Former Teacher Finds New Career and Higher Earnings in Gaming Industry
A chronic illness forced a teacher to leave her profession, but she discovered a lucrative path in gaming communications and marketing.
Jarvs Tasker, who left teaching in 2019 at the age of 28 due to chronic illness, has found a new career in the gaming industry that offers a significantly higher income. She now runs Jarvs Indie Insights, a company focused on communication and marketing for the gaming sector, and reports earning double her previous teaching salary.
Tasker visited the University of Suffolk's e-sport building in Ipswich to celebrate independent game developers and studios. She stated that it would have taken her approximately 20 years in teaching to earn what she now makes annually.
Initially, Tasker volunteered for PlayStation's YouTube channel after leaving her teaching position. She observed considerable overlap in skills between the two fields, noting that community management shares similarities with managing a classroom. Tasker highlighted that the video game industry is one where many individuals transition into later in life.
Tasker, who resides in Exeter, believes that young people may not be aware of the diverse career paths available within the gaming industry. She emphasized the importance of passion, stating, "The video games community is very strong, and they will champion people that love what they do, but they'll also notice if you're in it just for the money." She added that passion is the most crucial element for success.
Regarding the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), Tasker indicated that the gaming industry is effectively resisting its integration. She explained that players have a strong aversion to AI, leading the industry to prioritize and champion human creativity. "I think as an industry we should be really proud of the fact that we're still championing human creativity and that the audience is also on board with that," she said.