So You Want a Career in eSports?

If you’ve dreamed of becoming an eSport star , you’ve probably heard people saying it’s nearly impossible, or that only a few lucky ones are chosen. Well… that’s not true. It’s surely not easy to become a successful player, as it happens in every sport. But there are other roles in the industry and there are a few things you can do to push the odds in your favor:

 

Do some work experience

Work experience is not only a good way to get your foot in the door, but it is also a good way to find out if a career in eSports is really for you. So, why not reach out to any local eSports teams, tournaments, or sponsors to see if they’ll let you come in and shadow some of their people for a week or two? What do you have to lose?

 

Find your niche

If you want to give yourself the best possible chance of getting a career in eSports, it’s a good idea to specialize in one aspect of the industry rather than being a generalist. This could mean anything from getting really good at one or more driving games, to really honing your hosting skills so that you can get a job as a shoutcaster.

Begin by listing every skill you have. You must be true and honest while doing it, otherwise it won’t work. Then list the existing eSports roles and try to match them with your strengths. Find something you think you would love and you would be good at. Then practice. Practice as much as possible, until you become truly indispensable to the industry. It’s a very competitive career, so be ready to work hard to build up your resume.

 

Volunteer

A lot of eSports tournaments are always looking for volunteers. If you can give your time to them, you will make some valuable contacts along the way, and maybe, just maybe, they will be able to help you break into the industry.

Even if they don’t, you’re sure to have some fun times along the way, so again, what do you have to lose by giving it a go?

 

Do It Yourself

Just do it! If that’s really your dream and you believe eSports is where you should be, go for it. Start doing it off your own back. Play, Stream, comment, write a blog, write reviews… Do everything you can to get your name out there. It may work out or it may not. You may make money or you might have to do it alongside a day job for a while, but at least you will be doing what you love, and that is what truly matters.