Wednesday, April 3rd 2024
TechPowerUp Hiring: Reviewers Wanted for Motherboards, Laptops, Gaming Handhelds and Prebuilt Desktops
TechPowerUp has four open positions in our team that we'd like to fill with talented and motivated PC gamers and enthusiasts like you! We are looking for a motherboard reviewer, a pre-built gaming PC reviewer, a gaming handheld reviewer and a laptop reviewer—that's four separate positions, for four individuals. Applicants will be required to regularly publish detailed hardware reviews in their respective roles, at a frequency that's most suitable for the type of hardware being reviewed. The position is open to individuals from the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Japan, or Taiwan.
Besides product evaluation skills, we expect our reviewers to possess good literary skills. We're not exactly looking for over-the-top creative writing, but content that's engaging and insightful to our readers, who come to us for our detailed yet straightforward writing style. The four are remote working positions, which will require you to perform hardware testing and photography in-house. Ideally you'll already have some equipment, but we can definitely help with that, also with streamlining your testing workflow, and creating the testing setup. Our team is also always here for you to discuss testing methodologies, presentation of results, etc. This is a paid, and part-time position, our role will be to keep you busy with samples of the hardware assigned to you. There are no static quotas per month, but depending on the hardware category we expect a certain minimum number of reviews we can publish, to maintain a regular cadence that keeps up with the latest developments.
TechPowerUp reviews don't just go in-depth into performance evaluations, but also include detailed photography and insights to the various components that make up a piece of hardware. Our motherboard reviewer, for example, should be able to identify and test the various onboard devices and VRM components. This comprehensive approach extends to laptops, too, which will mostly be gaming-grade ones—and prebuilt gaming desktops. For the gaming handheld reviewer, you'll need to be able to objectively review and contrast current hardware, such as the ROG Ally, or the Steam Deck, besides evaluating the experience these devices offer haptics wise, or even how supported the platforms are in the enthusiast community, who often release polished software tools or aftermarket hardware modifications for popular devices. Being an avid gamer who enjoys trying out the newest titles would suit the role, as TPU long term testing will involve regular gaming performance articles evaluating and comparing these handheld PCs.
Interested? Send us examples of your work (needn't be with big and notable publications, even personal blogs or forum posts will do); and send us a 300-word essay about recent developments in the area of work you're interested in (for example: if you're signing up for the Laptop position, give us a brief essay on recent developments from the world of laptops). If you're applying for multiple positions, you must include a writing sample for each, so we know you understand the tech. No ChatGPT writeups please, we want to learn about your skills. Prior experience in the field, especially with a notable publication, would count as a big plus, but isn't essential. Please also tell us a bit about yourself, like location, education and age, just so we can get a better idea of you as an applicant.
Contact us at w1zzard@techpowerup.com. Applications close on May 1st.
Besides product evaluation skills, we expect our reviewers to possess good literary skills. We're not exactly looking for over-the-top creative writing, but content that's engaging and insightful to our readers, who come to us for our detailed yet straightforward writing style. The four are remote working positions, which will require you to perform hardware testing and photography in-house. Ideally you'll already have some equipment, but we can definitely help with that, also with streamlining your testing workflow, and creating the testing setup. Our team is also always here for you to discuss testing methodologies, presentation of results, etc. This is a paid, and part-time position, our role will be to keep you busy with samples of the hardware assigned to you. There are no static quotas per month, but depending on the hardware category we expect a certain minimum number of reviews we can publish, to maintain a regular cadence that keeps up with the latest developments.
TechPowerUp reviews don't just go in-depth into performance evaluations, but also include detailed photography and insights to the various components that make up a piece of hardware. Our motherboard reviewer, for example, should be able to identify and test the various onboard devices and VRM components. This comprehensive approach extends to laptops, too, which will mostly be gaming-grade ones—and prebuilt gaming desktops. For the gaming handheld reviewer, you'll need to be able to objectively review and contrast current hardware, such as the ROG Ally, or the Steam Deck, besides evaluating the experience these devices offer haptics wise, or even how supported the platforms are in the enthusiast community, who often release polished software tools or aftermarket hardware modifications for popular devices. Being an avid gamer who enjoys trying out the newest titles would suit the role, as TPU long term testing will involve regular gaming performance articles evaluating and comparing these handheld PCs.
Contact us at w1zzard@techpowerup.com. Applications close on May 1st.
93 Comments on TechPowerUp Hiring: Reviewers Wanted for Motherboards, Laptops, Gaming Handhelds and Prebuilt Desktops
I'm kind of surprised to see a spot for pre-built gaming PC reviewer. I guess having been putting my own computers together for nearly the last 20 years I forget that not everyone does that, regardless of how easy I think it is to do. I do know a couple of guys that got pre-built systems a few years ago and I know a few others that built their own. I just kind of forget folks don't want to build and just want to remove from the box and start using right away.
