Is Gamification the way Forward for the Recruitment Sector?

Although gamification is not the newest technique to be used in the recruitment process, it is certainly becoming one of the most unique ways to attract quality candidates.

With traditional interviews and assessments it can be difficult to accurately evaluate a candidate’s personality and skill set. Often in interviews, candidates feel that they do not get the opportunity to show employers ‘the real them’ and employers are left to question whether they have been given ‘true’ responses.

Gamification is enabling recruiters to implement a more efficient recruitment process. Instead of organising interviews in the first instance, candidates are given games, which simulate the work environment and test their hard and soft personality traits, enabling employers to see upfront how a candidate reacts to different circumstances. These games also provide an excellent analysis of how a candidate thinks. Through getting a better understanding of a candidate and how they work means that a better match can be made and when it comes to the interview, employers know that whoever is in front of them has the capability to carry out the job in question.

Whatever skill a role requires a candidate to have, gamification can target its content around those attributes. Recruiting in this way not only saves time, but also reduces the risk of a candidate dropping out of a role. Games can be developed in such a way that they set a candidate’s expectations and ensure they are well informed about a company before they begin the recruitment process.

Employers are also able to use gamification to optimise and progress their existing teams. Through carrying our regular scenarios and tests, gamification can be used to assess each team member and their suitability for a senior role. Being able to evaluate how a candidate would adapt to a higher level position within a company is invaluable to employers and enables them to get the most out of their existing talent. It can also lead to happier work forces as team members know that they will not be overlooked for a role and can actively play a part in their progression.

In regards to attracting new candidates to a company, gamification provides a great way to sell a company to a prospective candidate. By enabling candidates to find out relevant information about a company in a fun and efficient way, means that a ‘buzz’ can be created around the company’s brand and the company will appear more attractive to future employees.

In a ‘digital-first society’, gamification is certainly an avenue that should be explored, particularly if you are looking for savvy, quality candidates. The process will evidently work better for some roles more than others, but is certainly a great way to streamline the recruitment process and ensure that your clients are provided with the best possible candidates.