Today, nerds everywhere (myself included) are booting up their Xbox 360s to play Halo:Reach, which was released at midnight and is poised to be the top-selling game of the year – maybe even of all time.

If you enjoy sinking hours into Halo, maybe making this a career is the right choice for you. Every major game developer and publisher hires video game testers to ensure they’re releasing top-quality products.

What does a tester do? Essentially, you’re quality control for a video game. Long before a game is released, you’ll play versions of it to make sure that there aren’t any broken parts, like walls that characters can walk through or glitches that cause a save file to corrupt. You’ll also give developers feedback on the difficulty of the game, so that the game is consistent throughout, not too hard or too easy at any one part. This kind of quality assurance separates a good game from a great game.

The advantages of a finding a video game testing job include:

• The ability to play highly-anticipated games long before it hits the market
• Free video games that you get to keep
• Getting paid to play all day
• The ability to give your opinion on game franchises that are dear to your heart
• The opportunity for advancement

At some companies, you may even be able to go back to school on their dime, allowing you to get a degree in a field such as management, video game design, art, internet technology, or computer engineering.

Of course, keep in mind that it isn’t all fun and games, no pun intended. As a tester, one of the major drawbacks is that you don’t get to just enjoy the game as a finished product. The early version of the games you’ll be play often have many, many problems, which you have to tediously record, and even late versions of the games have issues that it is your job to find. You don’t get to just enjoy a game, like you would if you purchased it and are playing at home.

In quality assurance, there’s also an issue of job security. When a video game is done, you don’t have a job unless the company is working on another game and ready for testers to start working on it. With large companies, like Sony or Microsoft, there is always a new project that needs testers, but smaller companies may lay off workers between projects. See the Nintendo jobs page on JobMonkey to learn about their opportunities.

To get your foot in the door as a video game tester, start by playing games in beta and giving companies feedback. Some companies also ask for volunteer quality assurance workers to help on an as-needed basis, working from home. These both look great on your resume if you’re interested in a paying, professional video game tester job.

I know, I know, your mother always told you to put down your video game controls and pick up your text books. I think the refrain went something like this, “Playing those *&%^ games isn’t going to pay the bills, young man!”

Well guess what, Mom? There is actually a whole profession that earns their living from those *&%^ games! And I’m thinking for those of you who are addicted to gaming, working in the video game industry would be a real dream come true!

Before you rush out to a job interview with your highest score as your only credential, I’m going to walk you through some of the educational expectations that future employers will have.

Bachelors Degree in Computer Science

You can choose from hundreds of schools in America that offer B.A.s or higher in computer science, all the way from your local two-year college to highly ranked four-year programs at prestigious schools like MIT. No matter where you choose to get your degree from, the key is to take courses that will help you develop the knowledge and experience in gaming. This includes courses in graphics, animation and of course, programming. There are even schools such as UC-Santa Cruz, that offer a college major in video game design.

Graduate degree programs in Computer Engineering

If you are looking to take the leap to a senior level programming job, you will likely need a graduate degree. The most common choice is an M.S. in Computer Engineering, although some top level gaming executives even hold a PhD. If you are more interested in the business and marketing side of the gaming industry, an MBA might be a more appropriate choice for you.

Online degrees in Video Game Design

If you are a game geek, odds are that learning online is a natural comfort zone for you. Online programs are a great option for people looking to make a mid-career change, which will necessitate them going back to school while continuing to work a full-time job. Read more about game design degree programs here.

Video Game Design Certificates & Two Year Degrees

If the traditional college route isn’t for you, there are still some great educational options for you. Video gaming insiders often recommend Full Sail as the ideal “real world education”. The school is located in Orlando, FL and offers Associate’s degrees in game development and computer animation. In less than two years, you can have an in-depth background in artificial intelligence, game networking, structures of game design, physics, and linear algebra. Learn more about gaming degrees and certificates from programs like Full Sail at the JobMonkey.

If you are interested in learning more about video game programming education and careers, check out this interview with gaming veteran, Bill Roper. Oh, and how cool is this? There is a gaming scholarship just for those of you interested in pursuing video game design.

