Adding video gaming experience to your CV could be beneficial. In fact, the skills acquired when gaming could be a boon for job hunters as these can be more difficult to learn directly in the world of work.

According to research from Dell and the Institute for the Future, 85% of jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t been invented yet. While this figure may seem excessive, it bears witness to a trend: the need for constant adaptation among the future generation is essential to keep pace with society’s technological acceleration. And that’s one skill that can be picked up... in video games.

Separate research from ManpowerGroup set out to investigate how the skills acquired by playing video games can be transferred to the workplace. The US-based company - the world’s third-largest staffing firm - is sure that new talents can be found thanks to skills developed through gaming.

Transferable skills for the world of work

Different types of games evidently foster different skills, whether these are technical or rational. Strategy games help build skills like decision-making, perseverance and problem-solving, while team-based games develop collaboration, communication and organisation. These are skills that are increasingly sought after by employers the world over.

Other major strengths for video gamers include the notion of striving for a form of perfection, and the ability to learn quickly in a diverse environment - both of which are advantageous in a world that’s always changing. Indeed, the pandemic has merely served to accelerate this push towards digitalisation and communication, which befits gamers particularly well.

Creativity, emotional intelligence, complex problem-solving and enhanced critical thinking, all these skills form the core of new entrepreneurial dynamics. These interpersonal skills are hard to find, and even harder to train, with 43% of employers confirming the complexity of teaching new social skills. Gaming can contribute to filling these gaps.

Who knows, maybe one day, putting gaming skills on your CV could help you land a dream job.

 - AFP Relaxnews