How do you become an assassin?
Clearly the post is not advertised. However it is reasonable to assume that a recruiter would be looking for someone who has experience in killing people so a military background as a sniper would be an advantage. But what if you’re looking to recruit straight from Uni and train them in the deadly arts, would expertise in Fortnite or other shoot them up computer games be an indication of potential? On a serious note
how do young people go about deciding on a career and how do organisations go about attracting them?
A relative or someone your parents know is already in this line of work.
You learn to play a musical instrument at school and form a band.
With your dad’s encouragement you take up go karting as a kid which eventually leads to formula 1
Growing up you had lots of pets, your love of animals means you will consider any thing that means you can work with them from a vet to a dog walker.
The subjects at school you liked and were good at has always led your career choices.
Being excellent at Fortnight led you to pursue a career as a professional gamer.
Truth is a lot of people go to Uni with no specific career in mind and come out no clearer. Obviously some careers have ruled themselves out like Doctor because you didn’t do the right degree. And having a degree isn’t the door opener it once was.
How do employers go about attracting graduates who have no clear idea of what they want to do?
Sell the organisation as one that offers graduates a range of opportunities/work experiences and placements before deciding which to pursue, emphases the organisation develops transferable skills as part of being an agile organisation. Offer a mentoring scheme which provides support and the wisdom of an experienced manager. Stress the organisations values because generation Z wants to feel they are working for an organisation that has a social conscience, the right community credentials and environment friendly policies. Starting salary may not be as important as some imagine but a clear progression after completing a traineeship would be attractive as would better than average annual leave.
Back to that enquiry about how you become an assassin. I recently came across a recruitment model I had previously only seen in SyFi films where beating the top score in fighter pilot simulator game got you recruited into an elite alien fighting unit. So replacing the application form and long listing interview with online gaming ,beat the top score and receive an invitation for interview. Very gen Z.
Blair Mcpherson former director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
