Second Life is a fascinating platform with many opportunities that fit every lifestyle. From visiting faraway places, to shopping at your favorite boutique, every new adventure is just a click away. One of these many opportunities is the chance for inworld employment. Not only does this fulfill our need to be more active in our virtual community, it gives us a chance to earn currency like we would working in real life. But, how do we obtain a job in Second Life, and more importantly, what are some tips for keeping it? Read this guide to find out!

Finding a Job

Second Life Forums

There are plenty of places we can look when searching for employment in Second Life. Once you have determined your desired field of work, you can start by checking the Second life forums: (located onsecondlife.com under the community tab.) Once you find the forums tab, scroll down and you will see a section called: “Commerce Forum”. Under this section, you will see another subsection titled: “Inworld Employment.” You can then click on the link to find several potential employers for various jobs. Make sure to read the entire listing carefully before applying for any job. This will allow you to ensure that you are applying correctly. This will give you a much better chance at landing an interview!

Job Agencies

If forums are not your thing, or you prefer a more realistic experience, there are job agencies in Second Life as well. You can visit any of these agencies to find out what employment opportunities are available. After exploring several, I found that Top Job Agency was the place with the most active employment boards.

Upon entering Top Job Agency, you will find a multitude of ad boards advertising work that is currently available. Simply click on the ad for the job you wish to apply for, and you will receive a folder with notes and instructions for applying. You can then follow the instructions provided to submit your applications. The Jobs are divided by category.

If you need more options,other great places to look for virtual jobs are: employment groups, and Facebook and Twitter groups as well. There are an extensive number of clubs, stores, and real estate companies that have a Facebook page or Twitter feed. You can then follow these feeds to the main website for these creators. Many of them have applications that you can fill out right on the main page.

Punctuality and Dressing for Success

After finding our dream job listing, it is time to get serious. After submitting your application, it is important to dress for the job we want. Take time to think about what you might be required to wear based on the job you are applying for. Choose outfits that suit those needs. Make sure that if the job requires business attire, that you don’t show up in a t-shirt, as this may give any potential employers the wrong first impression!

Another important thing to remember is: always be punctual. Show up at least 15 minutes early for any interviews, or the beginning of any shifts. This shows your eagerness to obtain or keep your job. It allows your employer to see that you are dedicated to your workplace, and will allow you to open yourself up for potential advancements or promotions.

Proper Conduct

Once we land a job in Second Life, we want to make sure that we keep it! To do so, we must follow a few simple rules to make sure that we are the best employee we can be. They are as follows:

Be a team player

While most employers do understand that work-life balance is important, it is also important that you are dedicated to them as well. Be willing to listen to any ideas your teammates or supervisors may have. Be prepared to work together alongside others, and to be receptive to change and new ways to work in a group.

Respect Others
Remember, a little respect goes a long way. Be sure to be courteous and kind to your employer, all other team members, and any clients you may have. Being courteous and showing respect to others is crucial in any job setting. It allows us to get along with our coworkers, superiors, and clients, and will make for a positive work experience. Afterall, a happy client is a client for life! Also, in showing respect, your coworkers will always have a fun and positive workplace experience!

Focus, Dedication, and Clarity

There are a few final things to remember when working any job. First and foremost, real life does come first. If something does come up, make sure to contact your employer ahead of time, so they may cover your shift and the company can continue to run smoothly. This is both respectful and responsible.

Secondly, make sure to stay focused while on the Job. Avoid outside distractions and all private DMS to friends (unless it is necessary or an emergency.) Be present, and stay present.

The Third and final thing to remember is: be clear with your employer. Make sure that you state your intentions before hire, and continue to maintain frequent communication throughout your employment. Be sure to provide your availability and communicate your desires so that there is no confusion as to when you are able to work, and what the expectations are.

Even though getting a job and keeping it can seem intimidating, working in Second Life should be fun and rewarding. Remember, like any job in real life, you should do what you love, and love what you do. There is something for everyone here, and the opportunity to dream big is yours for the taking. So get out there and find your passion!

IMPORTANT URLS:

Second Life employment forum:Inworld Employment - Second Life Community

Hey Lifey Babes, this is your girl Monique coming to you with Second Life’s hot topics about culture, gossip and style.

I love shopping, especially during the weekend. But after a shopping spree and receiving gifts from secret admirers, inventories start to get super cluttered and confusing. But don’t worry, I’m here to help. Here are my 6 top tips for organizing your inventory.

