In search of a new gig? Aiming for a career upgrade? Or maybe you’re just tired of your boss’s antics. It’s ok, we’ve all been there at some point. The good news is that the job market is booming, if not in the real world at least in the digital one. This might seem obvious given that the majority of us have been in WFH mode for the last two years, but what we’re really talking about is a whole new employment world that didn’t exist up until just a few months ago.
Enter the metaverse. The meta what? Don’t feel too bad if you still don’t know what this is all about. Very simply, it’s a 3D virtual world, powered by virtual and augmented reality, where people can work, socialize and play in. If you want to know more, here’s a quick intro to bring you up to speed in no time.
As an emerging virtual platform that is yet to truly come to life, the future of the metaverse lies in the hands of the people who are currently busy building it. Think backend developers, 3D designers or programmers, there’s a vast number of skills needed and employment opportunities are abundant across a wide range of industries. And no, you don’t always have to have work experience to get started.
Ready to give it a shot? Find out what jobs are in high demand in the metaverse right now.
METAVERSE JOBS: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE SEARCHING?
Before we dive into the details, here’s a quick recap of how we got here.
The first sign that something big was brewing came in October of 2021 as then Facebook announced it would be hiring a 10,000-strong workforce to develop the metaverse. A month later, the tech giant would rebrand as Meta, unleashing a wave of interest for all things metaverse. Since then, all sorts of companies have jumped on the bandwagon and come out with plans to develop virtual worlds of their own. And for good reason - the metaverse has been estimated to be an $8 trillion opportunity, with a burgeoning digital market that ranges from gaming and NFTs to gambling and X-rated offerings, among other emerging trends.
The metaverse is a decentralized platform where, without the influence of one core entity, users are free to unleash their creativity and create their virtual environment at will. User generated content (UGC) is a key building block in the evolution of the metaverse, adding to a layer of social networking that permeates through virtual worlds. After all, what’s the point of creating something original if you’re not able to share it with others or even sell it and monetize your virtual experiences.
In this context, a few trends are already shaping the opportunities that are arising in the metaverse:
Gaming
The metaverse is the natural evolution of gaming platforms as players will be able to engage in their favorite titles while getting a more immersive and interactive experience out of it. And as if that wasn’t appetizing enough, the rise of play-to-earn gaming has introduced a monetization model where players can earn real-life financial rewards in return for, well, playing games. Inside the metaverse, this is made possible as gamers can easily create, buy and sell NFTs.
Entertainment
Watching your favorite artists perform live is great but soon watching it in virtual reality, inside a 3D world, will be a completely different ball game. And in metaverses like Sensorium Galaxy, the entertainment options on offer go beyond just music, as users will be able to experiment with dancing, meditation and self-exploration, to name a few.
Fashion
The fashion industry is known for setting trends and keeping a finger on the pulse of the next ‘it’ thing. And when it comes to the metaverse, it hasn’t been any different. Powerhouses like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Balenciaga, Nike and Adidas have jumped head first into virtual worlds, setting up shop and putting out digital clothing to hordes of fashionistas eager to flash the hottest trend at the moment. On the back of the buzz (and success) it has created, the metaverse is also seeing the emergence of meta-centric brands like The Fabricant, RTFKT and Dress X.
Social Interaction
Either to meet new people or stay in touch with their current circle of friends, the metaverse offers many avenues of interaction. Sensorium Galaxy, for example, allows users to interact with each other or with AI-powered virtual beings that can act as friends and trusted companions as people move across the many worlds within this metaverse.
Real Estate
With so many aspects of real life moving into digital worlds, it’s only reasonable to assume that virtual land will be a valuable commodity. And that’s exactly what’s happening. Metaverse-like platforms such as The Sandbox and Decentraland have seen plots of land selling for millions and the trend is extending across other virtual worlds as well. As we explained before, this is a metaverse sector that’s doing particularly well and participants can profit from it in multiple ways, including by flipping virtual houses, renting out properties or hosting experiences in their land.
Monetization
Either by selling land, gaming or making fashion clothes in the metaverse, users are cashing in big time. The metaverse is creating a burgeoning virtual economy that brings together real-world economics with the possibilities created by virtual infrastructures. The economic opportunities are vast and still largely unexplored.
As more companies and participants seek a foothold in the digital universe, hiring opportunities for candidates comfortable with virtual reality, blockchain technology and Web3 have been growing at a fast rate.
