Even though millions of adults in the U.S. regularly play video games, there are still some unfortunate stigmas surrounding gamers. Some people still view gamers as lazy or unmotivated. 

In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. 

While some video games are more stimulating and strategy-based than others, almost every game requires some kind of skill. If you’re an avid gamer and you’ve been doing it for a long time, you might be able to use those skills in your career. 

No, that doesn’t mean you should drop everything and start gaming for a living (even though that’s a reality for some people!). But, there might be ways to introduce the skills you’ve developed while gaming into your current career or that you can include on a resume when you’re hunting for a new job. 

So, what are some of the most desirable career skills that gaming can help with? Hit the pause button, and let’s cover a few. 

Soft Skills and Personal Growth

Many times, when people are looking for a job, they focus on hard skills. Those things usually come from years of experience or education. Hard skills can improve productivity in almost any career, and allow you to do specific job tasks extremely well. 

But, it’s often easy to overlook the importance of soft skills and how they’re connected with personal growth. Your soft skills are what will keep you from becoming stagnant in a job. Some examples of soft skills include: 

• Strong communication skills
• Teamwork
• Adaptability
• Problem-solving
• Flexibility

Look at that list again. 

How many of those skills do you pick up through gaming? Whether you’re on a team working with other players around the world or you have to figure out very specific solutions to win a game, it’s all about utilizing your soft skills. Personal growth is incredibly important whether you’re looking for your first job post-college or you’re trying to move forward in your existing career. Give yourself room to explore, and use your soft skills (even the ones learned through gaming) to make the most of your career. 

Strategic Planning

We just went through a pandemic that put thousands of businesses across the country out of business. So many more had to temporarily close their doors, lay off employees, and cut back on other expenses just to stay afloat. Now that things are returning to normal, those businesses that managed to survive need to have a plan in place for the future. 

If you’re a gamer, you could be someone at the helm of strategic planning. Playing video games requires you to formulate a plan from start to finish, but it also requires you to change those plans based on unexpected situations. Video games promote your ability to think ahead and also on the fly, so you can develop a strategy that works no matter where you are. 

Similarly, your gaming skills can also make you a better leader. Multiplayer games require leadership if you want your team to be successful, and you might find yourself naturally falling into that role every time you play. 

Leaders tend to be organized, have strong communication skills, and understand the impact that their actions might have on those around them. They also have to inspire others to follow them and trust them. The best part? You don’t need an avatar to be a great leader. Those are skills that you can take beyond the screen and into the workplace to find a management position. 

Where Should You Be Working? 

As you can see, certain gaming skills can be used in a variety of different industries, including: 

• Business
• Marketing
• Retail
• Foodservice
• Healthcare
• Real estate

Maybe you already have a job in one of these industries and you’re not fully using your skills. Sometimes, it can be hard to make the connection between what you’ve picked up through gaming and how you can apply it in the real world. So, take some time to consider the skills you think you have, and how they can move you forward in your career – whether you’re already working or applying for a different job. 

But, if gaming is truly your passion, you can utilize the skills you’ve developed over the years within the gaming industry, itself. That doesn’t mean just playing games (although, again, that’s always a possibility!). There are so many careers within the industry that can combine your passion and your skills. Video game development companies are always on the lookout for writers, graphic designers, animators, audio programmers, and so much more. 

The more avid gamers are willing to make the most of their skills, the sooner the stigma surrounding video games will fade away. If you’ve never considered the skills you’ve harnessed as a gamer, take the time to think about how they might help you move forward in a career you love.