1. CREATE CATEGORIES FOR EVERYTHING YOU BUY BEFORE YOU SHOP

Before I start any shopping trip, I always make sure I have all of my folders created so when I start to organize everything, they already have a home. All I have to do is drag my new folders to their home and things already are in order.

Here are a few of my categories for everything in my closet!

2. USE SYMBOLS TO SEPARATE CATEGORIES

I like using symbols to separate my categories. These symbols create groupings and things become much easier to find and organize.

The “#” is for anything to do with my body parts.

The “$” symbol for all of my beauty products.

The “**” symbol for all of my clothing items.

3. DELETE DEMOS IN THE RECENT TAB IMMEDIATELY

When shopping on SL, the number one rule before buying any outfit is to always try the Demo.

Whether you buy the outfit or not, it is easy for the demos to mix in with regular purchased objects and it creates a jumbled mess.

The Tip: Every time you change back into your regular outfit, go to the “Recent” tab on your Inventory, right click and “Delete” the Demos immediately. This good habit will save you time when you have to organize objects you actually want to keep.

What follows are the results of extensive research where we surveyed dozens of Subject Matter Experts on the topic. We have distilled the collected wisdom from 33 of those experts. Altogether, these individuals have amassed over four CENTURIES of residency in SecondLife, totaling 435 years of experience! Let me encourage you to read and heed their guidance and suggestions as you navigate your own way through the pleasure and pitfalls of “love on the grid”

In Part 1 of our series, our panel of experts identified some of the more cringeworthy mistakes that noobs make during cyber sex. You can read Part 1 by going to:

http://www.slenquirer.com/2022/01/cybersex-101-noob-guide-to-love-on-grid.html

In Part 2, we looked at what our seasoned experts believe makes for a particularly good Cybersexual encounter,

http://www.slenquirer.com/2022/03/cybersex-101-part-2-noob-guide-to-love.html

Finally, here in Part 3, we will wrap up our series with an open question to allow our seasoned experts to expand on anything else they wanted to share about the topic

I asked our panel of experts “Is there anything else on the topic [of Cybersex] you would like to share?”

The answers from our panel basically fell into “The Three As”

• Quality AVATAR,

• Quality ATTITUDE

• Quality ACTIONS.

Let’s take a look at these one at a time.

Quality Avi

Our panelists had a lot to say about the importance of a decent-looking Avatar. In these days of Mesh and BOM, the experienced person looks to see that a potential sexual partner takes pride in how they look. SL is largely a visual medium…so make sure the visuals are First Class Specific comments included:

“The quality of your AVI matters, just like in RL. It is your first impression. Make it a good one. Oh and this is very important too...if you meet a really good-looking guy, all meshed up, etc…and only two or three months old, just be cautious. Unless learning how to mesh up has been made easier to do, then it does take time to learn the ropes in SL...the good places to go to for shapes and skins, and clothes and hair. When a two-day-old "newbie" has a perfect avatar, you know it is not a "newbie" but an alt.”

“In SL, as in most things, you will get out of it what you put into it. If you want to come in with a base avatar and pose hop, that is fine, but you will probably find the encounters less than exciting after the first few. Put effort into it, and you will reap the rewards. Your avatar, your approach, your seduction...all of it comes together to make the experience much more intense than what is just on the screen. Like I said, as with most things in life, you get out of it exactly what you put into it. Good luck, and happy F**king!”

“For the females, the better you look, the more IMs you will get --- but be picky. Make sure that there is a click between you two. Do you find him attractive? Does he make you laugh? Trust me, once you find yourself in bed with him better to find this out first, than doing a fake crash on the guy”

Quality Attitude

In SL, as well as in RL, great sex starts with a great attitude. Some of our panelists had a lot to share on this particular item

“You must like it to be able to enjoy it. If you like it is the best activity of SL (along with building things.)”

“There are many different types of people you meet. Somewhere out there is a person you can relate to. You can share your wants and needs with. Take your time exploring with others until you find the one that captures your whole being. It is well worth the wait. There are so many things you can explore here that you might never try in RL. Explore them and find your wants and desires it will make you a better person... The most important thing I have found is...ALWAYS be yourself...be true to yourself...Don’t change who you are for someone else. and always be honest with your feelings...You won’t go wrong that way. 😊”

“It's really about understanding people. We all are different and have different needs and attractions. For me, it really helps to know someone before having cyber sex with them. I enjoy getting to know the person and that makes the sexual experience much more titillating and fun. Learn all you can about SL and be respectful of the people in it.”

