This week, Chris and I talked about two very different kinds of careers in technology. On one end, you’ve got the video game tester. This job has mythical status in the tech world — could it be the Holy Grail of industry jobs? On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the air traffic controller. The men and women who work in air traffic control have the burden of keeping thousands of travelers safe every day.

Let’s start with video game testers.  It’s easy to idealize this important job. After all, these folks get to sit on the couch and eat pizza while playing games months before they hit store shelves, right? The truth of the matter is that it’s a much more mundane job. Video game testers put games through their paces not to try and win or get a high score, but to make sure nothing is broken. That might mean the tester has to spend a full day seeing if all the virtual walls are solid or that the game won’t crash if you draw and holster your gun 800 times in a row.

In most cases, a video game tester’s only job is to report problems. The company doesn’t care if the tester likes the game or not. Testers may work long hours playing games they have no interest in for low pay. On the bright side, testers might get a chance to play a truly amazing game early. As a result, the tester’s experiences will help developers make sure the game is as good as it can be before it launches. And video game testers sometimes transition into other jobs within the industry.

Wednesday’s show was inspired by listener mail and focused on air traffic control. The national air traffic control system’s purpose is to monitor all air traffic in the United States to keep everyone safe. Employees use computers and radar to track airplanes as they travel from one airport to another. It’s a tough job that requires focus and concentration. It also relies on some cool technology.

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