Career Tips Guides

Getting to be a Video Game Tester seems to be the better profession in the world currently after all, which other profession allows you to gain for what the whole world enjoys doing? If you are a Video Game Tester, apparently all you have to do is to play games for many hours a day, and get paid for reporting bugs and other flaws in the game. Does anything get rosier than that?

I am talking about sites that offer people to test games from the luxuries of their homes. This site offers people from all over the world to take the occasion of being a Video Game Tester. To be able to do this, people have to buy a membership on this site, which costs somewhere about $60. However, there are always some discount offers going on here, and then the membership is a lifetime membership. And then, on paying this amount, the people stands to earn anywhere between $10 and $80 per hour, and apparently just by playing games.

It seems too good to be true. But then, anything that is too good to be true usually isn’t. Being a Video Game Tester is touted to be a very highly paying job that anyone can do, but it isn’t by any means a simple job. There is indeed a lot of effort to be put in.

First and foremost, the prospect of playing games throughout the day may sound alluring at first, but believe me you, there is nothing more taxing than playing video games if you are doing it day in and day out. Playing video games round the clock may entice perhaps some video game freaks, but not the general population. And then, you would have to play a wide variety of games, including some downright gook. You have to be ready for that. A Video Game Tester cannot be a chooser. They have to play whatever game they manage to get, and have to see it through the end.

And remember, the job is for a Video Game Tester, not a video game player. That means, you will have to analyze and scrutinize every minor aspect of the game. Every bug will need to be reported, and even the errors in graphic will wants to be told. Doing this verbally is indeed a taxing thing to do.

Playing the game itself could be a difficult job to do. How often do we browse for walkthroughs and even game cheats when playing But, for a game that you are testing, there will be no such information. You will have to finish the game in most cases, without any assistance and only then are you eligible for payment. If you are not able to complete a level, there goes your money.

For some of us, there is also the question of job satisfaction to be taken into account. Okay, you are getting a fat check at the end of it all, but how much creativity are you using? Are you producing anything? These questions do rankle some hardcore professionals. Playing games is not looked upon as work, and Video Game Testers are sometimes looked upon as unemployed folk.

Finally, you must beware of all such Video Game Tester job sites on the net. There are lots of scams here, especially since they require to make a payment upfront. It is always good to go ahead on the recommendation of someone who has been in the field.

Sean is a Video Game Tester and he has seen the pros and cons of the field minutely. He does make his earning from this profession today, but he has had his share of setbacks. He has now philanthropically started a website where he cautions people who are to enter into this profession. You can read some of his opinions on this website, which is available at:
http://www.videogametesterreview.com

Work offshore on an Oil Rig for just half a year and get paid for the whole year? Sounds too good to be true, but that opportunity is available in offshore locations worldwide. The problem for new entrants to the industry is that these jobs are rarely advertised.

You’ll rarely find vacancies listed on oil company websites or in search engines. Why? Because now the growth is so fast that employers recruit crews via the “Walk-in Interview”. It saves time and keeps rigs fully manned.

Opportunities to work offshore worldwide have never been greater. The demand for new crews is almost at a peak. The major players in Gas and Oil exploration in the North Sea, Europe, the USA, South East Asia, and even China, have recently launched their expansion plans to drive earnings growth in 2007-2008 and beyond.

Most offshore job-seekers may never know where the next “Walk-in Interview” is going to take place. It’s almost like “speed dating” except that you only get one chance to bring along your passport and a copy of a recent payslip.

Even entry-level jobs are available within the industry, but you should have some similar shore-based skill or experience that can be adapted.

Rig workers get four hot meals a day, all you care to eat. Seafood and steaks are on the menu often. Snacks, cold drinks, and fruit juices are provided 24 hours a day.

Between working hours there are plenty of satellite programs and videos to watch, served with snacks and cold drinks. The larger corporations, go out of their way to provide all the comforts of home. Some even have Gym rooms and Saunas. Another perk is that you can call home anytime you like via satellite phones.

For the new entrant, previous offshore experience is not a requirement, but it helps. All applicants are considered on an individual basis, and once you get some basic offshore experience, you have the key which will open many doors for you.

It’s getting that initial piece of experience which sometimes presents the biggest problem, but there are legitimate ways around those problems.

If you have prior military service, or are still in the military, you will be able to use your military training to your own advantage. The military offers a great deal of excellent training, and some of it can be taken into account for deployment in the offshore oil and gas industry.

For example, if you are a mechanic in the military, you will probably have diesel and hydraulic experience. Many things offshore operate hydraulically, pneumatically, and are diesel powered.

If you worked on jet aircraft or helicopters, then you have some excellent experience to offer. Turbine engines are becoming more common all the time as power plants offshore.

Do your research and learn how to meet the hurdles, and a worthwhile career in the offshore Oil and Gas industry could be waiting for you.

Those with a keen interest should explore the untold array of offshore rig opportunities covering oilfields in the UK North Sea, Europe, The Gulf, Asia, and many other parts of the world.

For the offshore rig worker, the greatest benefit is the time off. Where else can you go to work and get two weeks out of the month off? The time off presents a truly wonderful opportunity. Could this be the career for you?

Copyright 2007 Harry S Richards

Harry S Richards runs Beaufort Offshore Projects from his website at: http://www.Offshore-Jobs.co.uk. Harry also runs a Job and Trade Mart at http://www.TheMartUK.com

People can live without owning a home, they just rent. People can live without owning a car by riding the bus. People can go without health insurance; it is not ideal but possible. People learn how to deal with cash only instead of credit cards, but there is one thing that it is hard to function without - a job. Now it is having an effect on people’s employment in a way that it didn’t in the past.

It is important to know that the law prohibits an employer from denying employment to someone based on bankruptcy findings. However, the law does not prohibit an employer from denying an application, or even rescinding an offer, based on other credit issues.

Some of these issues could be inquiries, foreclosures, or collection actions. More and more companies are using credit reports as a means of hiring, firing, and for promotional purposes. One survey that was taken by the Society for Human Resource Management showed that 35% of companies are now performing this practice.

The most common practice for employers still remains to be the background check, but studies have found that if a company is pooling resources in order to verify background, more often than not, they will go ahead and pull the credit report also. However, many employers have found that finding credit mishaps did not determine whether or not an employee was more likely to steal.

The better predictor, most would say, is a full criminal background check, which would show things such as bounced checks. Employers will also use credit checks in order to make sure employment history is correct and that the Social Security numbers are valid. This is a measurement that is taken as a form of insurance for a company that is trying to hire new staff members.

Should you apply for a job with a governmental agency you will most likely have to go through a credit check. This might sound intimidating; however a governmental credit check isn’t as scary as having one done for a private company. Aside from the usual need for security clearance, the government will run a check if the job you are applying for will have you dealing with cash.

There are rules that people have to follow, regardless of the position that is being applied for. For instance, an employer has to have your permission before they can run a credit check. The permission has to be obtained in writing, and any deviation from this method is against the law.

Bankruptcy is not supposed to be considered a problem. Remember, they can take issue with you not paying your bills, but not if you have filed for bankruptcy. Finally, if your credit information is used against you in any way, the employer is required to tell you what the problem is.

When it comes right down to it, the best thing you can do for yourself is to stay on top of your credit. Credit affects people more and more with each passing year. During the time of our grandparents no one would have ever thought that they would be refused a job due to bad credit. Today, there are many people who lose their jobs due to bad credit and it is affecting us all in ways we never would have thought of.

Mike Selvon is the owner of various niche portals. Our credit repair portal is a great resource for more information on bad credit and finding new employement. While you are there don’t forget to claim your free gift.