Gauri Chhabra
A few days ago I was watching the tech TV show – Gadget Guru. What attracted me towards the program was its ability to portray the techno babble into consumable chunks that a common man could understand and comprehend…
That set me thinking. What does it take? Diving deeper, I realized that it took nothing but passion for gadgets and the innate ability to decipher their complexities and translating it into smaller units. Going further, if you had the abilityto compare the technicalities of Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and iPhone5 and suggest which one will be more suitable for a young business executive, you are very well on your way to being a technology reviewer.
Who is a Technology Reviewer?
In simple words,a technology reviewer makes money by telling the customers how to use a new gadget or technology. If the latest gizmos and gadgets likeMP3 players, GPS and smart phones in the market excite you, you can very well create corridor between your avocation and vocation. Technology Reviewers describe what the new gadgets available in the market are, what their features are, how they work, what their technical specifications are and how these compare to other comparable products. More importantly, how can they seamlessly make your life fluid and easy.
Canvas of work:
The canvasopen before a technology reviewer is so wide that he can fill it with any colors. To put it more clearly, as a technology reviewer, you would be the one helping people to read what is written on the tech canvas. You would be required to test latest technology consumer productsboth from the functionality and the end user’s perspective by testing against different scenarios that the end user can encounter.Any technology is useful only when it is user-friendly. Besides, you should be able to write detailed test cases and test scenarios consumable by even a layman. You might also be required to bring about any hardware co-ordination required for smooth functioning of the product. Linearly, you would also be required to write detailed reviews on the same in simple and syntactically correct English. The best way is to follow the functionality in a linear manner and ask yourself the question- Who is this product for? What pain points of the consumer will it alleviate?Follow the KISS formula, keep it short and simple. All that you have to do is analyze the new gadget, product or technology and describe its pros and cons in simple consumable chunks.
This should tell you how to write a review of the product.
Work hours:
If you are the 9-5kind of a person, technology review is not the profession for you. On the other hand, it is meant for people who can easily slither in dynamic work schedules stretching from long hours of work or intermittent and pulsating hours. In this world of shrinking product life cycles, people want to know about the project in real time. If a particular smart phone is launched and you spend life time to provide a review, you have lost the game.
Who can get in?
Any graduate or undergraduate with a passion for technology who understands the minor functioning details of consumer tech products and can test them and write an opinion on it. Besides, you have to be a keen follower of the happenings in the field of personal technology.More than the qualification, it is the passion for the world of gadgets that you will need to enter the profession. A degree in science or technology and probably an MBA along with excellent communication skills will sail you smoothly in the sea of technology.
Breaking into this field as a professional with a steady job can require many years of hard work and dedication. However, if you have knowledge about the realm of gadgets, write well, have a good work ethic and keep your eyes on the long-term goal, you can get your dream job reviewing gadgets. Besides, you should also have the skill to attract the audience.Your reviews should be able to tell a story rather than revolve around dry data.
Who will hire you?
You can be hired by the leading IT companies, magazines, portals, media houses to review the latest products that are launched in the market. You need to adopt a witty, conversational style of journalism makes consumers feel comfortable, not intimidated with the latest technologies.You also get a firsthand look at the latest products and your reviews influence buying decision of your readers. You are supposed to come up with responsible reviews without any kind of bias towards any company or product.
If you team your skills with an MBA, you can also be invited by leading companies to create a Unique Selling Proposition of their productsand position it in the market cutting across the clutter.You can have your way into Sales and Marketing positions for major new products manufacturers from Texas Instruments and Panasonic to Apple and more…
You would be there for the launch of products that make our daily lives simpler and more fun.
Salary:
As a technology reviewer, your salary may range from 2 lacs per annum to 6 lacs per annum. Average technology reviewer salaries can vary greatly due to company, location, industry, experience and benefits.
Future Track:
If you are looking for an exciting job that gives you the opportunity to change every minute this is the profession for you. You may not get an escalation path carved ahead of you as it is in the other career paths, but you may be elevated to a senior position in the IT space at a lightning pace. You can also be a globe trotter as the companies today have offices all across the globe.
Therefore my advice to all technology enthusiasts-
Gear up to make your passion – your profession!
For queries contact gauri_nagpal @yahoo.com
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