Spice up your resume with video game achievements

Just don't tell them you enjoy Overlord II.

Many career-seekers are now throwing in extra tidbits in their job résumé such as attaining the Suicide Missionary achievement in Gears of War 2, their level & class in World of Warcraft and how many Pokemon they've captured. This might seem a little inconsequential, but associate professor and director of MIT's Education Arcade Program, Eric Klopfer says that a number of recent studies have examined what practical skills a person can pick up by playing electronic games. If you really stop and think about all of the good things that video games have done for us, it appears very plausible that our skills could help us in any job field. Playing video games involves learning how to express yourself and how to work well with others, making a commitment and working hard to achieve team objectives, becoming very skilled in strategizing and mapping-system dynamics and the way varying factors influence each other.

"It's just too bad that gaming still has this stigma attached to it in the modern workplace," says Ethan Mollick.

Mollick is a researcher at MIT's Sloan School of Management and coauthor of Changing the Game: How Video Games Are Transforming the Future of Business. Mollick believes that many employers still view gamers as slackers. If only employers KNEW the extensive hardwork and dedication that gamers have when trying to achieve a goal or complete a mission.

Klopfer helps revisit some time-tested résumé bullet points and see how some games might provide an upgrade on your job searches. Of course, this really should not be talking points in a full-court-press job interview, unless you're looking for employment in the game industry, but hey, it might help.

• Team Player
• Detail-Oriented
• Able to See the Big Picture
• A Problem-Solver
• A Born Leader
• Strong Communication Skills

With the economy the way it is, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of unemployed people are reading this. Next time you strap on that tie and down the energy drink, heading out to your next interview, remember that these key talking points could possibly help you get that job as cashier for 7-11.