MOST POPULAR JOBS IN THE METAVERSE
Creating the metaverse is a monumental infrastructure project that relies on workers with skills that are standard in the technology industry like coding, UX and UI design. And while many vacancies do require software engineering knowledge, if you have little or no experience in these areas but you’re still interested in dipping your toes in the metaverse, no worries.
There are plenty of in-demand roles that include strengths like content creation, video and graphic design production. Other job opportunities include vacancies in social media management, sales, marketing and community management. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll end up being director of the metaverse one day.
But really, the possibilities are immense so here’s a breakdown of some of the hottest metaverse jobs today:
Metaverse developer
No surprise here. Developers are essential to creating immersive worlds. Besides helping create environments in the metaverse, developers can also be responsible for the games and experiences that will attract more people to a virtual life. This position will typically require programming skills, software development fluency and a good understanding of XR technologies. Game designers are sometimes considered for these types of positions as well.
Architect
Once you’re inside the metaverse, you’ll want to personalize your environment and have your original creations within it. Knowing how to design and build 3D virtual infrastructures, like swanky houses and shops, inside the metaverse is one the most in-demand skills at the moment and metaverse architects are sure to have no trouble finding employment.
3D Artist
As the metaverse revolves around NFTs (non-fungible tokens), 3D artists and designers have become more desirable than ever. Typically, they will find themselves designing and creating avatars, skins, digital art, collectibles, virtual wearables and much more. This has proven to be so far a position that can make artists huge amounts of money as proven by the volume of sales in NFT marketplaces like OpenSea.
NFT developer
As an expert on blockchain, smart contracts and minting, an NFT developer can come up with NFT-based platforms and items for the metaverse ecosystem. Again, non-fungible tokens are the backbone of virtual worlds and companies will not only be looking to hire NFT developers but also other people who can market NFT creations to potential buyers.
Fashion Designer
The metaverse is taking off and users have started focusing on how their avatars look - and the trendier the better. Sporting the latest apparel collection by a top fashion house like LV or Gucci is already possible, but independent fashion designers are also joining in and opening their metaverse businesses. Interested but afraid you don’t have what it takes? Fortunately, there are plenty of online courses and tutorials to get you started on a new career path.
Casino host
Gambling is fast becoming one of the top immersive experiences in the metaverse and platforms like Decentraland will even have their own dedicated districts like Vegas City. Tominoya Casino, for example, has gone on a hiring spree to find real-life hosts for both part-time and full-time positions.
Real estate broker
Virtual real estate has become a multi-million dollar industry and the need for professional brokers is on the rise. From connecting buyers with sellers to negotiating the terms of a deal or giving a helping land with listings, brokering has become a niche but in-demand role in the metaverse.
Experience host and event promoter
Immersive entertainment events are already proving to be a massive attraction in the metaverse. Look no further than Travis Scott’s Fornite 2020 concert that drew over 27 million live viewers. The metaverse needs hosts and event promoters who can take experiences to the next level.
Teacher/ Tutor
Online schooling had a boost during the pandemic and many aspects of it might be here to stay. As more educational activities start taking place in the metaverse, where students can find immersive and interactive activities impossible to recreate IRL, teachers and tutors are becoming more in-demand.
Community manager
The evolution of the metaverse depends on the creations of its users and the communities that come together to interact and support interests like gaming, music or fashion. Community managers are much-needed to keep everyone engaged and ensure common goals are being achieved. There are a number of jobs in line with this one like community curators and moderators.
HOW TO GET A JOB IN THE METAVERSE
With so much interest surrounding the metaverse, you won’t have trouble finding open positions in traditional job seeking platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed or Glassdoor. Big tech companies including Meta, Microsoft, Tencent and more recently Google, have ramped up efforts to recruit more professionals into metaverse projects, but if you’re looking for broader opportunities it’s also worth checking dedicated platforms. Also worth bearing in mind that if you’re aiming for a position in the NFT industry, it’s best to check the listings on platforms like Coinbase, Rarible, OpenSea and VaynerMedia. But say you’re not yet sold on the whole metaverse workplace idea or you don't feel like you have a whole lot of tech talent to keep up with things, you can always try other avenues that require less time and investment while being equally fun like becoming a P2E gamer in the metaverse.
