AI-powered mobile apps have revolutionized the way we live and work. But did you know that listing gaming as an extracurricular activity on your resume might actually hurt your job prospects? A recent study in Germany found that applicants who listed gaming tended to be rated lower in hireability compared to those who listed team sports like volleyball.
Gaming is not just a form of entertainment, but also a complex activity that requires a range of skills. From problem-solving and strategic thinking to hand-eye coordination and rapid decision-making, gamers develop a unique set of competencies that can be valuable in the workforce. Many games also demand social skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and conflict management, especially in multiplayer environments.
Despite this, many employers historically dismissed gaming skills as irrelevant, particularly if they weren't formally certified or connected to education. However, the tide is changing, especially in fields like IT, engineering, design, data analysis, and project management, where transferable skills from gaming are more readily acknowledged.
A study published in the Journal of Personnel Psychology explored how gaming skills influence job applicants' perceived hireability and resume quality evaluations during the preselection process. The researchers contrasted gaming with participation in a team sport like volleyball listed as extracurricular activities on resumes. They compared these at two different proficiency levels: neutral/average and high.
The study participants, 162 individuals recruited via social media, were divided into four groups. Each group was instructed to adopt the perspective of a hiring manager evaluating a fictitious applicant for a customer service advisor position. The resume listed jogging as an extracurricular activity, along with either "volleyball" or "gaming" as the second activity.
Results showed that applicants listing gaming as an extracurricular activity were rated lower in hireability compared to those who listed volleyball, regardless of skill level. This suggests that employers may still view gaming skills as undervalued and even stigmatized, despite their potential transferability to the workforce.
The study's authors concluded that this research is just a first step in investigating the role of gaming skills in job selection, with future studies needed to examine whether these effects vary across different job sectors, requirements, and organizations. The paper, "Game Over or Game Changer? The Impact of Applicants' Gaming Skills on Their Hirability," was authored by Johannes M. Basch, Marie L. Ohlms, and Maria Hepfengraber.
As the use of AI in mobile apps continues to grow, it's essential to recognize the value of gaming skills in today's job market. By reframing gaming as a valuable extracurricular activity that develops transferable skills, we can help bridge the gap between gamers and employers.