October 5, 2023
With the rise of esports, young gamers want to turn their passion into a career. Today, aspiring esports professionals can access college degrees, collegiate competitions, and more! These opportunities provide valuable industry experience and transferrable knowledge, such as event production and communication skills. But, sadly, parents and guardians can oppose their children’s esports career plans.
I come from a household where video gaming was regarded negatively. For this article, I asked my mother how she felt when I told her about my plan to work in esports. The tips I derived from our talk are for everyone who struggles to find common ground with their parents regarding their career ambitions.
Come Prepared
This tip only concerns those who have not yet shared their career goals with their parents. So, if you have already done so, feel free to skip to the next chapter. If the big talk is still ahead, you might feel nervous about how it will go. You might fear that your parents will react confused or angrily. It certainly is difficult to influence your parents’ reaction. But you can set the stage for a successful conversation!
You know your parents better than me. So, feel free to adjust these tips according to your case. First, think about a fitting place and time for the conversation. You do not want to squeeze it into a hectic day.
Next, outline what you will introduce the topic. For example, “Mom, Dad, I wanted to share my plans after high school with you. I plan to study Esports Management at college. I know this might surprise you, so feel free to ask me any questions you have”. Regardless of the details, I recommend ending with the invitation to ask questions. By doing so, you path the way for a productive, empathetic discussion.
Finally, you may anticipate some of your parents’ questions. Do they already know about esports, or are they new to it? Do they know about possible career paths within the industry? Are they familiar with the industry’s size and state? Preparing your answers can give you confidence during a potentially stressful conversation!
Be Empathetic
Finding common ground between you and your parents can be challenging. The importance of esports and the career opportunities therein may be obvious to you. However, to your parents, esports might be connected with job insecurity or fear of the unknown. No matter how you both feel, only focusing on your perspective will not help you bridge the gap between you and your parents. So, what can you do? Be empathetic.
I have already suggested answering your parents’ questions. If they disagree with your career choice, it is crucial to know why. “Mom, Dad, why do you not want me to work in esports?” This information will help you understand how you can help them. Do they believe that working in esports equals being a professional player? Explain some possible jobs within the industry and which one you target. Do they think you are too young to make such an important decision? Bring in an outside perspective! This could be another family member, a teacher, a career consultant, or an esports representative.
Most importantly, do not try to persuade your parents with false information. Doing so can easily backfire and erode their trust in you. Let me illustrate what I mean with an example. Financial insecurity is what I call the elephant in the room when working in esports. Your parents are likely to be concerned about you making a living because they know that passion alone does not pay the bills. Unfortunately, financial security is a valid concern in the esports industry. Thus, I do not advise you to sugarcoat it in front of your parents. Instead, be honest and mature. Show them that you have thoroughly thought this through. Acknowledge the risk and offer solutions to alleviate it.
As an esports newcomer, you may not know how to secure yourself a well-paying job in esports. Thankfully, Raidiant offers many career resources, such as How to get your foot in the esports door and The biggest challenges of working in esports and how to overcome them!
Be Patient
Empathy is not a one-way street. You can better understand your parents’ concerns, express empathy for them, and address them with valid arguments. However, you cannot control your parents’ reaction. Remember that their worries for your future could cloud their judgment. My last tip is to know that changing someone’s views takes time. Ideas that first seemed atrocious can become amazing over time as we develop as humans. Sometimes this is a gradual transition. Other times it is caused by a specific experience, for example, when your parents hear about your first gig.
For my Mom, it was a conversation with a family friend who also has children. During a coincidental encounter, they spoke about their children’s career ambitions and how the job world has changed since they graduated from high school. He shared that at his age, many teenagers did not have the freedom to choose their careers and ended up trapped in one job for the rest of their lives. He wished for his children to thrive in a job of their choosing, even if it meant switching professions from time to time.
Final Thoughts
As a young industry that remains stigmatized, esports may not seem like a suitable field to work in. But by being prepared, empathic, and patient, you can help your parents understand that esports is more than a hobby. I hope my advice was helpful to you, and best of luck with your career!
Connect with me on Twitter or LinkedIn for more insights into working in esports!