With the gaming market currently undergoing explosive growth with no signs of stopping, there’s a lot of competition among companies looking to hire top talent gaming candidates. Professionals in interactive gaming, corporate gamification, esports, and other gaming industries are in high demand.
How can your business finish in first place when it comes to attracting gaming candidates? Here are four things gaming candidates today look for in potential employers.
Remote Work Options
In today’s post-COVID-19 job landscape, many of today’s top candidates prefer remote work over any other arrangement. In March 2022, CNBC reported remote and hybrid jobs are attracting 7 times more applicants compared to in-person roles.
If your gaming position can be worked in a remote or hybrid job environment, consider giving candidates flexibility in where they work. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on top candidates who demand a flexible work environment.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Speaking of diversity, today’s gaming candidates also look for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts at the companies they’re considering. This is especially true for women and minority candidates, who are underrepresented in the gaming industry workforce.
For example, a 2020 report by the International Game Developers Association found just 24% of game developers then were women. Only 2% of game developers identified as Black.
Employers can communicate their DEI efforts:
- On the company website’s About page
- In social media and workforce portrayals online
- During recruitment, including within job descriptions
Gaming employers today must take an honest look at their DEI efforts and recognize areas in which they can improve. A focus on recruiting diverse candidates can help companies make progress and continue to attract more diverse talent in the future.
Asynchronous Work Schedules
Flexibility expands beyond the office itself. Today’s gaming candidates also want to work on the schedules that best fit their work style.
Asynchronous work schedules enable professionals to work on their own time, during whatever hours they’re most productive. This could mean working in the evenings, early mornings, or whenever inspiration strikes, including on weekends.
As GitLab reports, an asynchronous workforce can provide employer benefits including:
- Increased loyalty, retention, and work quality
- Improved employee engagement
- More efficiency and productivity
- Less employee stress and improved mental health
- Thoughtfulness and innovation
Plus, an asynchronous workforce means you can increase the inclusion efforts in your hiring process. Companies with asynchronous teams can hire employees from around the globe, of all abilities. Being flexible in work environments and schedules expands your talent pool and can help you attract more diverse, talented candidates.
Whiteboard Testing Alternatives
Whiteboard coding sessions produce similar results to stress-inducing tests. These tests can put qualified candidates at a disadvantage when they induce performance anxiety. Focusing on whiteboard test results may result in inequality among your workforce.
A higher number of qualified candidates will be interested in applying to jobs that have whiteboard test alternatives. These can include:
- Work portfolios
- Online coding experience, on sites like GitHub or Stack Overflow
- Private evaluations
- Programming problems
Today’s candidates can easily research companies that whiteboard. Some candidates will avoid applying to these companies altogether, including for reasons beyond the test itself. For example, a gaming candidate who wants to work for an inclusive company may avoid whiteboard testing companies, because candidates may view those companies as exclusionary.
Position Your Company for Success
If you’re interested in hiring gaming candidates, it’s important to pay attention to what professionals today want out of employers and how your company can position your offerings to diverse candidates. Workplace and work schedule flexibility, testing alternatives, and a commitment to DEI can help you stand out as an employer.
If you’re ready to hire in gaming, contact ggLocators for a free gaming candidate recruitment consultation.