice. Many people are earning a good living doing what they love to do.

Your career choice should be centered on something that you enjoy doing and game tester jobs can provide you with hours of entertainment and a paycheck at the same time. Those who are lucky enough to work in jobs that they love often are more successful and earn a better living than someone who does a job simply for the paycheck. That is why game testing jobs can be your ticket to success. Research the field and find out what the video game companies are looking for in their testers. Once you have the tools that you need to get started in this fascinating career choice, you can begin living the life of someone who loves what they do and gets paid handsomely for it.

Getting a Job as a 2010 Census Taker

Chris Apicella

Every 4 years, the United States government takes an official tally of the number of residents in each town, city, county and state in the US. This information is used primarily for determining the number of representatives each state and county is allotted by the federal government. But today, there is much more to the census than counting heads. The information is used to determine funding for a large number of state and federal programs, such as public school funding. The demographic data provides a goldmine of information for businesses and marketers as well.

A census taker's job provides a great opportunity for anyone looking for a temporary or part time job, or students looking for summer employment to get a good paying job with flexible time and hours, working with people, and knowing you are contributing a very important process dating back to the founding of the United States of America! An army of paid workers is needed to travel down each street and alley, and look in every nook and cranny to ensure that no individual is missed. President Obama's strong interest in the outcome of the census provides all the more reason to believe that the 2010 census will be better funded, and employ more people than any before in history. The interviewing for census taker jobs in 2010 will start in the fall of 2009. If you want to get one of these jobs, you need to be prepared.

Preparation Steps:

1. Visit the Census Jobs Web Page

The census has a dedicated web page for people who are interested in taking up a census job.
This page is updated with the latest census job information available.

2. Understand what knowledge will be expected.

Like many civil service jobs, there is an exam you must pass. The exam test basic competency in math and reading skills, reading maps, Interpreting information and evaluating alternatives, and organizational skills. There is a practice test available on the census jobs web site

3. Check the opportunities available at regional Census field offices.

The census bureau has 12 regional field offices located in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Kansas city, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and Seattle. Each regional district covers an area of several states. Go to the regional field offices main page and click on the us map to find your particular census district field office. It may in fact be locates outside your state! For example, the California is split into two districts with a field office in Los Angeles for Southern California, and a field office in Seattle! The local field office employment pages will list specific job opportunities within the district as well as phone number and other information for ongoing survey and field work positions. There is a lot of other useful information available at the regional field office pages as well.

Bilingual Skills give you an edge.

Know more than one language fluently? this may give you a great opportunity to get a leg-up on the hiring. Part of the census mandate is to encourage participation of non-english speaking residents, who will need the help of someone who understands their native language well. Because of the diverse nature of American population, speakers of all languages are needed.So the more uncommon the language you speak, the more likely your translation services will be needed.

SO if you are looking for some part time employment, of just want to have a flexible job to make some extra money, and meet a lot of people, check out the US Census Bureau, they may have a job that is perfect for you!

RESOURCES

Census Job Opportunity Page: http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/

Sample Census Taker Test: http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/documents/Practice_Test.pdf

Census Field Office Main Page: http://www.census.gov/field/www/

Useful Phone Numbers:

2010 Decennial Field & Local Census Office Positions: 1- 877- 471- 5432
Ongoing Surveys: 1- 888-722-8995