| ing a winning game testing job resume is an often | | | | Additionally, if this is your first game testing job, |
| overlooked step in the process of getting hired | | | | be sure and highlight any proactive experience |
| for one’s first game testing job. To stand | | | | you may have gained in the following areas: |
| out from the crowd of would-be game testers, it | | | | • Beta Testing. Any Beta testing |
| is critical to build a resume and cover letter that | | | | experience you may have, paid or not, will |
| truly showcase not only your passion for video | | | | demonstrate to your new employer that you |
| games, but also highlight exactly why your | | | | understand the process of playing and testing the |
| prospective employer should hire you for a game | | | | video game, finding bugs and filing them. This will |
| testing job, what you can bring to the table, your | | | | be a huge plus on your resume, and will show |
| dream of making a career out of being a video | | | | that you have experience and perspective on |
| game tester, and the benefits you can bring your | | | | how to actually test video games. |
| new employer. | | | | • Online gaming beta testing. Sign up for all |
| Many are unnecessarily intimidated by the idea of | | | | the online game beta testing programs you can |
| creating a professional resume and cover letter, | | | | find, and you will gain much in real-world testing |
| and as a result, don’t project the | | | | and bug-filing experience. |
| necessary confidence in their writing that they | | | | • At-home practice: Sit down with your |
| possess the necessary attribute to do the job | | | | favorite game and practice creating spreadsheets |
| well, thus bringing value to their new employer. | | | | of Test Scenarios and Test Cases based on the |
| For this reason, many resumes simply | | | | guidelines you can find in any good book on |
| don’t get a second glance. The way past | | | | software testing. Create practice test plans as |
| this stumbling block is simply to focus on these | | | | well. Write bug reports for any bugs you may find |
| three key areas: | | | | using a good bug filing template, which you can |
| • What you can do well. Here would be a | | | | also find in most software testing books. |
| great area to discuss any unpaid experience you | | | | • Game design experience: Learning a few |
| have acquired beta testing or testing games at | | | | things, even practicing creating a simple game or |
| home while working through a software testing | | | | designing a level, will look great on your resume, |
| guide while testing a video game. | | | | and make you a much better video game tester |
| • What you have done well. Highlight in | | | | • Education – Taking a few classes |
| your work experience areas where you given | | | | on programming, project management, game |
| ownership of a particular area, and how well you | | | | design, game art, and a number of other related |
| did that particular task or area of ownership. An | | | | subjects will assist you immensely – and |
| example might be “improved the time it | | | | show potential employers that you are serious |
| took to clean a 12x14 carpet by 10% while | | | | about becoming a video game tester, and stand |
| maintaining or improving quality standards”, | | | | miles above the rest of the game testing job |
| or “grew sales in my area by | | | | seeking crowd. |
| 7%”. | | | | Designing a resume and cover letter within this |
| • How your work experience benefited | | | | general framework will give you a huge leg up |
| your employer. An example might be | | | | against other entry-level video game testers, and |
| “improved profit in the plumbing | | | | guarantees that you will be interviewed and hired |
| department by 8%” or | | | | for your first video game tester job – and |
| “developed a process that increased | | | | have no problem finding new video game tester |
| efficiency by 11%, thus reducing man-hours billed | | | | jobs after you have completed your first gig! |
| to company X”. | | | | |