Playing video games is a pastime enjoyed by kids and adults alike, and it keeps increasing in popularity. Beyond its entertainment value, gaming can teach you critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. So if you want to turn the time you spend playing on your console into a lucrative career, here are four critical steps you can take:
Get a Bachelor’s Degree
Go from amateur to pro by earning a Bachelor’s degree, which will make you stand out as a qualified candidate during your job search. The best thing is you don’t have to stop working to attend classes: thanks to accredited online universities, you can study at your own pace and around your schedule. Those online schools are also a more affordable alternative to traditional, in-person educational institutions. So if you’re looking to pursue a degree in this exciting field, this may be a good option to teach you the skills you need and turn your passion into your new profession.
Find an Internship
Game development, game testing, technical support to players, creation of 2D and 3D images, and animation: These are just a few of the many jobs available in the field of video gaming. If any one of those appeals to you, you can get your foot in the door by interning at a company where you’ll be able to learn about the different skills and expertise required to develop and bring a product to market. So go to game industry job boards online, and look for internships at big and small companies. You can even try a more proactive approach and get in touch directly with a smaller company in your area to offer your (free) labor in exchange for experience.
Boost Your Résumé
Now that you’ve obtained the degree and credentials needed to start a career in the videogame industry, it’s time to write a CV that highlights your skills, experience, and education. Many recruiters use what is called an Applicant Tracking System, or ATS, in order to sift through résumés faster and quickly eliminate candidates that do not possess the skills required for the position they’re applying to. So as you prepare to write yours, make sure you use the same words as the job description: those are the keywords that will help your CV get through the ATS and onto HR’s desk. You can even use an online résumé builder to help you!
Start Your Own Business
If you want to work from home and become an entrepreneur, there are many options to choose from when it comes to turning your gaming skills into a lucrative venture. Maybe you want to develop and produce your own game, or you want to open a brick-and-mortar store where gaming enthusiasts can check out the latest offerings. And if you’re more of an introvert, you may enjoy working as a freelance consultant or graphic artist or offer technical support and consultation virtually. Once you know what kind of services or goods you want to offer, start by forming a limited liability company and come up with a unique name for your business. You’ll gain legitimacy as a business owner with this structure, and it’s also less paperwork-intensive than is required to form a corporation. Additionally, an LLC provides great tax advantages, and you can use an online formation service to help you set it up for a very affordable price.
If you enjoy playing video games, think about turning your passion into a career. Get a degree in the field, and find an internship where you’ll learn the ropes with professionals. And if you want to start your own gaming business, set yourself up as an LLC to gain the trust of your customers.
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