Become a Test Driver for Car Magazines -- a Dream Job for Car Enthusiasts

Imagine getting paid to drive some of the world’s greatest cars -- Mercedes, Corvette, Porsche, Viper, and others. Sounds great? Now picture doing that on luxurious all-expense-paid trips to exotic locations, where you hang out with some of the biggest names in the auto industry.

That’s everyday life for car-magazine test drivers.

Hard to believe? You're not the only person who thinks so. I've worked as a car-magazine test driver since 1999 and I still get looks of astonishment when I tell people what I do for a living. Getting a job like this seems like it would be as hard as winning the lottery. But the truth is, you don't have to be working for big, glossy sports-car magazines to enjoy a great job as a test driver. There are countless other publications that use test drivers. And you don't need extraordinary luck or rare talent to get into this profession.

Granted, it's not as easy as applying to get a part-time job at the mall, or even like going after a typical office job. But it's also not a frustrating, one-in-a-million chance like trying to become a rock star or a Hollywood actor either. Far from it.

There isn't a pre-specified way to become a car-magazine test driver as there is for, say, becoming a doctor or lawyer. So you have to pretty much find your own path into the field. That may sound intimidating, but it's actually another one of the profession's upsides -- people can work their way into test-driver jobs from widely varying experience and education. For example, one of my colleagues was working in a retail bookstore before becoming a test driver. He got into an automotive publication by taking a relatively easy job in a publisher's photo library. The photo library worked with the company's automotive division a lot, so he was in a prime position when a job opened up there.

Now he hangs out at racetracks, drives Jaguars and Corvettes, and goes on press trips to Hawaii and Palm Springs.

His story is fairly typical. Plenty of people -- men and women alike -- get into the profession in similar sorts of ways. And you might be surprised at how quickly things can move along toward getting such a job if you put your mind to it. Although every person's career progresses at a different pace, three to five years is a pretty normal time for breaking into becoming a test driver. Not bad for a job that routinely puts you behind the wheel of $60,000 cars for a week at a time.

Regardless of your experience or education, you'll have to learn how to write fairly well. Once test drivers drive a car, they're usually required to write an article based on their findings. And when they're not behind the wheel, test drivers are usually sitting at their desk writing other things such as news pieces, interview stories, or retrospective articles.

That said, you don't have to be an award-winning writer with decades of journalism experience to become a test driver. A lot of people working in this field are self-taught. With some study and diligent practice, most car enthusiasts could learn how to write well enough to do the job.

For anyone who loves cars, being a test driver is like a fairy tale mixed with a weekend in Vegas -- you can’t help but be amazed by some of the things you get to do. It takes more effort to get these jobs than it does to break into other, more mundane fields. But it's well worth it.

About the Author:
David Bellm
For more information on how to become a test driver, go to: http://www.autiv.com/.
David Bellm is the president of Autiv Corporation, the web’s leading authority on automotive careers. Prior to founding Autiv, Bellm was a test driver and editor for Publications International, which publishes Consumer Guide automotive buying guides, Collectible Automobile magazine, and an ongoing line of hardcover automotive-history books.
This article was posted on October 10, 2005
Article Source: articlecity

Why Become A Truck Driver?

There are a great number of good reasons for someone to become a truck driver. First and foremost among those reasons would be the great pay. Did you realize that most truckers, their first year out on the road, earn an average of $35,000 a year? And, that after just a few years out, those same truckers are making an average of $45,000-$50,000 annually? And finally, veteran drivers who own their own trucks make average salaries that are over $100,000 a year. What other profession can you get into, where the pay is that good?

One other great reason to get into trucking…….. is the chance to see some of this great country of ours. How many states have you been to? Are you one of those people who haven’t been to very many places? Well, get into trucking and you will have the opportunity to explore America. See why most people consider this to be not only the greatest country in the world, but also the most beautiful one as well. What other country has sights like The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, New England in the fall, and so much more? Want to explore America? Become a trucker.

One other great thing about being a trucker is the camaraderie that you feel with your fellow truckers. It’s a special bond, much like the bond that people who are in the military feel. You and your fellow truckers know that you are doing a job that is vital, Vital for the country. For without trucking, we would be in a heap of trouble. Do you have any idea how many products that you use, that are delivered by truck? The percentage of products delivered by truck is around 78%. So think about something that you use (car; food; pharmaceuticals; etc.) and there’s a really good chance that it got to you, by truck.

Trucking is not an easy job. I won’t try to make it seem like it is. For one thing, you’re away from home a lot. But even that, you do have some control over. For example, if you’re the type who likes to be home quite a bit, there are truck driving jobs where the drivers are home every weekend, and in some cases, there are trucking jobs where the drivers are home every night. It must be noted though, that some of those jobs don’t pay as well as the long haul jobs do.

Is trucking for you? Only you can decide that. If you think that it is for you, the first step is to enter a truck driving school. There are great schools located in every region of this country.

If you would like more information about becoming a Truck Driver, Find a Truck Driving School near you - http://www.us-truck-driving-schools.com

About the author:
Joe Mullinax
Please click here for more trucking related articles.
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Drowsy Driving: More Felt At End Of Daylight Savings Time

This Saturday night, people all are going to set their clocks and their watches an hour back. If you have not been informed yet, well, it is time that you were told that Saturday is the end of daylight savings time.

Such an event may not be a big deal to many people, however, the National Road Safety Foundation, or the NRSF, says that the roads and the highways in the United States are going to be quite more dangerous. This is explained by Adele Kristiansson, the director of marketing and legislative affairs for NRSF. Kristiansson shares, "Since night falls an hour earlier, the commute home from work or school will likely be in the dark. Also, the change of waking time coupled with earlier nightfall throws off our internal clock. It can take as long as two weeks for our bodies to adjust." She does even add, "Drowsiness is a condition most drivers fail to recognize, and it can be as dangerous as drinking and driving." The NRSF is a non-profit group that exists so as to help provide programs on driver safety for various groups, institutions, and organizations.

As per her claim that drowsiness can prove to be just as fatal as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, there are really studies done with US motorists being the cases. According to them, there are about sixty per cent of these motorists have admitted to driving while feeling sleepy. And a huge 33% have bravely said that they had experienced falling asleep while driving.

So it is very much important to do know the necessary things about driving and about being a drowsy driver. Sure, everything may not be a big deal if you were only to lose a couple of GMC truck parts if you got caught in an accident. However, if you were to lose your limb or even your life, that would certainly be something to worry about.

Anyhow, the NRSF does say that if you are about to drive and you feel the signs of being drowsy, it is important that you do pull over first to a safe area and take a break first. You can have a much needed cup of coffee or take in some snacks. Or you can also opt to get a quick shut eye so as to get the drowsiness out of your system.

About the Author:
Joe Thompson is the owner of a successful auto body shop in Ferndale, California. This 38 year old is also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related articles to various publications.
Added: 04 Nov 2006
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/41419.html