Allow me to let you in on a small secret; you aren't going to be the first choice of an international game creator when you first begin seeking video game testing job openings. Having said that, should you follow the few easy guidelines below, you most positively will not be the last!
- Never give up! It might seem obvious for you, but it's exactly why almost all starting video game beta testers don't make it. They submit an application for their first game testing job and are turned down, causing them to believe they do not possess what it takes to be a beta game tester. This is simply incorrect. Just because you have been rejected once, two times, 3 times, four times, or maybe more it does not mean you can't succeed as a tester -- it simply means the developer desires someone more experienced for the task.
- You're not going to locate game tester job openings in the community newspaper, so quit looking! To be honest, testing jobs aren't going to find you, so stop acting that they can. You will not come across them by begging your best friend, you will not locate them by listening to the radio, and you will not find them by looking through the classifieds area of the newspaper -- it's just not that easy. Sure, game tester work opportunities are out there, although, they are not getting promoted like "everyday jobs". The top game companies understand that competent testers shall come to them; not vice versa. That said, get yourself out & about and head straight to the developers! Taking the "shy" approach will not work.
- It is who you know, not what you know. This could not be more true in terms of beta game testing. Knowing more folks (within the gaming field) eventually means more game tester job openings for you in the long term. Networking with other people doesn't only make it easier to seek out available video game tester job openings, but you will get significantly more references to provide possible employers, you'll get insider information regarding the most recent gaming advancements, and you might even learn about long-term jobs which have opened up with a few of the most powerful game companies across the country. To put it briefly, you will be far ahead of your competition with a network of solid contacts.
- Don't be reluctant to test games for free. Testing video games without pay, though difficult to stomach, is an excellent tactic to get those first couple of references. Developers will not need to worry about throwing away cash on one more "newbie" tester since you will be testing at zero cost. Should you do a fine job, not only shall you have a possible employer, but you will possess a fantastic reference for forthcoming beta game tester job openings.
Is this everything you should know about expert video game testing? Of course not -- But, with these four tips, the challenge of acquiring job openings for video game testers should be tremendously easier!