From Joystick to Job Offer
This isn’t just about joysticks and victory royales anymore. On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, two Cincinnati powerhouses—Easterseals Redwood and Cincinnati Fear—are teaming up to host a groundbreaking event that redefines what it means to be a “gamer.” The Game to Career: Esports Employment Fair will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the University of Cincinnati Esports Lab, and it’s not your typical job fair. Instead, it’s a dynamic, hands-on experience where high school and college students who excel in video gaming will explore career pathways in drone technology, cybersecurity, and IT services—all while playing the games they love.
This is more than just a creative gimmick. It’s an innovative way to showcase how the strategic thinking, multitasking, and cognitive agility learned through competitive gaming can translate directly into real-world tech careers. Whether it’s maneuvering a drone like a digital battlefield, securing complex networks like an online arena, or managing IT infrastructures like an elite-level squad—this event proves that the bridge between gaming and employment isn’t just metaphorical. It’s being built right here in Cincinnati.
Easterseals Redwood brings decades of experience in workforce development, education, and inclusion to the table. Born from the merger of Easterseals Serving Greater Cincinnati and Redwood in Northern Kentucky, the organization is a leader in preparing people with disabilities, veterans, and other marginalized communities for independence and employment. Their programs span everything from inclusive early education and autism services to industry-specific training for in-demand fields. Easterseals Redwood doesn’t just help people find jobs—they create custom-built pathways to economic mobility, often in partnership with employers seeking diverse and skilled workers.
But what makes this event truly buzzworthy is its partner: Cincinnati Fear, the city’s first professional esports team and one of the few female-founded esports organizations in the country. Launched in 2022, Cincinnati Fear fields competitive teams in League of Legends and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, gaining national recognition through the North American Challengers League. But beyond competing, Cincinnati Fear is reshaping what a city-based esports organization can be. It’s a team, yes—but it’s also a platform for community engagement, youth development, and inclusive tech education.
Together, Easterseals Redwood and Cincinnati Fear are proving that the line between passion and profession is blurrier—and more exciting—than ever before. For students, especially those who are neurodivergent or haven’t followed traditional education paths, gaming may have felt like a side interest. This event reframes that passion as an asset. And with employers from droning, cybersecurity, and IT services industries on-site, students won’t just be gaming—they’ll be networking.
The event is also deeply accessible. Scholarships are available to ensure no student is left behind due to financial barriers. And employers looking to tap into this pipeline of next-gen talent can still register for one of the 10 open corporate partner slots by reaching out to Debbie Smith, Senior Advisor for Strategic Innovation at Easterseals Redwood.
In a world that still occasionally scoffs at “too much screen time,” this event flips the narrative: What if screen time is the training ground for tomorrow’s workforce? What if the twitch reflexes and split-second decision-making that win battles in games are the same skills that secure networks, pilot drones, and troubleshoot systems?
The Game to Career: Esports Employment Fair is a microcosm of something bigger happening in the Queen City—where nonprofit mission meets professional innovation, and where gaming isn’t an escape from reality, but a fast-track into it.
So if you’re a student who games, a parent who’s wondering how to guide your child’s interests, or a company looking to connect with unconventional but powerful talent, make your way to UC’s Esports Lab on May 6. Because the future of work might just be holding a controller—and leveling up.