Honing your skills in a video game is hard work. It takes practice, patience, and creativity. These are all assets that could help you land a real job, too. But do they? Have you ever emphasized your gaming background during a job search, and did it help?
One notable success story that's often brought up in articles asking if gamers should identify themselves as such on their resumes is Stephen Gillett, who played up his experience in World of Warcraft when applying for a position at Corbis. The risk paid off handsomely for him: he went on to become the chief information officer at Starbucks, where he claims he applied lessons from WoW to spiff up the coffee chain's "suffering technology assets."
There are a lot more gamers, and a lot more jobs, than there are executive leadership positions at Starbucks, however. I want to hear from the rest of you about how gaming has helped or hindered your job search. Have you put your gaming skills on a resume or job application? Let us know in the comments, following this template:
The game you mentioned: What were the specific skills you'd developed in a game, and how did you go about highlighting them? Did you mention it in a specific cover letter or application, or include it in a resume blast?
The job you were applying for: Was there a direct relationship between the position you were applying for and something you'd done in a video game? What was the case you were making?
How it worked out: Did you get the gig? Was HR intrigued, or scared off? Any surprises, pleasant or otherwise?
Recommendations: Any tips for others to keep in mind on their own job search?
Gaming is becoming an ever more ubiquitous part of our lives, and it's high time that all the gamers-turned-job seekers out there can get a clear idea of whether or not their preferred hobby is an asset or a hindrance. Tell us about your own experience on the job market, or about anybody else's if applicable. And, as always: remember to have fun!
To contact the author of this post, write to yannick.lejacq@kotaku.com or find him on Twitter at @YannickLeJacq.