CheatCodes.com (a popular video game website) is seeking video game experts to help write reviews and news articles for our website. We are looking for writers who can author game reviews, news articles, or both. You will be writing for a very informed audience who will depend on your opinions, insights, and descriptions to stay informed about the video game industry and make video game purchase decisions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent writing skills. "Passable," "decent," or just "good" writing is not going to be enough. In addition to being grammatically bulletproof, your writing needs to be informative, conversational, and sprinkled with just the right amount of attitude, wit, and humor.
• Expertise and experience with video games. This is not a job for gaming noobs. If you don't know what a "noob" is, then this probably isn't the right job for you. If you prefer to write "n00b" with zeroes in the middle, then we like you already. And if you knew that "zeroes" could be spelled with or without the "e" at the end, and that it doesn't really matter as long as you're consistent, then we REALLY like you! Reviewers need to be able to quickly and consistently play (and complete, when applicable) a wide assortment of video games across a number of genres, then provide an honest, interesting, and thoughtful review of the game. Reporters need to stay informed about major events in the gaming industry and present that information to our readers. For both positions, broad exposure to a variety of video game genres, titles, systems, and history is a major plus.
• Ability to self-manage and meet deadlines. These are "work at home" positions, so motivating and managing yourself is a necessity. Reviewers will have access to video games as soon as (and sometimes before) they are on the market. You'll need to play them, form opinions, and write about them quickly so that we can publish the review in a timely manner. Reporters will need to monitor press releases and competitive news outlets to make sure we're covering the most relevant stories.

EXPERIENCE AND PAY:

Previous game-industry experience is appreciated, but not required. Writers may apply to work as reviewers only, reporters only, or both. You don't have to write for us exclusively (that's the whole idea of freelance, right?), but all submitted items must be original, and once they are accepted by us may only be used exclusively on our site. Pay is per article/review published, and all submissions are subject to editor approval prior to publishing.

Reporters are expected to file a minimum of 3 original, "full-length" articles per week and an average of at least 4-6 blog posts per week. Reporters will be paid per item, on a sliding scale.

Reviewers are expected to file a minimum of 1-2 game reviews per week, and will be paid a base rate per review, with an additional bonus for popular reviews. Additionally, reviewers get to keep review copies of games we receive from game publishers, and they receive a free membership to a video game rental service.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please email us the following four (4) items:

1. A paragraph: We want a well-written paragraph introducing yourself to us. Tell us about your writing experience, your gaming experience, and anything else you think we'll find interesting. By the end of the paragraph, we want to feel like we've "connected" with you in some small way. Because if you can connect with us, then you can connect with our readers.
2. A resume: This doesn't need to be anything nothing fancy. We mainly want to know about your education and experience.
3. A gaming profile: Provide us a list of video game systems you currently own (include your PC if you're a PC gamer), the types of games you generally play, and any other gaming-specific information.
4. An example: If you want to be a reviewer, please provide us with at least one example a video game review you've recently written . It should follow the "traditional" video game review format used by most sites. If you want to be a reporter, please provide us with at least two (2) original news articles covering recent stories in the video game industry. If you want to apply for both positions, provide us both sets of examples.

Thank you for your interest, and good luck!

• Translates in-game text, voice scripts, manuals, and supplementary development and testing-related documents and materials as required to fully localize game software
  
• Identifies game content that may require revision to better suit the tastes of consumers (American, French Canadian, or Latin American)
  
• Provides feedback on game difficulty and appeal in American, French Canadian, or Latin American market
  
• Demonstrates game software to other team members, internal departments, and outside promotional and media partners as required
  
• Maintains awareness of software industry in assigned market (Japan, Canada, or Latin America) and communicates market trends to product acquisition and development staff
  
• May include extensive domestic and international travel
  
• Performs translation and interpretation for other departments as required
  
• Up to 15% travel
  
• Works with internal and external translation resources to coordinate translation projects
  
• Reviews translations for accuracy and consistency

• Acute attention to detail and accuracy
  
• Ability to work with highly confidential information
  
• Ability to maintain a heavy workload on an ongoing basis
  
• Ability to produce high quality results under tight deadlines
  
• Excellent organizational skills
  
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
  
• Excellent game play skills
  
• Knowledge of industry trends and familiarity with Nintendo history and franchises helpful
  
• Excellent French and English translation skills, including two to four years specific translation experience
  
