How to contact...

[Bubbleawsome]

Someone? I'm not really sure how or who I would need to talk to, but I am doing a HS project on a job I would like to go into once I graduate. Being a tech reviewer is one of my main choices, but there isn't much info on it anywhere.
I am not applying for a job, so the call for writers email isn't for me.

I would need to know the education and training requirements, general job requirements, normal review procedure (Like a general idea of how you get the components, what you do once you're done with them), beginning salary estimates, benefits, and advancement opportunities.

I will not need to be very specific, but I need to build a small presentation and web page review on my school network.

Thanks!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Try doing an informational interview or two. Call some companies who employ tech reviewers and make an appointment.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

Try doing an informational interview or two. Call some companies who employ tech reviewers and make an appointment.

I wasn't told to interview or anything, but the information I need seems to be rarely spoken of. I choose anandtech because it is the friendliest community I've ever been in, and I personally wanted to keep self-embarrassment to a minimum. I am only 15, so phone or video interviews wouldn't be preferable. I would probably not know what to say. I've rewritten this reply twice. :\
Overall I don't want to take up anyone's time, and it isn't a high priority really. Just asking.

 

[slugg]

You may want to broaden your term to "technology journalist." Then you can find salary info for journalists.

Why would you want to be a tech reviewer, anyway? Seems like a crap job, unless you own the company and it's successful (e.g. Anand). But at that point, you're an entrepreneur, not a journalist.

 

[rudeguy]

Yes I'm serious. Be polite, ask informed questions and I'm sure he'll take 5 minutes to answer.

edited to protect privacy

 

[Bubbleawsome]

You may want to broaden your term to "technology journalist." Then you can find salary info for journalists.

Why would you want to be a tech reviewer, anyway? Seems like a crap job, unless you own the company and it's successful (e.g. Anand). But at that point, you're an entrepreneur, not a journalist.

I might need to, but if assumed that it probably has fairly specific points about it compared to anything else.

A tech reviewer/writer sounds like a really cool job to me. You get to know/access stuff ahead of time, and you get to work with computer hardware all day. (Not software) And beyond a few people judging your review I doubt it is that bad. It might suck all the enjoyment out of computers though.

EDIT: Wait, what? Rudeguy's post just appeared. Yeah, I'll do that.

 

[cbrunny]

I would assume that most new tech-journalists / reviewers are freelance. And, I assume that freelance writing is freelance writing regardless of what you're writing about. So maybe start there?

 

[slugg]

I would assume that most new tech-journalists / reviewers are freelance. And, I assume that freelance writing is freelance writing regardless of what you're writing about. So maybe start there?

This.

 

[bradly1101]

If you like to write and enjoy technology, it sounds like a great job. But it also sounds maybe a little difficult to get. Detailed user reviews are all over the place. Professional review sites don't seem to employ many, but if there's in depth knowledge in the review and it's well written you'll have the best chance you can get.

I tried to help an advertising copywriter who got laid off a few years ago find a job. He lacked computer skills and it seemed like all the open positions required them. I started teaching him Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Excel, but he just wasn't inclined. But man, could he write. He wrote freelance stuff for a local advertiser. It was a hoot seeing one of his slogans go by on the side of a bus. It was an ad for a nationwide dental clinic.

Sites like PCPer seem to employ free-lancers who also do video reviews and podcasts. Everyone is into those.

 

[JTsyo]

I imagine the job requirements would be very much like this but for tech instead of cars.

Linus interview on how he became a reviewer.

 

[Ken g6]

A number of AnandTech reviewers hang around the forums here sometimes. I believe Ryan Smith was about your age when he joined these forums. (He didn't become a reviewer until later.)
o, did you see the AnandTech Call for Writers 2014?

 

[Bubbleawsome]

A number of AnandTech reviewers hang around the forums here sometimes. I believe Ryan Smith was about your age when he joined these forums. (He didn't become a reviewer until later.)

Also, did you see the AnandTech Call for Writers 2014?

I've read that a bit. Didn't quite give me what I needed.

I imagine the job requirements would be very much like this but for tech instead of cars.

Linus interview on how he became a reviewer.

Thanks for those! Hadn't even checked out other reviews. I also hadn't seen Linus' interview.


I'm busy right now, if I missed something don't hurt me please.