How Gaming is Preparing Young People for Work

Hey Parents and Teachers 👋

We often hear you fret about the hours Gen Z spends immersed in video games.

But what if today we looked beyond the screen and recognised the untapped potential within this popular pastime?

Esports and gaming aren’t mere diversions; they’re dynamic training grounds to hone essential skills for the future of work, here’s how:

🎮 Strategic Thinking and Problem-Solving

Every virtual quest and in-game obstacle is a crucible of critical thinking. Gamers constantly analyse situations, anticipate outcomes, and devise strategies. These very skills propel success in business, technology, and leadership roles.

🤝 Teamwork and Collaboration

Multiplayer games thrive on collaboration. Players communicate effectively, delegate tasks, and support one another to achieve shared objectives. These experiences mirror the dynamics of professional teamwork, preparing our youth for collaborative work environments.

💪 Adaptability and Resilience

In the fast-paced gaming world, adaptability reigns supreme. Players swiftly adjust to new challenges and bounce back from setbacks, fostering resilience that’s invaluable both personally and professionally.

👨‍💻 Technological Fluency

Navigating intricate game worlds demands comfort with technology—a skill that translates into proficiency with future digital tools and platforms. This fluency underpins many emerging careers.

🙋‍♀️ Leadership

Gaming offers opportunities for players to lead—whether guiding a team, managing resources, or making pivotal decisions. These experiences nurture leadership qualities essential across various career paths.

🧠 Cognitive Flexibility

Gaming encourages cognitive flexibility—the ability to seamlessly switch between concepts and juggle multiple ideas. In a world valuing innovation and creativity, this skill is paramount.

So, the next time you see a young person immersed in their gaming world, remember that they're not just playing—they're honing skills that will serve them well in their careers.

📊 Did You Know?

Research is beginning to inform companies of the benefits young gamers can have to their teams, too.

✅ Gamers develop skills such as focus, teamwork, multi-tasking, and cooperation, which easily transfer to industries like e-commerce. (1)

✅ Video games teach actual skills that are extremely valuable in building and running a business. Learning how to fail and how to build expertise through consistent effort are two fundamental components of video gameplay that all entrepreneurs need to learn in order to succeed. (2)

🎬 Take Action! 

1. Encourage your young ones to explore gaming mindfully.

2. Have conversations about the skills they’re developing and use examples for how they translate to the world of work.

3. Encourage them to put these skills on a CV, an application, and expand on them during an interview.

Until next time, let the games continue to be a training ground for tomorrow’s victories, both virtual and real. 🌟

Get Career Curious

Here’s our hot picks for building future skills and exploring gaming and Esports as a career.

Share these with your young adults, at home or in class. 👇

☝️Don’t miss out. We share opportunities like this every day on @miFutureHQ

You've got this 😎✌️

Gem Hallett,

miFuture Founder