8 Ways to Gain Experience in Esports
If you’ve ever considered turning your gaming passion into a full-fledged career, you’re not alone. Esports has grown massively in recent years, and it’s no longer just a game of playing games. There are endless opportunities from esports coach jobs to esports broadcasting jobs. But here’s the complication: To get in the game requires experience.
Don’t worry, though. So whether you’re a noob or a ranked legend, here are 8 actionable ways to gain experience in esports and further your career.
Volunteer at Tournaments
Volunteering is your golden ticket, if you’re serious about esports careers. Many local and regional tournaments struggle with logistics, streaming or event management.
You may not be compensated for your time, but you will be able to do work experience towards your future esports event coordinator careers while rubbing elbows with the best in the business. And free snacks at these events are a thing, just saying.
Start Your Own Tournament
Don’t see a tournament near you? Host your own! It doesn’t need to be fancy. Get a few friends together, do some brackets, and maybe stream it.
This is the best method to demonstrate your skills in esports team management careers and managing events. Bonus: You’ll also learn how to handle last-minute cancellations and friends who “lose connection” when they’re losing.
Related
Stream Your Gameplay
Want to gain visibility? The easiest way into careers in esports media is to start streaming on a platform such as Twitch or YouTube.
You don’t have to be the greatest player in the world. Sometimes all it takes is a little humorous commentary or absurd gameplay silliness. Keep in mind, people enjoy viewing relatable gamers (and rage moments).
Write About Esports
Got a knack for words? You can start a blog or write articles on your favourite games, strategies, and tournaments. You could publish articles discussing esports career paths or even esports team performance analysis.
Pro Tip: The ability to transform a 5-hour gaming session into a potentially well-researched article means you’re already ahead of the game, my friend.
Be Active on Forums and Communities Related to Esports
There is a vast community for nearly every game out there. Forums, Discord servers, and Reddit groups are all places to find people with similar interests.
By doing this you will not only learn a lot, but connect with professionals in fields related to esports analyst careers or esports caster jobs. And you might just make a friend or two who won’t pass judgment on your 2 AM gaming marathons.
Build a Portfolio
If you want to land behind-the-scenes jobs in esports, like esports graphic design jobs or esports content creator jobs, you’ll need to have a portfolio.
Design posters for imaginary tournaments, make highlight reels of gameplay, or cut videos. Creating fake projects can still demonstrate your skills to potential employers. Keep in mind, creativity is key. No one’s wowed by straightforward, dull work — so make it pop!
Intern with Esports Companies
Look for internships or beginning level openings in esports. Esports marketing jobs, social media, or event planning; Many organisations are willing to recruit passionate entrants.
Internships may not pay much but they’re a surefire way to garner insider information. And guess what: you finally get to put “worked in esports” on your resume!
Join Amateur Teams
If you have your sights set on going pro as an esports player, the first thing you’ll want to do is join an amateur team. You’ll learn teamwork, strategy and how to keep your cool when your teammate (accidentally, of course) blows the mission (no guarantees on this though).
Moreover, amateur leagues are also great ways to practice management careers and to become professionals in the future, as an esports team coach or esports manager.
Final Thoughts
It may feel like you need to put on your crusader’s armor to break into esports industry jobs, but it’s totally manageable with the right approach. There are so many ways to get started: volunteer, stream, join a team.
Go pop on your headset, clear your mind and jump into the career path of esports. Who knows? Your masterful gaming skills might finally pay off — the real-world kind. And if nothing else, at least you have an excuse for your hours on League of Legends. “It’s research, Mom!”
