How companies are using video games to rate job applicants

Companies are using video games to help screen potential employees and test their creativity, multitasking abilities and more, The New York Times reports.

In order to make hiring more cost-effective, companies are seeking ways to make analytics more efficient in the hiring process. Using games, potential employees can be tested remotely, letting employers narrow the applicant pool more quickly.

Start-ups such as ConnectCubed or developer Knack, creator of Balloon Brigade (pictured above), offer gaming-based assessment tech. ConnectCubed includes games that involve matching or memory to assess character traits. In Knack's game Wasabi Waiter, which users can request access to through its website, players take on the role of a sushi server trying to recommend different dishes. According to The New York Times, the idea is to help Knack identify how easily distracted applicants get and more.

Other companies, like Prophecy Sciences, use cognitive games along with biometric signals and algorithms to help work environments already in place. According to the company's site, tests "help compile actionable insights about you and your teammates."

However, the gaming method isn't foolproof. With current technology, human interviewers have an easier time identifying personal skills, such as empathy. It's difficult to guarantee that tools are correctly measuring the desired qualities.