“The main thing is to relax and have fun. This is Second Life. It isn't here to replace your regular life. Don't get hung up and clingy with someone. Don't be too pushy either. Just keep everything relaxed. Having a fun interaction is all it is about, paying attention to the other person and connecting with them.”

“Don’t be “thirsty” .. don’t private message a bunch of girls at the same time with the same line. You should really let people message you if they are interested. Or maybe you could chat in local first.”

“Watch what they say vs what they do...meaning actions vs words! That is very, very important.”

“It’s best to not have expectations...other than that...just have Fun. After all, SL is supposed to be fun!!

And what is this “Emoting” thing everyone talks about?

“I think a whole article could be dedicated to the subject of emoting. The problem is many don’t know how or don’t want to learn. Responding, "mmmmmmm", or "MMMhMMM!" to everything I say, is not emoting. Describe how I look, and how you feel when I touch you or when you touch me. That is emoting. Another big mistake is, telling your partner what they are doing, feeling, or experiencing. That practice is almost as bad as telling me to [climax], 3 seconds after you [enter me]”

“Build the tension. and never approach someone and say your cute let’s f**k!”

One of the most often quoted pieces of advice here is:

“Always remember that there is a real person behind the avatar. Just because we CAN be anonymous doesn’t mean we need to ACT like idiots. Be kind to people. There is a human behind every keyboard........ not everyone is here just to f**k.”

Quality Actions

So….you have yourself a Quality Avi and you have a Quality Attitude. Finally, you need to tie these together with Quality Actions.

“Don’t rush. Take your time. Look around and pay attention to how things are done here: I can't tell you how many times some noob on his first day in SL, dressed in a freebie avatar, has come to me and said "I want sex with you" or things like that. But that’s the point... they need to KNOW they don’t know how things are done here.”

Choose your setting carefully. Cheesy animations that leave you with whiplash as you rocket through the positions are no fun for anyone.

“Script makers of all those sex beds and couches still haven't figured out creating real-life physics and dynamics for avatars to where movements are lined up realistically and automatically. We still see avatars in love-making positions merging body parts into each other: legs into torsos, arms, elbows, hands into heads and eyeballs, cocks into butt cheeks or thighs. Sexual intercourse is hit or miss where it often doesn't even look like sexual parts actually fit into each other. Especially when a man has an oversized appendage and it pops out of the tummy of a woman. The sex AOs is still a frustrating mess.”

“For many, the idea of cyber sex is just the act, but unless you are devoid of rational thought, you will quickly realize that the experience is and will be as good as the effort you put into it. As in all things, strike the right mood by going somewhere romantic, like the Grand Canyon Sims, where private areas abound and make the whole evening special. Don't forget that women appreciate intimacy more than just going for the goal line. Do not assume that everyone in SL is just here for the sex. A nice date and foreplay are a plus.”

“Do not expect a person to orgasm, male or female or trans, almost immediately upon sexual activity. Foreplay should be fun. Dancing can be a great foreplay start to cybersex/, oh you might want something by role-playing, RP.”

Regarding Voice and/or Camera

Some people like to introduce voice immediately into the process. Others do not

“NO, I do not want to hear your bassy sex voice, your deep breathing, or your lisp. I don't want to hear your stupid sex chat in any way, shape, or form. It totally ruins the immersion for me because people rarely sound as expected.”

Some people like the idea of seeing the RL behind the Avi. Many do not. Tread carefully here, and be sure you are both in full agreement

“NO, I am not camming for you. I do not want you to record me, nor do I wish to see your bearded face, your acne, your bird chest, your weird-looking penis, your crooked teeth or frazzled hair - I don't even want to see a picture of you - Camming is a serious invasion of my privacy and crosses all of my boundaries by a mile.”

“Insisting with Cam or Voice after I said NO the first time will get you blocked. especially if you have the insolence of suggesting that I hide from those around me or similar nonsense -- EXCUSE ME? I hide enough as it is. I have nothing to prove and am not taking any risks for you, STRANGER. “

One particularly observant commentator said:

“The guy has to like shopping...if he complains about it, then that is a red flag as well.”

What about “toys”

“Watching and hearing, and now being able to connect with toys makes SL even more special, adding parts to be able to rub one another make cuddling and sex more real.

And a final word of advice from our panelists

“Don't get 'caught' by RL. RL is the innocent and doesn't deserve to have to go through the trauma of finding a loved one masturbating with a cartoon girlfriend.”

So there you have it, folks. Let me encourage you to go back and check out Parts I and II of this three-part series. Go forward and “Be all you can be” in SecondLife.

See ya ‘round the grid.

Aloha

JB