?You’ve likely head of the metaverse by now, even if you don’t quite know what it is. Like any new technological innovation, it’s a concept that is capturing the attention of consumers and businesses alike.
The metaverse is a term used to refer to virtual worlds that exist on the Internet where users can engage with the environment—and with other visitors in those settings.
Many businesses have already firmly established a presence in the metaverse. A PwC survey of U.S. company leaders indicated that 32 percent said they were planning to hire a “metaverse leader”—51 percent said they already have roles that are focused to some degree on metaverse activity.
Of the 1,000 respondents, 66 percent said their organizations were “actively engaged in the metaverse.”
It’s hard to know what that means, specifically, given the wide range of ways the metaverse may or may not work. But it’s a clear indication that it’s a concept that business leaders across all industries are paying attention to.
The challenge, of course, is finding people who have the knowledge, skills, abilities—and experience—to work with, and in, the metaverse.
Metaverse Still Holds Some Uncertainty
The metaverse is such a new concept that there aren’t yet any graduates with metaverse degrees—although that’s on the horizon, with schools like the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania already dabbling in this space.
But some knowledge and hands-on experience can help talent find a way to land jobs working in the metaverse. Wright State University student Showri Chitti, for instance, graduated in the spring of 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. While at school, he had an internship with Veera Engineering which led to a full-time job. When Veera merged with Reach, a company that hosts metaverse spaces, Chitti was ready to step into a role with them.
“I was always fascinated with the concept of the blockchain and its uses, which made it easier for us to build a metaverse that is actually useful for people,” he said.
Still, the idea of “a stable and reliable metaverse” is still years away, said Victor Anaya, CEO and co-founder of Serviap Global, an employer of record and recruitment services provider, with offices in the Americas, Asia, Brazil and Europe. “What will be needed is not immediately clear.”
Despite the newness of these roles, though, there is some agreement on the types of skills that may be foundational for the metaverse workers of today—and tomorrow.
Skills Required to Work In, and On, the Metaverse
Andy Morgan is senior vice president at 2U, the parent company of edX, an open online course provider. Software engineering employees, Morgan said, will need to be “up-to-speed on the most relevant coding languages which, for building the metaverse, include Java—the primary coding skill in game development where the metaverse has made the most progress. Python is also critical, as machine learning plays a big role in building experiences in the metaverse, as well as C# used to build out blockchain technologies, which will be necessary for required security protocols.”
Despite the newness of these roles, though, some of the skills likely to be needed to excel in this area may not be that different from skills needed to succeed in other technology and customer engagement fields.
As Kyle Elliott, founder and career coach at CaffeinatedKyle.com, pointed out: “Many of the skills and competencies needed for the metaverse are similar to those that help workers survive when working on other cutting-edge technologies. These include the ability to thrive in ambiguity, comfort in stressful environments, a high-risk tolerance, and the ability to move forward after failing.”
Marketing and consumer experience expertise will also be important. A focus on the user experience, for instance, arguably could, and should, be a requirement for any business role. Understanding your customers (internal and external) and their needs is obviously important for driving positive experiences and outcomes. The metaverse is all about user experience.
And, of course, because the metaverse was initially the playground of gamers, those with experience in gaming may have certain skills and competencies that organizations moving in this direction will demand.
EY asked gaming executives for their input about the future of gaming and how their companies fit into the metaverse. Their responses indicate a confidence in their understanding of the metaverse that others may not yet have. For instance, when asked: “How advanced is your grasp on the concept of the metaverse?” Fifty percent said, “I understand what the metaverse is, how it works and how my organization will participate in it.”
“As first movers, gaming companies have already built an early prototype of the metaverse,” EY noted, “and their position as early adopters is well-known across industries.”
Finding—or Developing—Talent to Work in the Metaverse
HR leaders should be taking steps now to help position their organizations to find or develop the talent needed to excel in the metaverse.
Morgan said: “When a major and disruptive technology like the metaverse, or artificial intelligence, rapidly enters the business landscape and social zeitgeist, it’s critical that HR professionals align with their leadership teams to consider how this new technology may affect existing roles, and the new functional skills that will need to be built interlay to ensure the organization is best placed to leverage the opportunities—and take on the potential challenges—the technology may present.”
HR, Morgan added, will be one of four key functions that will need to come together to effectively leverage the potential of the metaverse. HR, tech, product and marketing teams “should be at the forefront of helping their organizations understand what the metaverse is, how it impacts employees and consumers, and the challenges and opportunities this exciting new technology will bring,” he said.
Lin Grensing-Pophal is a freelance writer in Chippewa Falls, Wis.