If You Have Game, a Job Awaits
With a history that stretched far back into the 1970s when the gaming world is confined in video cabinets, the video game industry roared through the years and now is one of the most successful commercial and business sectors in the world today. ParisTechReview.com reported that the industry made approximately $7 billion in 2011. A projection by the Institute of audiovisual affairs and telecommunications in Europe (IDATE) suggests that sharp growth is to be expected until 2014.
Simply put, the video game industry is booming and trending shows the boom is not going to end in the foreseeable future. Xbox, PlayStation, and PSPs have dominated the video gaming arena and the demand for better games and consoles is increasing at a very fast pace. The degree of the growth is hard to predict. But the most definitive aspect here is that right now, the video game landscape is a gold mine for job seekers who want to enter the video gaming world.
The industry has matured and job opportunities await those who got game. The question is, do you have game?
While having a job in the video game industry is a dream come true for some people, being employed in a game development company does not mean playing video games eight hours a day (although some people get to do and get paid). Here are some of the most popular employment opportunities found within the video game industry:
Game Developer.
A video game developer, as the title implies, is someone who creates video games that will run in various platforms like Xbox, PlayStations, and Nintendo Wii. Developers specialize in various types of games, such as role-playing games or first-person shooter. Others become experts in software development that allows video games to run personal computers.
Most game developers have a bachelor’s degree in Game Art and Design, which covers the aesthetic aspects of a game, and Software Development, which is required for those who want to work in the game development area. Certification and training courses are offered in colleges, universities, and computer institutes.
While many people find this job financially rewarding, salary is at $73,000 a year, and the working environment pleasant, game developers are typically required to work long hours and weekends. There are also some instances where employees have experienced burnouts due to fatigue and stress.
Games Testers.
One of the most popular positions sought by job seekers, game testers are paid to play video games to spot and locate problems such as bugs, errors in design, and potential issues. Salaries for this position vary but a typical video game tester earns $30,000 per annum.
While many think that testing a video game as a means of living is easy, professional game testers say otherwise. Companies looking for video game testers are not simply looking for someone with good gaming skills. Apart from exceptional video gaming skills, a game tester must be able to spot a problem immediately and note it down for reporting.
While there is no formal education requirement for this position, most game testers got in the industry by acquiring certifications and degrees from computer and game design schools.
Story/Scriptwriters.
If you consider yourself to be very good in spinning a fine story, then you might find a spot in the video gaming industry. Modern video games have evolved from those that only require you play until you beat the final boss; they now require good story lines, excellent plots, appealing back stories, and enticing characters among others.
Salary rates differ depending on the quality of the game, budget, as well as the overall length of the game. Basically, a script is priced around $10,000 to $600,000. Those who have excelled in the field of scriptwriting can demand for a very high amount.
While a college degree in theater, literature, and dramatics can help one’s application, the important part of the job is to be able to provide a good story for a video game.
Animators/Artists.
Animators are highly indispensable in the world of video gaming. They are the ones who make things in a video game move. On the average, animators earn as much as $46,700 a year for those with three years of experience or less. As experience grows, an animator can rake in more than $70,000 every year. Animators for video games are holders of college degree in animation and graphic designs.
Artists, on the other hand, are tasked to provide art for the game, drawing the characters, and creating the background and scenery. Traditionally, a video game artist is paid $41,500 a year. While skills in drawing and painting are essential, video game companies prefer to hire those with degrees and certifications in related fields.
Getting employed in the video game industry can be quite exciting. And with the current rise of the industry, nabbing a job at this point is perfect timing. But like all other jobs, you need to perform well and excel in your field for you to further advance in your video game career.
Blogging for a Living
Is it possible to turn your hobby blog into a full time living? Apparently so. There are a lot of smug professional bloggers out there who travel the world, working and getting a monthly paycheck from their blog. This income often comes from advertising in the form of affiliate commissions, banner ads or Google Adsense.
With blogging it is important to make the transition from hobby to fully fledged business, with a proper site structure and monetization strategy. It is crucial to have a genuine passion for your topic- otherwise you’ll hate writing about it every day and it will show- but you must approach it in a businesslike way if you want to turn a profit (in case you were wondering, this blog is just a hobby and no, it doesn’t turn a profit). I’ll show you some examples for what I am talking about.
NEWS BLOG
A professional news blog should be updated several times a day in various categories covering a wide range of topics. If the blog is a niche, break the topic down into several smaller ones and do the same for those. Advertizing should be discreet.
