Video games are known to bring benefits to players, from developing logical thinking and reflexes or the ability to reason when playing logical titles and puzzles. ManpoweredGroup conducted a study to understand the benefits of gaming and came to the conclusion of three skills acquired through gaming that can enhance professional success.
The expert says that every moment of gameplay, whether it’s Candy Crush traveling on public transportation or relaxing at the end of the day, taking some “shots” in Call of Duty, can be more than just entertaining. There are sophisticated capabilities that are highly demanded by companies.
The first characteristic is related to problem solving, and is directly related to critical thinking. This ability is valued by employers for jobs associated with quality control or the provision of health care.
And do you know which games contribute the most to this ability? StarCraft, Pac-Man, Words with Friends, League of Legends, Call of Duty, FIFA, Rocket League or Mario Kart. These games are described as helping to develop planning, tactical, cooperation and communication skills. In other words, the main daily challenges at work.
On the other hand, the specialist cites games with a strong societal orientation as ideal in developing cooperation and communication skills. MMO titles such as World of Wacraft, Guild Wars 2, and Monster Hunter World are examples provided by bringing together multiple players on the same server, enhancing connection rooms for real-time interaction.
The organization of collective action to defeat the boss or the combination of tactics to conquer the dungeon is reflected in the social component. As careers, ManpoweredGroup highlights financial analyst, administrative assistant and customer service manager as potential ways to leverage collaboration and competition skills in a healthy team environment.
Finally, creativity is another much-demanded skill, the company says. Games like Minecraft, Roblox, Mario Party, Just Dance, and Guitar Hero are referred to as creative enablers. The expert says that the open worlds of The Elder Scrolls or The Legend of Zelda, which allow players to explore freely, enhance creativity.
The constant challenges of the proposed environments, related to the music and dance of games such as Rock Band, Guitar Hero and Just Dance, require practice and persistence to achieve perfection in the goals. Engineering, design, and sales are the areas in which recruiters look for this competency.
ManpowerGroup says that in the study it analyzed more than 11,000 games, in 13 different genres, from AAA to indie, adventure, action, RPG, music, etc. These allowed to identify the personal skills developed in the different categories and the relevant professional competence. The company has created an online tool called Games skills translator, which allows candidates to provide an indication of the games they are playing, the experience and level they have reached, as well as the time they spend playing. This information is translated into job competencies, which candidates can add to their CVs.
