A computer that selectively provides a recommendation is described. During operation, the computer may obtain game information associated with one or more video games played by an individual, where the game information specifies decisions and behaviors in the one or more video games while the individual played the one or more video games. Then, the computer may compute, for the individual, scores for a set of predefined attributes associated with occupations based at least in part on the decisions and/or the behaviors. Next, the computer may selectively provide the recommendation based at least in part on the computed scores, where the recommendation is associated with: an academic area of study for the individual, an employment opportunity for the individual, and/or an occupation for the individual.