• French and English interpretation skills, including experience interpreting business meetings and/or conference calls
  
• Familiarity with French Canadian culture and customs
  
• Experience operating Microsoft Windows and Office software in French

• Native level fluency in French
  
• Undergraduate degree in French, English, Creative Writing, or a related field, or equivalent
  
• Experience in translating and editing in target language preferred

• Plan, coordinate and execute merchandising initiatives for both Amazon Shoes’ and Endless’ Athletic categories, as well as site-wide initiatives
• Write strong copy, including irresistible calls-to-action for targeted audiences
• Analyze performance of content and email, always seeking ways to improve
• Work with vendors and vendor managers to create on-brand, best in class content, tailored to each website and the appropriate customers
• Create features specific to the Athletic category, coordinating content from internal and external sources
• Analyze traffic patterns and optimize for seasonality, relevance and selection
• Drive site improvements to completion by coordinating with project managers, web developers, buyers, designers, and other merchandisers. 
• Excellent writing skills: a proven track record of writing customer-facing content that is on-brand, relevant, and tailored to the internet shopper

• 5-7 years experience in building content online
• Solid understanding of both bricks-and-mortar and online retailing
• Ability to conceptualize and execute projects, with strong bias for action and ability to prioritize. 
• Ability to use hard data and metrics to back up feature and customer segment recommendations.
• Excellent writing skills: a proven track record of writing customer-facing content that is on-brand, relevant, and tailored to the internet shopper
• Strong analytical skills: ability to evaluate your content in an unbiased fashion and take appropriate actions to drive for results
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Advanced MS Office Skills, experience managing large amounts of data a plus
• Basic PhotoShop and web design skills, ability to optimize graphics for the web, and ability to learn our in-house tools quickly
• Understanding and use of web metrics and how to gauge performance
• Basic XML/HTML skills: no need to hand-code, but you can troubleshoot and know your <tr> from your <td>
• BA/BS required

RESPONSIBILITIES
The site merchandiser will write and schedule content on home pages, category pages, and pages across the site, compile and analyze traffic and other web metrics, and report on performance to our buying teams. He or she will help to drive site improvements to completion by coordinating with project managers, web developers, buyers, designers, and other editors. Technical requirements include HTML, XML and Excel, plus the ability to learn our in-house tools quickly. The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, capable of handling multiple projects at once, able to take direction, and work well with multiple teams. In addition to having first-class written and verbal communication skills, this site merchandiser will be able to prioritize to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will be innovative and internally motivated and have strong interest in and some experience with online merchandising in the industrial & scientific market segment.

• Planning and executing the site merchandising calendar.  This includes email programs, cross-category placements, participation in Amazon.com site-wide events, browse tree design and search results.
• Develop merchandising for large storewide promotions, and work closely with buying and third-party teams to schedule promotions
• Create category pages, brand stores, campaigns, emails, and free search improvement projects
• Synthesize and analyze relevant content metrics
• Propose new traffic-driving content strategies

The ideal candidate will be innovative, team oriented, an effective communicator, have a desire to participate in change and appreciate a dynamic environment with rapidly changing priorities.  We are seeking someone with demonstrated history of successful project ownership and using customer data to identify and prioritize opportunities.  An understanding of, and passion for, the industrial and scientific market segment is highly desired.
 
The Site Merchandiser must be able to think and act both strategically and tactically. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

• 5-7 years of site merchandising experience preferably in the industrial market segment 
• Experience designing online customer experiences
• Understanding of online and brick & mortar retailing 
• Ability to conceptualize and execute projects 
• Strong bias for action and ability to prioritize 
• Ability to use hard data and metrics to back up feature and customer segment recommendations 
• Aptitude for organization 
• Familiar with HTML, XML, Photoshop and general office software 
• BA/BS required

We're looking for someone who really understands Internet culture and can create fun places for communities to develop.

• Recruiting, hiring and managing a growing team of full-time and contract, bloggers, moderators, etc. in launching new sites for the network
• Evaluating and create meme concepts for execution into a site
• Monitoring the sites' success and ensuring their growth
• Improving processes for launching and promoting new sites

• Past experience (3+ years) managing editorial staff online
• A deep understanding of Internet culture (viral content, memes, etc.). You love the Internet as a source of culture and have a deep desire to change the world into a more fun place
• Expert at organization with a high-level of attention to detail and quality standards
• A willingness to learn from others as we enter new uncharted territory