Amidst the depressing news about slow-going Haitian relief efforts, MSNBC ran a fun little story over the weekend about the “world’s coolest jobs“. I figured I would know about most of them since that’s our specialty here at the JobMonkey — cool, fun jobs. But there were a couple gigs that surprised even me. You can click on over for the full article, but here’s a brief look at what one reporter deems the coolest jobs in the world:

1. Caretaker of a paradise island — ala Brit Ben Southall who won that Australian job competition to be caretaker and unofficial ambassador of a tropical island). Tough day on the job for Ben? When he got stung by a jelly fish. Poor thing!
   
2. Inventor of fried foods — It’s not exactly fine dining, but Abel Gonazales Jr. has made a living out of deep frying anything — from PB&J sandwiches to a tall glass of coke
3. Water-slide tester — Believe it or not, there is actually one person out there who tests out those water slides at hotels, resorts, country clubs and even public swimming pools. His name is Tommy Lynch and he slides at over 27,000 pools a year. I can’t even begin to fathom how many slides he must see a day, but darn, it sounds like a cool job!
4. Chocolate Taster – As it’s name implies, chocolate taster Sally McKinnon has one sweet job. (Sorry, I had to.) It reminds me of my best friend in high school who had a job scooping up double scoops at Baskin Robbins. She told me that after the first month of all-the-ice-cream-she-could-eat it got rather boring. Sure it did!
5. Google cyclist in Paris — And you thought you had to be a tech genius to land a job at Google! Two guys were hired by the mega search engine to ride around the city of Paris in bikes rigged up with cameras to capture thousands of images for Google maps. Oh la la!
6. Beer Taster — Did you know that the ideal time for beer tasting is the lunch hour? Apparently that’s because your taste buds won’t be tired out yet. And no, I don’t think you can convince Coors to hire your office mates as their official beer tasters.
7. Video Game Tester — Now this is a field I actually know something about! Well, not the video games themselves but the industry. We cover it extensively on the JobMonkey. Check out our section Video Game Jobs and land your own super cool job.
8. Medical Marijuana Reviewer — I think I’d better just leave this entry well enough alone.
9. Luxury Bed Tester — Oh, now that sounds up my alley. Sleeping on $40,000 mattress?! Of course, you have to be willing to sleep in a bed showroom and answer endless questions about your mattress preferences.
10. Internet Savvy Globetrotters — Wow, what an awesome job! The country of Thailand recently hired five couples to blog, tweet and chat boaut their all-expenses paid trips to some of the best beaches in the country. Winners had to be savvy users of social media and “good storytellers.” If you have the wanderlust spirit but not the all-expenses paid budget, be sure to check out our sister site, FrugalMonkey.

Welcome to our weekly hot jobs post, where I tell you about three of the hottest leads for jobs over at our free JobMonkey Job Center. This week, I’m focusing on the fun career track of video game programming. There are a dozen or more video game jobs up on the Job Center tonight, so if that your dream job, you will definitely want to check it out.

In the meantime, be sure to visit JobMonkey’s section on video game programming jobs to learn more about this fun — and fast growing — industry.

1. Part-Time Retail Representative, Nintendo of America, San Francisco, CA

This is a part-time position with the worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment. Shift work will total 24 hours per week, 3 full weekdays Monday through Friday. Weekend available is also required. The job will require extensive driving (1,100 miles per month) to make site visits at 63 accounts, where you will reset and maintain product displays. The ideal candidate will be a resident of San Francisco, with at least one to two years of experience working in the retail environment, plus a valid drivers license and vehicle ownership.

2. Senior Flash Developer Job, Sega of America, San Francisco, CA

Sega is seeking a Senior Flash Developer to design and/or develop web content for SEGA.com and PlaySega.com. Primary responsibilities will including designing and developing interactive Flash websites, banners, ads, widgets and games, and managing junior Flash developers. The ideal candidate will be expert at Flash timeline animation, Actionscript 2/3, PhotoShop & Illustrator, HTML/CSS, and overall creative agility. 3-5 years of Flash development experience, plus 2-3 years of management experience is also required.

