Eager to turn a passion for video games into a lucrative career? In the past, this would have been nigh on impossible, but the rise of esports has turned this into a realistic prospect for many. Not only does esports offer very real career opportunities, it can also prove financially rewarding, with six-figure prize funds and equally lucrative sponsorship and salaries. However, before you get too excited, it is worth remembering that there is far more to an esports career than being a first-rate gamer. Below, we break down the main things to consider when attempting to kick-start your career in esports.

Start Out with Streaming

If you are looking to establish a name for yourself in the esports world, you should definitely think about kicking off your career as a streamer. There are plenty of streaming platforms to turn to for broadcasting your gaming, with Discord and Twitch being two of the most popular options. All you really need to do is pick a game you're particularly good at and create a channel. Then, whenever you're in the mood for some competitive game-play, start streaming. If your playing skills are particularly noteworthy, this is a good way of attracting some initial attention. However, streaming is not a particularly lucrative venture. You will need to amount a considerable audience before you can effectively monetize your streaming content. It may also take some time to attract the attention of potential sponsors.

Join Up with a Team

If you don't like the idea of going solo with live-streaming, you can always consider offering your talents to an established esports team. The benefits of joining a preexisting team are obvious. For a start, all promotional aspects are taking care of for you. Bigger teams are also likely to be sponsored already, so you can expect to take home a reasonable salary after signing up to one. You also have the advantage of being able to draw on the experiences of professional esports players, with your new teammates serving as an invaluable font of knowledge. What's more, joining a team will quickly have you clued-up on the specifics of coordinated game-play, which is a central pillar of competitive esports gaming.

Networking & Promotion

If you are going it alone, use esports tournaments as a platform to promote yourself. Doing well at even a small tournament will showcase your talent to a wide audience and attract the attentions of potential sponsors. To give yourself the best chance of getting noticed, research tournament attendees ahead of time. This way, you can compile a mailing list and reach out to potential sponsors before the date of a tournament. This increases the likelihood of them seeking you out on the day. If you are still fairly new to the world of esports or don't have the confidence to approach sponsors and other industry professionals directly, look to tournaments as a more casual networking opportunity.

Get Educated

There's more to a successful esports career than great game-play. An in-depth knowledge of the gaming industry and esports best practice is also essential. A lot of this know-how will come from actively engaging with esports, but you should also take the time to educate yourself with reading and study. Keeping up with the latest developments in the esports sector is the bare minimum you should be looking to achieve. Platforms such as 1337PRO are always good places to seek out the latest esports developments and tournament results. If you want to delve deeper with your esports education, you could also consider pursuing more formal study in the area. Today, many US colleges are offering comprehensive esports studies, as well as supporting varsity esports programs.

Other Esport Career Prospects

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Although gaming roles are among the most profitable of esports careers, they are by no means the only way to succeed in this industry. If your skill levels are subpar, but you live and breathe esports, think about becoming an esports journalist. Even if your writing skills and typing speeds need some work, you can always think about using video blogs to report on the latest esports news and developments. You could also consider working behind the scenes to support another epsorts player. Manager roles are particularly engaging and financially rewarding. Those early on in their careers may want to think about social media manager roles, while those with a more intimate knowledge of the industry can pursue event management career opportunities.