Escape game recruitment: when recruiters play games

Have you ever heard of Escape games, this new puzzle game played in teams?

The principle is as follows: participants move around in a confined space and have to solve a number of puzzles in order to escape, all within a set time limit!

In short, it's a bit like Fort Boyard but without Felindra... 🐯

Today, the Escape game has invaded the world of work!

But how can a puzzle game help companies recruit the best talent? 🤔 Discover how to conduct a job interview in an original way!

What is a recruitment Escape game?

The Escape game recruitment takes up the main principles of the classic Escape game: candidates are locked in a room and must solve a series of enigmas, search for clues or decipher codes to escape or complete their mission in the time allotted.

In an Escape game recruitment, cooperation between candidates is inevitable, and this is also the aim of the game. The simulation will enable us to analyze candidates' behavior in a playful way:

• how they cooperate as a team;
• how they deal with stress;
• what their place is within the team, etc.

A video example of a PwC recruitment escape game:

The escape game: a valuable new tool for recruiters thanks to 3 advantages

Make recruitment less stressful

Recruitment is a stressful time for all candidates. Taking this first step in the recruitment process in a playful format allows candidates to quickly forget the anxious situation they're in.

In just a few minutes, candidates are immersed in the world of the Escape game, and forget that they are even being observed during an interview.

It's in this game situation that candidates become themselves and put into practice what they say in theory during an interview. You won't hear any more "I like working in a team and I'm good at adapting": you'll observe it live! 🧐

Discover the real face of candidates

You can find out more about someone in 1 hour of play than in 1 year of conversation.

Platon

This quote sums up the usefulness of an Escape game in recruitment. The Escape game is a recruitment technique that enables the recruiter to understand who the candidate really is, and what his or her soft skills are. Post-escape game discussions will also provide a wealth of information that will help the recruiter get to know the candidate.

Today, as a recruiter, you're not just looking for know-how; interpersonal skills are increasingly important, but difficult to analyze. That's the advantage of an escape game! The game's different situations help to analyze the leadership of some, the perseverance and logic of others - all criteria that candidates talk about during an interview, but which are difficult to verify.

No more blah-blah, just action! 🕵️‍♂️

Perfect your employer brand

Today, and increasingly so, it's no longer the recruiter who chooses a candidate, but the candidate who decides which company he or she would like to join. That's why every company needs to make candidates want to join their teams.

Escape games can be a fun way of optimizing your employer brand. The experience that the candidate will have during the escape game will be positive and will leave a lasting impression on their mind. It's not usual to solve an enigma during an interview! Through this playful universe, you can bring to life some of your indispensable values , such as team spirit, cohesion and open-mindedness.

👉 In short, be creative.

But not everything is allowed! 3 pitfalls to avoid

Don't hide a recruiter under a false identity

You may be thinking that it would be smart to hide a recruiter in the group of candidates so as to be in the thick of the action and better spy on the players. Not a good idea...

By playing the spy, you show a bad image, candidates will no longer trust you and will flee your company.

👉 Prefer transparency and honesty.

Don't forget the interview

Escape games are a good recruitment tool only if they are complemented by other , more traditional approaches.

The game is not intended to replace the recruitment process; rather, the experience is used as an original way of making contact. It's the complementarity between this Escape game and what comes out of it and the other stages of the recruitment process that will be interesting. To get an overall view of the candidate, in terms of both skills and interpersonal skills, you can continue with the recruitment process, i.e. :

• conduct a personal interview,
• carry out an exercise such as a case study,
• assess them using a personality test, etc.

👉 It's up to you to choose what's best for your company and the position.

Don't set up an Escape game unsuited to your challenges

It may not sound like it, but game design is important. There are plenty of elements to adapt to your needs, your company's image and values, the skills and qualities sought in candidates, and so on.

⏱ ️ Time must be adapted to your research.

• If you're looking more to create a unique experience, a fun first contact while analyzing candidate behavior, opt for a short format of around fifteen minutes ;
• If you're looking for an in-depth analysis of interpersonal skills and team cohesion, go for a longer format of around 45 minutes.

The choice is yours!

🧟‍♀️ Theme and plot also play a role. The aim is to find a theme that is close to your storytelling and not necessarily to your business sector. The plot, on the other hand, will have an impact on what you want to observe.

For example:

• if you want to analyze their logic, add individual puzzles;
• if you want to observe their team spirit, add puzzles that can be solved by several people.

The concept of a recruitment Escape game in a nutshell

In short, the Escape game is a fun recruitment tool that lets you observe candidates' soft skills and create an original first approach. But be careful not to fall into certain traps...

Now you know all the secrets of a recruitment Escape game! Some specialized companies can help you organize this fun recruitment method.

Now it's up to you!