The 20% growth of the gaming industry during the pandemic turn it into a talent constraint market. Betting dollars, hours of content consumption, people buying the consoles, and the entertainment industry, in general, is heading into esports and gaming. Because of all that, companies turn into recruitment agencies and ask for help; they need to recruit double of what they initially thought they would. That is one of the many challenges recruiters face and some of the things we will discuss with Kim Shatzer today.

Kim Shatzer is the Managing Director at Onward Play and Women In Games Ambassador. Kim is also a Board Member of Feeding the Orphans and Marketing and Communications Committee Member at the Esports Trade Association.

We discussed the challenges recruitment teams face in the growing gaming and esports industry from the candidates’ and corporations’ perspectives. Kim shared her story of how she was converted into the gaming world and fell in love with the industry. We also talked about diversity, inclusion, and the details companies should observe before getting into the gaming and esports industry.

Visit Onward Play website: https://www.onwardplay.com/

Or Connect with Kim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanchic/

Esports Connected is part of the Esports Trade Association. To learn more, visit: ESTA.org

Full Episode Breakdown:

1:42 – Kim talks about how she got into the gaming industry.

5:12 – Kim talks about the challenges of recruitment agencies in an industry that grew over 20% during the pandemic.

9:31 – Megan and Kim talk about the challenges of being a recruiter.

13:57 – Megan and Kim analyze why it is so hard to get into the industry and the importance of recommendations.

15:56 – Kim talks about her job from the corporate perspective and how she helps corporations connect with ideal candidates.

18:11 – Kim explains why it is challenging to find “temp gigs” in the gaming industry.

22:30 – Kim shares some advice for those companies interested in joining the industry.