One thing that many do not know is that the gaming industry is actually larger than the music and movie industries combined. Even so, gaming achievements do not often appear on resumes. Why is that? It is mainly because of the stigma associated with playing computer games, especially as an adult. WOW raid leveling does not look like an important job skill at first glance, but is this just a misconception?
Game Academy is the name of a startup that decided to analyze the skills that are learned when video games are played. The firm believes that all the skills gained can apply to work situations in the real world.
According to research conducted by Game Academy, IT workers are much more likely to play tower defense games or puzzle games. Managers were shown to enjoy playing games like X-Com and Civilization.
Right now we see businesses from all around the world starting to accept that the skills gained in video games are actually transferable. This includes the military as it is often hiring gamers.
According to a spokesperson for the Royal Air Force, those that are very good at playing video games are often capable of quickly assimilating information, they react swiftly and they can co-ordinate their actions while they stay calm even when faced with serious pressure. This is something that the RAF needs in many roles. As a result, the military organization states that the skills one gains by playing games are relevant and have to be taken into account.
We should also think about the soft skills that are oftentimes picked up by gamers. This includes strategic planning, problem-solving, and teamwork. All of these are very important in professional settings.
The problem with playing video games and highlighting the skills you gained when you want to land a job revolves around how you showcase your skills and how you list them as related to the position.
A study by the Glasgow University became very popular a couple of years ago. This is because it suggested the fact that gaming is capable of making the student more successful. Unfortunately, the study did not change anyone’s mind at that point in time. Much more work is needed to showcase the importance of playing video games and to fight the stigma that surrounds gamers.
Right now, when you apply for a job and you say you are an avid video game player, there is a really good possibility the mention will hurt the possibility of actually landing the job. The only situation in which this is not the case is when you can actually prove that this is relevant or when the job itself is clearly related to you playing video games.
The bottom line is that even casual game playing is relevant. It helps to gain some very interesting skills that you do not even get in school. However, it is very hard to fight the stigma. Fortunately, this will change in the future for sure.
Leave a Reply