3. Manager or Sr. Manager, Project & Systems, Nintendo of America, Redmond, WA

Nintendo of America, at its U.S.-headquarters in Redmond, Washington, is seeking a Senior Manager of Project & Systems to lead strategic projects and planning activities. The job will require extensive travel (15%). The ideal candidate will have seven to ten years of related experience, excellent leadership skills, and a sales administration background with lean transactional knowledge. Also required is a minimum of an undergraduate degree in Business, Sales, Supply Chain Management, or equivalent

Good luck with your job search this week!

Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it’s Thursday already. Sometimes the weeks really seem to fly by and this is one of them! As you probably know by now, Wednesday is my usually Hot Jobs day.

That’s when I post three hot new job openings from our job database at the JobMonkey Job Center . I’m getting a late jump on things this week due to some major Internet problems. My apologies!

There are tons of great new job leads over at the Job Center right now, including many opportunities for working abroad. If you want to learn more about working internationally, check out JobMonkey’s Guide to Working Abroad.

1. Webmaster, VEGlobal, Chile
VEGlobal is seeking a high school graduate to serve as a web designer, responsible for internal Internet needs and public relations. The ideal candidate will have advanced computer and web design experience.

2. Senior Tools Programmer, Rockstar Games, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Rockstar Games (isn’t that the name of a company you’d want to work at?!) is looking to hire a talented programmer to work in its tools department. The programmer will be responsible for upkeep of Rockstar’s current toolchain and export pipeline, improving and extending them, and providing tools support to the other departments in the studio. The ideal candidate will have games industry experience, in addition to strong C/C++ programming skills, excellent communication skills, knowledge of at least one 3d modeling package, and ability to work in a team and deliver on a deadline.

3. Procurement Assistant Jobs, Intership Limited, London, United Kingdom
Intership Limited is seeking a procurement assistant to source and purchase ship stores required by the vessels owned by the company, to monitor the vessels from the office, and to oversee everyday operational requirements, including repatriation of crew from these vessels. The ideal candidate will have experience working in the marine/shipping industry, have strong written and oral communication skills, be well organized, and be able to learn quickly and thrive in a fast-paced, international environment. He or she should also be computer literate with experience of Microsoft Office, Email and Internet. The company prefers candidates with a Bachelor’s level degree or higher.

If you have dreamed of becoming a video game designer or programmer, you must read this interview with game veteran, Bill Roper.  Roper, who played a key role in the development of the seminal game Warcraft, recently discussed his career and the future of the industry with Gamasutra.

Several months ago, I covered the educational options for aspiring game developers and mentioned that there are a growing number of universities that offers courses and even college majors in game programming and design. Roper was clear in his interview that this educational background gives up-and-coming programmers a major leg-up in the hiring process.

[Those with a game degree] definitely have, I think, a higher level of understanding, a better vocabulary; they’re able to hit the ground running a lot better… There’s the possibility that they’re going to have just the higher degree of baseline knowledge. They have that step up to step in and do something at a starting level in the company.

If you are thinking about pursuing a career in game design and development, definitely check out the interview with Roper and visit the JobMonkey’s section on video game jobs.

Are you interested in becoming a video game programmer? Most programmers have degrees in computer programming, including the special field of computer and video game arts. According to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), there are plenty of qualified Caucasian men interested in these jobs post-graduation, but women and minorities aren’t as prevalent in the field.

That’s why the ESA is offering a sweet, $3,000 scholarship to women and minority students who are pursuing their degree in Computer & Video Game Arts (or a related field).

The Foundation has thirty total scholarships available, 15 for high school seniors and another 15 for college students.

To be eligible, you must be enrolled (or plan to enroll) as a full-time student at an accredited four-year colleges or university. The application deadline is May 15, 2009, so there’s not much time left.

To learn more about the scholarship, visit the Entertainment Software Association website. If you want to learn more about pursuing a career in video game industry, the JobMonkey is your #1 resource. You might also want to check out these articles on Video Game Design Schools and Computer Game Education.

As promised, Mondays at JobMonkey are now going to be about education and your career. Don’t worry: You probably do not need a Ph.D. to land the job of your dreams; but most professions do require a certain level of education and/or training. 