Yeah OEM need clean install review over lol
1) The Drive to Constantly Improve:
Knowing my writing wasn't great I looked for ways to improve it and mitigate typical errors. For a long time that meant using Grammarly to find missing commas, hyphens, etc. It also highlighted my regional dialect to help me improve overall grammar and flow. So for many years, I paid for that out of pocket in the pursuit to get better.
2)Continually Evaluate Your Process:
Looking at reviews and the overall process I wanted to make sure the results were easy to reproduce and were relevant. Eventually when AMD became competitive again I knew testing only 1 platform wouldn't cut it anymore. Thus Intel and AMD are used in cooler reviews today because one size does not fit all as my reviews regularly show. That said, how I approach a review is different, from many others here at TPU I don't just run hardware tests on say mini-PC I play with it a bit first and use it for tasks here and there to gauge the user experience before I run any tests so I don't influence myself with the numbers first essentially I enter the process as an end user first and then worry about the review aspect second.
3)Pay attention to details:
I looked for value-added categories where I could experiment and learn more. For a while that was Desktops / Laptops alongside coolers. Eventually, I picked up mini-pcs and stuck with them. Being able to be flexible and try new things means constantly evaluating how well you can do the job. For example, I have some space ie a home office. However, at 13 x 8 ft with a test bench and photo bench, and storing the various parts and boxes meant I didn't have the space to handle huge desktops and coolers at the same time. This came to a head when I tested the EK workstation which was massive. The box alone would barely fit through the various doors in my house. Having it around caused me to fall behind because it was in my way constantly. Keep space in mind because you will need a place to take proper photos with consistency which means light stands, backdrops, etc. If reviewing desktops/laptops you will need a quiet enough space to really understand how annoying the fans might be. Loud isn't great but loud isn't the worst thing either. For example, certain frequencies can be 100% far more annoying at say 45 dBA than a simple fan being loud at 50-55 dBA.
4) Don't get overwhelmed:
Say you apply and get accepted. Now anxiety sets in, but don't let it drown you, trust me I know the feeling a $30,000 plus workstation showed up at my door for testing so I really do get it lol. That said, while the team here is based all over the world it also means you have access to a tremendous level of knowledge and different viewpoints. It's okay to ask questions, it's okay to seek advice in fact it is encouraged. I can't count how many times I have asked, ir_cow / cadaveca / W1zzard and many other team members for a second look at a review to make sure it came across as I intended. Or I ran into strange hardware issues that I needed another set of brain cells to help tackle. While it is true that the goal is for us reviewers to operate on our own to a certain degree. That doesn't mean the team isn't right here with a wealth of knowledge to help fill in the gaps, you just need to be able to learn and tackle tasks as an individual. If I can do this you likely can too. Put in the effort and have a genuine love for PC hardware and you can likely hit the ground running. I mean that's what I did and I have been here 11+ years.
Only thing I haven't done yet is CPUs, PSU and monitors. None of which I care to write about. PSUs needs a degree to understand what is really going on internally.
But it's been fun overall. Keeps me on my toes and I get new stuff to play with.
What is she the main character of?
It's especially interesting when many aspects are copy/pasted across similar products, when perhaps those could be contained to the core product (MBA/NFE), with only new particulars for AIB models.
That said, I respect whatever you choose to do. I personally believe well-rounded context doesn't always fit on one line; a pre-set space (all the time), although I understand the desire for that to occur.
Could you consider a new (copy?) editor position as well?
I can't imagine finding enough new/pertinent topics (to others) that go into posting several articles per day, let-alone reiterating them in an all in an engaging way, but often feel I could improve them.
(I'd be open to proof-reading, if not help add some spice. Never with the intention to take control, just help articulate or perhaps fill in conceivable blind-spots/misconceptions that may occur).
I love the site and have appreciated/respected W1zard longer than some members of this site have been alive...I just give him a bit of a hard time occasionally to keep him honest and on his toes.
I truly think, and anyone that has been around as long as I have would almost-certainly agree, he was a pioneer in the space and continues to keep the 'old' spirit of written reviews and linkable charts alive...which is more appreciated than he can possibly imagine. Well, perhaps he can, given he says the site is (still) doing very well in a space that has largely migrated to Youtube (video) and other mediums. I believe it is sites like this one that prompted Gamers Nexus (et al) to re-enter the space by (once-again) making the information in their video reviews available in text format, for which I am also thankful.
Surviving, if not thriving through such a transition speaks volumes to the quality, and to the perseverance of people that frequent the site for that type of information and/or how it is conveyed.