SPORTS BLOG
A sports blog can do well from advertising in terms of related banner ads, etc. Don’t publish inane posts just for the sake of it- update in a timely fashion with coverage on big developments in the industry (i.e. the hiring and firing of players, coaches) and of course major games. Local games are a good feature to add, too, and you can work your way up through word of mouth in your area.
FASHION BLOG
This area of blogging is saturated with wannabe models and fashionistas who think everyone is interested in their outfits. Unless you really are an industry insider or designer, find an interesting niche that is not currently being filled, where you can really interest and help people. Perhaps support local designers in your area, or showcase some work of your own. Reviews, discount code updates and style coaching are also ways to add value. The most likely income earners in this area are banner ads and affiliate commissions, as many major online fashion retailers have programs incorporating both.
In most niches you can’t expect to turn a profit in the first six months to a year, although of course there are exceptions to every rule. Don’t quit your day job- just start blogging on the side in a professional way, and see where it leads you. Traveling the word may be a reality sooner than you think.
Dress for Success
Have you ever heard of a line that goes “appearances don’t matter”? Don’t suck in to it because in the job market, they apparently do. One of the most essential aspects when looking for a job is knowing what to wear if you are scheduled for an interview.
First impressions matter. There is a reason why such an adage has weathered the test of time. When looking for employment, first impressions can give you the leverage you need to nail that position, or zap your hopes of getting employed. Many business insiders and job search experts subscribe to the philosophy “you are what you wear”. This is because how you dress up in certain situations tells so much about your personality.
Kim Zoller of Image Dynamics, a business consultation firm, once said that 55% of another individual’s perception of you depends on how you present yourself in terms of clothing.
Social mores do not require you to wear a tie and a suit when you go to a grocery. But you need to don something respectable and professional when you meet with an interviewer. That’s because coming in wearing a t-shirt and jeans is never going to work. It is important to point that dressing properly and professionally alone will not get you the job. But it will give you the edge in terms of creating positive first impressions.
According to renowned American anthropologist Herbert Harold Vreeland, “clothes don’t make the man, but clothes have got many a man a good job.”
And that has almost always been the case.
“There is a message in the way you dress.”
For Bradley Richardson, a career expert and managing partner at recruiting firm Kaye/Bassman International, how you dress coveys a message to everyone around you. A salesman who is neatly dressed with slacks, pressed button shirt, and tie is likely close to sealing a deal compared to a seller who is clad in a sweat suit.
Richardson explains that while skills are important, he would likely boot people who are not appropriately dressed “because their appearance was inconsistent with their message of professionalism and success.”
“You won’t find me on the cover of GQ anytime soon, but I try to appear tastefully current and professional,” says Richardson.
Bottom line, according to Richardson, is that people will take you very seriously if you know how to dress appropriately. You can go to a mechanic wearing a high class suit and tie. But even if you have extensive knowledge about cars, the man will have a hard time believing what you say if you look like someone who never touched a gas pump in his whole life.
Dress code for men
Wearing a suit and ties is the safest and smartest choice for men. In a post in AskMen.com, the universal dress code for a man scheduled for a job interview is a navy or gray traditional three-button single-breasted suit paired with a white long-sleeve, button-down dress shirt and a conventional silk tie. It is encouraged that you pair your attire with clean and polished dress shoes, preferably black.
It is also recommended that you do not put on too much jewelry and strong cologne on you once you go to the interview. Also, while most companies do not have strict regulations about hairstyle and facial hair, it makes sense that you go to an interview properly groomed and shaved.
Dress code for women
In a corporate setting, women should always go for a conservative business suit. This could mean wearing a professional suit paired with a knee-length skirt or pants with a straight leg and classic fit. It is advised that women go for neutral colors as they go well with a white blouse. If you will be interviewed in an informal office a pant suit and a sweater is an excellent option.
Women should also be picky with their shoes. When going to job interviews, the usual choice is closed-toe shoes. However, depending on the interview location, you can also wear pumps or loafers.
Female job seekers must avoid tight sweaters, sloppy overalls, and miniskirts. Wearing sandals with straps is also discouraged. Jewelry, make up, and other accessories should also be at the minimal. Nose rings and multiple earrings are a no-no. Also, perfume should also be toned down. Your goal is to look great, not to scare your interviewer away.
To complete your look, you can bring a briefcase and a nice scarf. That means you should leave your big handbag at home.
If unsure, then be conservative
Alison Doyle, a job search expert and career consultant, echoes a rule many business people adhere to when it comes to dressing up for a job interview: if you are not sure what to wear, then it’s best to be overdressed than under dressed.
“If you’re in doubt about how to dress for an interview, it is best to err on the side of conservatism,” says Doyle.
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