Gamification In Recruitment

Gamification is the use of game design elements and mechanics in non-game contexts to increase engagement, motivation, and participation. Gamification has found applications in different sectors such as education, marketing, and customer service, and now it is hoisting its flag in recruitment.

The Danish Company, Uncle Grey used Team Fortress players to get applicants for their front-end developer role. They provided sponsorship to the game’s leading players, who then displayed Uncle Grey’s job advertisements in the game and adopted the job URL as their in-game name. The response generated a large pool of qualified candidates, ultimately resulting in the successful recruitment of their front-end developer.

International advertising agency, Ogilvy & Mather createda social media competition to recruit their sales person. The campaign promised a fellowship at Ogilvy if they can sell a block of brick. This challenge not only found their eligible candidates but also tremendously increased their brand visibility globally.

Phoenix Software used escape rooms to recruit their candidates. They had to apply their technical skills to figure out the clues of the game. This not only tested the candidates’ technical ability but also their performance under pressure and their ability to coordinate as a team.

These are some of the examples showing how gamification can engage your potential employees and enliven your recruitment process.

How to use gamification in hiring?

Skill Assessments

One way to use gamification in hiring is to create skill assessments that use game-like mechanics. For example, instead of a typical multiple-choice test, a company can create an interactive game that tests the candidate’s skills. This not only makes the assessment process more engaging for the candidate but also provides a more accurate picture of their skills and abilities.

Simulation-Based Exercises

Another way gamification can be used in hiring is through simulation-based exercises. For example, a company can create a virtual simulation of a job task or scenario, and have candidates play through it. This allows the company to observe how the candidate performs in a realistic work situation, giving them a more accurate idea of their skills and how they would perform on the job.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is another gamification tool that can be used in hiring. Companies can create virtual reality experiences that allow candidates to explore the company’s workplace, culture, and values. This can give candidates a better sense of what it would be like to work for the company, which can help them decide if the company is a good fit for them.

Gamified Application Process

The application process itself can be gamified to make it more engaging and interactive for candidates. For example, a company can create a mini-game that candidates must complete as part of the application process. This not only makes the process more engaging for the candidate but also helps the company identify candidates who are willing to put in extra effort to apply for the job.

Employee Referral Programs

Gamification can also be used to encourage employee referrals. For example, a company can create a game that rewards employees for referring qualified candidates. This not only incentivizes employees to refer candidates but also makes the referral process more engaging and fun.

Benefits of Gamification in Hiring

Better Analysis

Traditional interview settings can often limit candidates from showcasing their full potential. Gamification on the other hand, offers an accurate assessment of a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses which may not be apparent through standard interview questions alone.

This approach also enables the identification of non-tangible qualities, such as emotional intelligence, common sense, vigilance, adaptability and coordination.

More Accuracy

Artificial Intelligence is the base of gamification and hence it provides better results in terms of accuracy. There is not much intervention by humans in the process and hence it provides a fair and unbiased evaluation.

Improves Candidate Experience

The spontaneity of gamification in the recruitment process, creates a more enjoyable and less stressful experience for candidates. This allows them to relax and approach the hiring process with more confidence and focus.

Increased Brand Awareness

Even if a candidate does not make it through the gamification process, the high level of engagement can still leave a positive impression and increase their eagerness to participate in future recruitment efforts. Furthermore, their experience may encourage them to spread the word about the company’s recruitment process to a wider audience.

Challenges Involved

Authenticity

Although gamification can be an effective way to evaluate a candidate’s abilities, it may not always provide a straightforward assessment. Due to the lack of direct interaction and the difficulty in confirming the authenticity of the candidate’s performance, it may be necessary to conduct additional in-person interviews before making a final hiring decision.

Cost

Creating gamified hiring experiences can be expensive, especially if a company is using virtual reality or other advanced technologies.

Accessibility

Not all candidates may have access to the necessary technology or equipment to participate in gamified hiring experiences.

Fairness

Companies need to ensure that gamified hiring experiences are fair and accessible to all candidates, regardless of their gaming skills or experience.

Data Privacy

Gamification can involve collecting and storing sensitive candidate data, which can create privacy concerns.

In-Demand Tech Jobs for this Decade

As artificial intelligence is taking over a part of existing tech careers, there is always a fear of what’s next. It is good to know what the future holds and needs to make ourselves prepared for it. 

It’s difficult to accurately predict the top tech jobs in demand for the future, as the job market is constantly evolving and new technologies are being developed all the time. However, there are a few industries and fields that are expected to see significant growth in the coming years. Let us take a look at the tech jobs of the future and plan on what to do next.

Applications Software Developer

As an application developer, you will never go out of the market in this mobile-adopted world. The responsibilities of an application developer are to create and maintain an application. Since all industries are transforming to digitalisation, application development is crucial for everyone to stay on top of their businesses. Strong problem-solving skills, programming efficiency and familiarity with frameworks are foundations of becoming an application developer.

UX Designer

As more companies emerge, the pool of choices for users also expands. Hence along with quality, service and price, customers also look for a smooth user experience while choosing a product. A UX designer is responsible for improving the overall experience of the product or service. They design the interface, layout and overall flow of the product. Communication and visual designing skills are crucial for a UX designer.

Data Scientist

In this data-driven world, being a data analyst will help you survive and succeed as well. There has been a significant increase in data generation in recent years. A data scientist collects, analyzes and interprets large sets of data to help organizations make informed decisions. To become a data scientist, you need to identify and predict trends, visualize data and improve decision-making.

Cybersecurity Specialist

Nowadays, a greater number of devices are connected to the internet, and businesses are adapting to cloud computing. This increases the sophistication of cyber threats. Hence the role of a cybersecurity specialist has never been more critical. 

Their responsibility is to protect the organization’s systems and networks from cyber-attacks, keep the data safe and ensure uninterrupted operations. They must be knowledgeable in networking, security protocols, compliance, operating systems and programming.

AI and Machine Learning Engineer

AI and machine learning engineers are responsible for designing and building AI systems and applications and for ensuring that they are accurate, reliable, and effective. The importance of AI and machine learning is only expected to grow in the coming years as more and more organizations adopt these technologies to improve their operations and better serve their customers. To be successful in this field, one should be commendable in programming and machine learning algorithms. They should also have a solid mathematical background.

Full Stack Developer

Full stack developers design and build a complete website, the front end (user side) and the back end (server-side). As more and more organizations depend on web-based applications to do business, the demand for full stack developers will continue to grow. 

The role of the full stack developer will continue to evolve, with an emphasis on the development of cloud-based applications and the integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence into web applications. Full stack developers who can adapt to these changes and upskill themselves with the latest technologies will be well-positioned to succeed in the field.

Best skills to learn for the future

To summarize, upskilling yourself in any of the following future skills will help you land and hold a high paying IT job:

  • Python, Java, JavaScript, R
  • MEAN and MERN stack
  • Swift, Kotlin
  • SQL
  • Cryptography and Encryption
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Visual Communication
  • Machine Learning
  • Data Mining
  • Cloud Computing
  • Business Strategy
  • Hadoop
  • Internet of Things (IoT)

Conclusion

Technology is ever-evolving regardless of current market conditions. Every ten years, new innovations are made, and everyday needs constantly change. Keeping ourselves updated and upskilled is the only way to face the uncertain future confidently. Above all, continuous learning and development is the most required skill to succeed in any role. The information and technology industry can give you a successful and sophisticated life if you are ready to learn and evolve along with it.