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Over the years there have been many times positions like this have come up on this and other sites I have frequented (Anandtech in it's prime, Wccftech back when I frequented there before it became an overwhelming meme cesspool, Kotaku, etc.,), and I've long-held the position that it was my role to be the guy in the comments to fill in the gaps or add extra context; to question the authority and round out the picture of conceivable viewpoints on an issue. It's not with the goal to be a contrarian or rain on anyone's parade for which a product fills their budget/desire, but to allow someone that is writing a piece with a certain narrative to do so, while still showing there are other aspects/viewpoints to consider (or reasons products have certain limitations; hopefully so such obvious segmentation may be mitigated in the future) that can still be contained within the context of that review, article, or subject matter (in the comment section); often that others may think/feel but choose not to say or are afraid to share. My hope has always been to allow as much information to be available in one place as possible, which is why I appreciate there is a discussion post in every review. I feel I've played my role when something like this occurs; people read the review and may or may not realistically want/need a $1000 pair of headphones, but may be interested in HFM. Because of that discussion some may now be aware/reminded there is a cheaper (~$300-400) set available that is very good, but that the manufacturer needs to work on an aspect of their design for certain models (as shown not only by my opinion and/or the editor/reviewer, but by others that agree and participate in the thread with similar concerns/solutions).
TBQH, though, there's never been a time I've more heavily considered applying for such a position. I feel I've banked enough years of experience/knowledge (some that others have yet to learn and other things people will never have to go through simply because things evolved before their interest in something and/or lifetime) that it could be helpful in helping people understand when certain things changed and why, and what improvements have or can still be made; the same goes wrt conceivable regression. Without going into a conceivable Jeff Goldsmith question nobody has asked, I used to spend the majority of my time in a job that confined me to a small area doing mostly-mindless repetitious work, which allowed me to consume a ton of information (through podcasts, music, etc) mentally, and then process that information and what I wanted to say about it while adjusting my required mood/mindset through different emotional aspects of what I listened to afterwards (music or types/ways of going about other discussion). After I left that position I've found myself a little aimless, and disappointed in myself wrt keeping that flow (I think I needed the structure). I can't think of many jobs that would allow me to multi-task in such a fashion; giving my body expected/required purpose while taking in information on something new (and conceivably inspirational) at the same time; actively doing something, learning something new, but also absorbing, contemplating, or repurposing aspects of that I've already learned/appreciated. Doing reviews/editorials may allow a similar type of flow, but I have always been unsure. On top of that, when the guy that goes against the grain, fills in the gaps, or says the unsaid becomes the grain or the creator of those gaps, can one expect another to fill THAT position? I don't know.
Putting a viewpoint out in an official capacity on something is also not quite the same as commenting or writing a blog; there is a requirement to be concise and for there to be a throughline; not go off on one or more tangents. A requirement of professionalism that can't come across as forceful (although that is sometimes required for action to be taken); lest you become shoe-horned into appearing aggressive or a shill if overly focused on one strength or weakness. There's a (personal) requirement of perfectionism/not forgetting something that would probably eat away at me (more than it already does when I choose to comment on something), let-alone worries of writing so much people wouldn't read it thoroughly-enough to absorb all aspects I feel important, although the fact you have focused on noting that there are others more familiar with the workflow available for advice is extremely appreciated...to whomever may end up with such a job. That thoughtfulness should ease some of those concerns to whomever may think to apply.
While I've never wanted clout (I care more about the issues/solutions and spread/sharing of ideas rather than their origin), there is something to be said about the people one appreciates and being able to personally relate that I've never been able to have. Sometimes I wish I did, but other times I feel it's important to not have that expectation of a certain demeanor or style which comes with such as a job.
Maybe I will apply for one of these jobs...someday. Until I can work up enough courage and relinquish enough self-doubt about becoming part of the machine, I shall continue to (thoughtfully) rage against it.
(See? That's 1000+ words; 700+ if you don't count the note to W1zard.I edited it so it's now ~900/1200+...I'm incorrigible when my edits are the desired size of a complete article. :oops:)Obviously Poke'mon :laugh:
But... I have no confidence on my writing and my photography skills are "quick snap with my phone" :D Maybe I'll try to make some kind of an "application" happen.
I can understand your point of view but isn't this (A) an incredibly easy way to eliminate the incredibly lazy ones out and at the same time (B) allow for good script engineers who can possibly create quality content faster to shine?
These LLMs are part of our lives now and they are of incredible help for very time consuming tasks at my work (academia, R&D); such as, scanning through large documents incredibly reliably. In our case, this means literature scans have gotten a lot shorter and more refined, while developing basic code structures have almost completely diminished while advanced ones have gotten faster.
A person who can generate and/or utilise LLM scripts to their advantage shoulnd't be left out. Getting a good structure for content then refining it delivers both higher quality and shorter production. Come on, you're a tech website.