Gamer stereotypes have not been traditionally positive, but employers are realizing that the soft skills developed playing some of the most popular games may be shaping unexpectedly desirable employees. Employers are struggling to fill tech job openings and are being forced to think outside the box to gain the expertise they need. Gaming prowess often translates into valuable skills for employers – critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, collaboration, and creativity among them. According to the Manpower Group, more than half of employers around the world admit they would consider gaming skills during the employment process, and 65% say they plan to consider them in the future.
Gamers are Rich in These Soft Skills
The same study revealed that 43% of employers admit it is more challenging to teach these soft skills than to simply identify and nurture them. With that in mind, the gaming community – thought to be rich in these skills – may represent a significant opportunity to help fill these tech gaps. “Gaming fosters the skill of continuous learning, and this ability to adapt one’s skill set is increasingly critical as people adjust to the ever-changing landscape of work,” said Luca Giovannini, vice president of ManpowerGroup’s Global Innovation and Analytics.
Fast Fact: The report highlighted multiplayer games, such as Fortnite and League of Legends in particular, that develop creative thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Gamers Exhibit Hard Skills As Well
Researchers say that in order for sophisticated gamers to play the game well, they have to understand their technology. They understand hardware, software, PC builds, and software applications. Therefore a gamer can come out of the gate with an amazing amount of base knowledge and a penchant for learning these types of subjects more easily. The professional goal for many gamers is to work for a game development company to merge employment with passion, but their skills are not relegated to that arena.
Gamers who are proficient in team-oriented games develop quick problem-solving and teamwork capabilities. In most cases, coding and AI skills are easier to teach to gamers than desired soft skills are to teach to a tech graduate.
Evolving Recruiting Techniques
Traditionally, it was estimated that 88% of employers relied on specific degrees or title matches to hire the right candidate rather than choosing based on having the right skills – even though the research indicates that skills are much more important for job success. Only one in five employers hired developers without university degrees, and only one in three companies augmented their IT/technology departments by looking for soft skills.
However, the workplace is evolving rapidly. Since the pandemic, hiring solely on skills – that is, real-world abilities and knowledge instead of degrees or levels of education – has been increasing. Specifically, a recent Indeed survey found that:
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- 59% of employers are considering reducing or removing college degree hiring requirements.
- 30% of employers believe eliminating degree requirements would help in hiring more diversely skilled employees.
- 87% of senior executives say they have no solution to the skills gaps.
Managed Services Can Also Fill the Skills Gap
One of the most significant benefits that managed services represent to companies is the ability to fill a unique skills gap. If a business lacks a specific specialist, they can spend the resources needed to identify, recruit and onboard someone with that skill – but with such a low unemployment rate, they may have to pay more than they would ordinarily. Alliance IT is a managed services firm that employs experts in all the areas you need. We can simply plug into your framework and help you to grow and thrive without the overhead. If you are interested in learning more, call Alliance IT today for a consultation.
