'My job combines my passion for gaming and football'
CJ discusses his route into his job testing football video games. Find out more about his role, career progression and top tips for getting into a similar role.
Ever wondered who makes sure your footy video games are great? This guy!
CJ works as an associate quality assurance manager on the video game Football Manager. His team test the game to make sure everything works, and collaborate with the developers to create the most realistic simulation of football.
There are lots of different ways to progress in the gaming industry.
CJ works in the QA (Quality Assurance) team, testing games. In this team, his career progression has followed this path:
His team is just one of the options, though. "There are lots of other roles within the industry too, including production, game design, social media and development, where developers help to code the game," he explains. "Depending on your skills and interests, there are different pathways you can take that you might enjoy and be suited to."
There are different roles in video game testing. CJ notes that: "Salaries can vary depending on your role and the company you work for. They can range from around £20,000 to £50,000 and upwards." The higher salaries in this range could apply when you've gained more experienced and progressed in your career.
CJ is now a quality assurance manager, but he started out as a quality assurance tester. Find out more about the role of QA tester below. This role can have various other job titles, such as games tester, computer games tester, and video games tester.
You could get into this role via a university course, a college course (such as a Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media, an A-level in Computing, or a T-level in Digital Software Development (England only)), an apprenticeship, or applying directly if you have relevant experience.
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed and the GOV.UK website for more on T-levels.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England) , nidirect (Northern Ireland) , My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales) .
Bitesize Careers, in partnership with The Open University, has launched the Follow Your Passion campaign, exploring how you can draw on your passions and interests to find your future jobs.
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