The metaverse might be a nascent space, but job opportunities abound. There are even websites dedicated to the space, such as metaversejobs.com, which lists employment positions that run the gamut from engineering, marketing, design, product, sales, and community.
By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy
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Indeed, JPMorgan — which became the first bank to launch a lounge in the metaverse — said in a report that the space will likely infiltrate every job sector in some way in the coming years, with total market opportunity estimated at more than $1 trillion in yearly revenues. In turn, job opportunities in the metaverse will be boundless, the bank said.
The JPMorgan report, titled “Opportunities in the Metaverse,” argues that concerning the future of work in the metaverse, some key areas to consider include training new designers and developers with specialization in 3D modeling of avatars, wearables, objects, architecture and interiors.
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Further, job search engine Adzuna said that in Feb. 2022, metaverse job ads in the U.S. were up 379% from four months prior, according to a press release.
But in the metaverse, do the same rules apply when it comes to interviewing for a job?
Experts Suggest Metaverse Job Qualifications Could be Specific
In addition, the candidate should be someone who understands cybersecurity and can be adaptable to changing trends in the metaverse, as well as someone who tries to bring something new to the table.
“In such a radically different landscape, a qualified candidate needs to be able to jump into whatever trend is happening in tech and know that things don’t always stay the same,” he said.
He added, however, that even with metaverse being an entirely different landscape to work in, there’s still some traditional job interview practices that apply.
“The candidate should do research about the company, see how the company’s goals align with their own professional development, and have an engaging, enthusiastic personality — one that shows they’re willing to dive into an entirely different work environment. It’s definitely a mix of old and new job interview traditions, but one that can give someone great career fulfillment if the metaverse is what they choose to dive into,” White said.
As for interviewing in the metaverse, some experts argue that we already have been through a trial run of metaverse life skills — including job interviews — during the pandemic, as many Americans are already working virtually, coordinating over Slack, conducting meetings via Zoom and generally interacting with our business colleagues through digital systems.
“Bearing this in mind, I suspect the same will be true for when we fully immerse ourselves into careers in the metaverse. Perhaps it will be a little different if our avatars are wholly different from our real selves,” she said.
McKenna believes the same factors are still very much in play concerning job interviews — and that some central concepts will likely never change, including being prepared and learning as much as you can about the company.
“You need to be considerate as well as a good communicator. In fact, verbal communication skills will probably be even more important in the metaverse because the digital representation of ourselves might not be accurate enough to reflect body language and other social cues,” McKenna said. “Sticking with the basics like this — no matter the setting, metaverse or otherwise — will always be helpful.”
Old Hiring Rules Will Never Go out of Fashion
Similar sentiments are echoed by many industry insiders, who say that even in this new space, old rules will persist.
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He offers another tip — it’s vital to be patient and follow through with your interviewers.
“Like with Zoom interviews, mishaps occur, and with newer technology, this is even more likely. Test your technology in advance to prevent issues on your end to the best of your ability, and understand that technical glitches can occur,” Lewis said. And as with any other job interview, Lewis recommended, after the interview has been completed, make sure you still follow up with the hiring manager or anyone else you spoke with as you would in a more traditional interview setting.
“Follow-through is paramount to leaving with a good impression, so take these principles and make sure to translate them to new platforms as well,” he added.