At some jobs, this can take the form of on-the-job training; but for other professions, you will need to show up with a resume that includes course work, a major or even an advanced degree in a specialized field.

What all of this means is that no matter where you are at in your career path — from the high school student trying to figure out college plans to the mid-level professional looking to make a career change — you need to think long and hard about what role education can play in reaching your professional goals.

This week, we are going to look at the profession of video game programmers.  Believe it or not, there is a whole field of people dedicated to creating video games (ha, and my mom always told me no one was going to pay me to play Nintendo!). It’s one of those dream job scenarios, I’m guessing, for a lot of the people employed in this growing industry.

But you can’t just walk into Wii and get a job based on your own gaming mastery.  Companies are going to be looking for solid work experience AND an educational background that lends itself to the field.  What does that mean exactly?  Here are some ideas:

>> B.A. or higher in computer science, possibly with an emphasis in video game design
There are hundreds of schools in America with computer science degrees, ranging from local community schools to top-rated programs like Cal Tech and MIT. 

The key is your coursework; some schools, like UC-Santa Cruz, have concentrations or even a major in video game design.  But even if yours doesn’t, you should chose classes that emphasize gaming systems, graphics and animation.

>> Online degrees in Video Game Design
There are a growing number of online programs in video game design, which make particular sense for those of you looking to switch tracks mid-career or to attend school while working full-time. You can read more about game design degree programs on Online Degree Zone.

>> Graduate degree programs in Computer Engineering
Senior level game programmer jobs often require or prefer graduate degrees.  If this is your aim, then you should know that the most common degree is an M.S. in Computer Engineering.  To learn more, check out the U.S. News and World Report‘s list of the top ten graduate schools for Computer Engineering.

Is there are a career path you are interested in pursuing, but you don’t know where to start in terms of schooling and training?  Leave me a comment and I will be sure to offer some educational resources and suggestions next Monday.

Welcome to Hot Jobs Wednesday. Each hump day, I’ll be helping you get over the mid-week lull by spotlighting three of the hottest jobs on the JobMonkey job boards.

To find more job opportunities, visit our free boards. In the meantime, here are three great positions you may be interested in:

#1. Assistant Garage Mechanic @ Glacier National Park
Remember the definition of Green Careers that we talked about on Monday? Blue collar work in a green setting? Well, here’s a job that fits that bill: Montana’s Glacier National Park is looking for an assistance mechanic. This person will assist the garage manager in maintaining and repairing the park’s vehicles and snow removal equipment. Qualified applicants must have a high school diploma, possess knowledge and experience in vehicle maintenance and be able to lift at least 50 pounds. If this sounds like a great opportunity to you, send your resume and cover letter to the Human Resources Department of Glacier Park Inc.

#2. Performers/Dancers/Singers @ Busch Gardens
Working at Busch Gardens may not be like a Disney World job, but this fun Florida theme park is actively looking for talented dancers and signers to perform at the park. Auditions are being held in Tampa, making this a great opportunity for local talent. For more information, please visit www.buschgardenstalent.com.

#3. Audio Designer @ Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games is a Vancouver, British Columbia company leading the field of video game development. Rockstar is looking for a Senior Audio Designer, who will create and refine audio assets for PS3/360 development. The person will be responsible for content creation, as well as the optimization and technical integration of assets. A background in programming is required, along with at least one year of professional experience as a sound designer or audio engineer in gaming. Rockstar also wants a self-starter, who doesn’t require a lot of supervision. Do you fit that bill? If so, be sure to apply directly through Rockstar Games.

Good luck with your job search this week!

For many college students, it probably seems like a dream job: Designing video games. I mean, hey, you rock your Playstation, GameBoy, Xbox or Wii. But be forewarned, being a PlayStation master is no guarantee that you’ll be go at programming video games. It is a good start, though, since you probably know what makes a game entertaining — and what doesn’t.

There’s more good news: the video game industry is booming.  With more than $11 billion in profits, the video gaming industry rivals the movie industry. Of course, the boom in the industry means the jobs are higher profile — and harder to land. To learn more about video game design and whether you have what it takes to make it in the industry, visit JobMonkey’s section on Video Game Design Jobs.