In our recent article on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, we discussed how he was a comedian and actor, a few years prior to taking office. In fact, his last acting gig was a satirical comedy called Servant of the People, in which a high school teacher unexpectedly becomes the president of Ukraine. Many people were amused at how Zelenskyy seemed to have manifested his career path into reality, but it is also an interesting exhibit on how media and our life choices intertwine.
For people who participate in fandom culture, we may not even realize how the things we enjoy can influence other spheres of our life — including our careers. One article published in the Journal of Fandom Studies notes how fans and hobbyists often take their passion and run with it — through activities like play-testing, volunteer moderation, or game production — with professional ambitions to join the industry. Rather than being simple consumers, fans are interested in ‘productive leisure’, blurring the line between “fan” and “professional”. Here are some ways on how you, as a fan, can channel fandom practices towards your career:
Pursue a related career path
Two big franchises, namely Star Wars and Star Trek, have gained a massive following over the years and made such a striking impression on many people. Interestingly, being a fan of these franchises have pushed people into their current careers, sometimes by cultivating a fascination in robotics or engineering.
Trekkie tech leaders were inspired by Star Trek as children, which led them to pursue careers in the field of computer science, mechanics, gadgetry, astronomy, and scientific exploration, to name a few. If there’s an element of fandom speaking strongly to you, it’s good to lean in and pay attention to it. Maybe there’s something there that you are deeply interested in, and may want to try as a possible career.
Maximize your fandom-related skills
If you’re the type of fan that edits videos, creates fan art, writes fan fiction, monitors social media engagement, or translates content — congratulations! You may be able to work in high-demand industries. As a write-up on identifying your transferable skills from LHH mentions, you’d be surprised at which skills can be used in different roles, functions, and industries. Your skills will likely make you a perfect candidate.
Doing fan art means you can work as a graphic artist, or maybe writing fiction has made you a great communicator. An interest in monitoring trends or memes online may signify potential growth in social listening research. To figure out what your transferable skills are, write a list of every hard skill and soft skill you have. Then, look into roles that match your abilities. You could even stumble on a job that’s totally unexpected but perfect for you.
“Network” with your fellow fans
Networking is an unavoidable part of being a professional. Whether it’s for career advancement, client acquisition, or just to expand your circle of colleagues, everyone benefits from networking. To be successful at networking, you need to build a strong relationship over shared experiences. And that’s similar to connecting with people in your fandom, as fandoms provide opportunities for fellow fans to get to know new people.
You can strike up a conversation based on a mutual interest, or even collaborate on interesting projects together. In an Q&A with the University of Washington, associate professor Jin Ha Lee highlighted how video game and pop group fandoms were essential in supporting one another throughout the pandemic. Instead of staying isolated, the community banded together in a healthy way. You can also make professional connections through people you’ve met in your fandom, or even engage with others as a way to exercise your social skills.
To summarize, there are plenty of ways you can channel your passion as a fan into your career. It just takes a bit of imagination be bold and do what you love.
Andrea Bell is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs. You can find her on Twitter:@IM_AndreaBell
