The growing popularity of esports has created a number of viable careers to choose from around the world. Research shows that playing video games can have cognitive benefits relating to visual attention and short-term memory. This may also be the reason why so many people are considering a career path in this industry.

Esports stars like the South Korean player Faker makes $2 million a year and some professional teams are even joining esports leagues. All of this goes to show that esports is becoming incredibly popular and that they can create some of the most interesting and creative career paths.

There are multiple careers in the esports industry and even more, keep emerging as the industry develops. Here are some of the options:

• Professional player
• Host
• Coach
• Content Creator
• Marketing executive
• Admin or referee
• Social media manager
• Production crew
• Agent
• Event manager

How to become an esports athlete?

Since the entire industry is relatively new, people struggle to approach it. Here are some tips and ways to build a career in esports. And while some people claim that esports are not real sports, there have been studies that support these facts and indicate numerous benefits of being an athlete in esports.

1. Find your niche

Many gamers like to play multiple games and they can be good at all of them. Being able to excel in various things can be good, but sometimes, it’s best to stick to what you know best. When you find a game you are great at – keep perfecting your skills and working on the best ways and strategies for victory. Being the Jack of all trades is a big ‘no-no’ in esports, just one will suffice.
If this is not something you would like to do, you could specialize in one type of game – such as shooter games, or strategies. For best results, pick a niche that you are already good at and keep practicing.

2. Simply do it

The worst thing that you could do is sit around and wait for your dream job to find you. If being an esports athlete is your dream, just do it. This is the best way to practice and learn more. for starters, try to join the local team. Get to know about the gaming world and figure out how everything works. Socialize with people who are already in the industry – take advice, visit tournaments. There are several atypical and new business models out there, so don’t be afraid to experiment and work for what you want. A good idea is to create your own team with your friends or teammates you already played with.

3. Look for opportunities

To build a successful career as an esports athlete you need to be on a constant lookout for opportunities. The key to getting what you want is to seek opportunities. Get people to notice you, show off what you know. It’s always a good idea to socialize and exhibit your knowledge and skills.

4. Sign up for volunteering

Volunteering is a good way to enter the world of esports. Companies are always looking for people to work for free and it is a good opportunity to steal the show. Get some tips, advice or potentially find teammates to play with during this voluntary work.

5. Build some experience

Practice and hard work will not lead you to instant success but will definitely pay off. You can build experience by talking to people, practicing with your team, and watching other people play. Reach some high scores, work towards your goals.
There are esports academies opening in Southeast Asia, educating the future esports athletes. There has been a surge in the number of people that have taken up esports as their profession and esports academies like these could help build their experience.

Drawbacks

As with every industry, there are some drawbacks to this career path. In the esports industry, these flaws are even more exposed since so many people are against it. But as the industry continues developing, some of these drawbacks may disappear with time, but for now, these are the main cons to choosing a career as an esports athlete.

1. Low salary

Even though Faker earns $2 million a year, that is just him. Most players barely earn an average annual salary. Life is difficult for most professionals and they often resort to streaming their matches on popular streaming platforms or filming videos with them showing best practices for playing. While this does bring a substantial income, most of them would rather earn a living by doing what they love most – competing in tournaments.

2. It can be bad for your health

Sitting in front of a screen for long hours can create many health issues like eye problems, posture problems, and many others caused by various aspects of being closed off in a room staring at a screen for a long time.
Playing games for a long time can cause not only physical health problems, but it can also cause mental health issues. The best thing to do is to balance your practicing with regular life and obligations. Spend a lot of time outside, work out and eat healthy.

3. Only top games are lucrative

This is a big issue in the esports world since only the top five games are lucrative enough to earn a decent annual income. Top three games in the world command 60% of the money in esports. Therefore, for those who are experts in playing less popular games, the path to making a living off esports is a difficult one.

In conclusion, Esports isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It is a booming industry and people enjoy playing games for a living. Even though it can be hard for older generations to understand, young people are searching for careers in this field now more than ever! In the future, more games will gain popularity, and people from around the world will be able to build their careers in the esports industry.
The growing popularity of esports has created a number of viable careers to choose from around the world. Research shows that playing video games can have cognitive benefits relating to visual attention and short-term memory. This may also be the reason why so many people are considering a career path in this industry.