Gaming on your Resume?

[Camaranth]

Hypothetically, you are applying for a job (NOT in the games industry)would you include any of your gaming achievements on your resume or cover letter?

I don't mean like "logged 300 hours in Skyrim showing my commitment" or "Got 100% completion in FarCry." I mean more along the lines of "I managed a raiding guild of X-number members. This demonstrates my communication and organisation skills."


Personally I wouldn't. 1) because I stick to single player games. 2) I think there is still too much social stigma against games. But I might bring it up during an interview if I had a good conversation going.


I'm just curious, would you be willing to put that on your resume? What if you knew the recruiter was a gamer?

 

[hazabaza1]

Not really an accomplishment is it?
I mean, hand eye coordination, maybe useful, teamwork... eh, sort of I guess? I might put down that it made me a faster typist but that's about it.

 

[Vegosiux]

I'll list it under "hobbies", but won't put my accomplishments on it. And if asked about it, I'll just explain that I like a good game and that it helps with hand-eye coordination sometimes, putting my brain onto high activity at other times, and learning new use for profanity still at other times.

Huh, one of those is not like the others. Might want to leave it out, unless I'm applying for imitating Gordon Ramsay or something.

 

[Smertnik]

I doubt "Has been wasting time playing video games on a daily basis for the past 20 years" would sound good on my resume.

As far as your example goes you'd have to take into account that it's very likely that people reading your resume won't even know what "raiding" or a "guild" is.

 

[Maximum Bert]

I generally put it next to my drinking accomplishments i.e drank 15 pints in 3 hours this shows my dedication and commitment to causes and being able to step up my game when the situation calls for it.

Nah just joking (or am I?) I actually just list gaming as a hobby next to drinking sorry `socialising` with friends I dont bother listing achievements but I may do as a joke next time.

95% of the time people never even read your resume at least in my experience anyway last time I sent mine out with a watermark pikachu on one side and a space donkey on the other side. Did I get a job unfortunately yes I did even turned up to the interview 15 minutes late lol guess im just a lovable rogue.

I dont work there anymore though I resigned after 3 years hated the place.

If you care about getting the job though dont list gaming achievements unless it is directly relatable to the job if gaming is brought up in the interview you can tell them then maybe although if I had made a game myself of any worth I would list that regardless. Oh and its probably best to keep it as boring as possible for most places especially if its for a specialised job where they may actually read it.

 

[Voulan]

I would only list it as a hobby, because a lot of people wouldn't understand it to be a positive thing. Maybe in the future, but right now, people outside of gaming assumes stereotypes created by the media; that either we're all men, all young boys that have no life or friends, lack social skills, or are potential axe-wielding murderers just waiting to happen.

If you were a moderator or something similar, though, I would note that. That at least sounds like you had a real purpose and professional input, rather than just playing a game.

 

[Camaranth]

As far as your example goes you'd have to take into account that it's very likely that people reading your resume won't even know what "raiding" or a "guild" is.

That is true. I tend to forget that stuff I take for general knowledge really isn't. I made a Schrodinger's cat joke at work once. I then had to explain Schrodinger's cat, which was fine, I like talking about this stuff but it kinda ruind the joke.

So what if nepotism was invovled and you knew the recruiter was a gamer?

 

[Smooth Operator]

Would you include the books you read, movies, perhaps music, magazines, or maybe the news papers you read?
I sort of doubt it.

 

[AD-Stu]

As someone who's been responsible for reading resumes, conducting interviews and hiring staff... no. Just no. Don't ever do this. Unless you're absolutely certain that the person interviewing you is a gamer and will appreciate it... and even then I probably still wouldn't put it in writing, because chances are that gamer isn't the only person at the company that will read it.

The reason I say this is it's unlikely to have any kind of positive effect, as employers mostly tend to discount experience that hasn't come in a workplace setting. It's possible it could have no effect and the statement will just be ignored. But it's also very possible it could have a negative effect and the person reading the resume will make assumptions about you based on your gaming, like you're immature or unfocussed or something.

I'm not saying those are fair or accurate assumptions, I'm just saying that's what you run the risk of making people assume.

If you absolutely must include it, I wouldn't go any further than including "video gaming" under hobbies... but then I tend to think there's not much value in including a hobbies section either. Depends on the company I guess.

 

[Camaranth]

As someone who's been responsible for reading resumes, conducting interviews and hiring staff... no. Just no. Don't ever do this. Unless you're absolutely certain that the person interviewing you is a gamer and will appreciate it... and even then I probably still wouldn't put it in writing, because chances are that gamer isn't the only person at the company that will read it.

The reason I say this is it's unlikely to have any kind of positive effect, as employers mostly tend to discount experience that hasn't come in a workplace setting. It's possible it could have no effect and the statement will just be ignored. But it's also very possible it could have a negative effect and the person reading the resume will make assumptions about you based on your gaming, like you're immature or unfocussed or something.

I'm not saying those are fair or accurate assumptions, I'm just saying that's what you run the risk of making people assume.

If you absolutely must include it, I wouldn't go any further than including "video gaming" under hobbies... but then I tend to think there's not much value in including a hobbies section either. Depends on the company I guess.

Thank you I was hoping someone with experience reading these damned dull things would respond. Like I said I was just curious about other peoples thoughts and don't intend to start including them (unless I make one or something).

The only time I mention gaming is during an interview if the "describe some of your hobbies" part comes up and even then it's sandwiched between biking, hiking, and generally being social.

 

[Pulse]

No. No way, jose.

Even disregarding the social stigma, it's like putting down you organise a get together at the pub with your friends. Putting it on your resume highlights how little you have done that's actually worthwhile.

It's worth putting team sports(or anything else) in the real world on your cv because they actually require *real* social interaction and teamwork, and show you have the motivation/planning to leave the house and attend regular meetings. The thought of someone hunched in front of a pc for hours controlling on elf telling other people controlling elves how to play a video game isn't a plus.

 

[AD-Stu]

The only time I mention gaming is during an interview if the "describe some of your hobbies" part comes up and even then it's sandwiched between biking, hiking, and generally being social.

Yep, I'd say that's probably the best way to approach it. Don't put it in writing, mention it in the context of other hobbies and interests as well, and then be happy to talk about it some more if the interviewer asks you specific questions.

Even disregarding the social stigma, it's like putting down you organise a get together at the pub with your friends. Putting it on your resume highlights how little you have done that's actually worthwhile.

It's worth putting team sports(or anything else) in the real world on your cv because they actually require *real* social interaction and teamwork, and show you have the motivation/planning to leave the house and attend regular meetings. The thought of someone hunched in front of a pc for hours controlling on elf telling other people controlling elves how to play a video game isn't a plus.

That's another good point too - if someone puts down something video-game related under experience then it makes whoever's reading the resume think that the candidate is really stretching and probably doesn't have anything in the way of real world experience - "the best you've got is video gaming?". As a gamer myself, even I'd probably be thinking that in the back of my mind.

The sports thing is also valid. I'd add too that unfortunately, the fact is that video gaming has a stigma attached to is that sports just doesn't. Participating in sports is seen as healthy and positive, getting out and interacting with people whereas video gaming is often seen as exactly the opposite.

It's very possible this will change in the future - at the moment, we're still in a position where a lot of people making hiring decisions aren't necessarily people who've grown up with gaming. If there are benefits to being a gamer, these people are't necessarily in a position to understand them. But sports have been around forever, and they certainly understand the benefits it can provide.