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: the participants move around in an enclosed area and have to solve a number of puzzles 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? 🤔 Find out how to conduct a job interview in an original way!

What is a recruitment Escape game?

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

In a recruitment Escape game, cooperation between the candidates is inevitable, and this is also the aim of the game. The simulation will enable us to analyse the behaviour of the candidates in a fun way:

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

A video example of a recruitment escape game at PwC:

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 fun way allows candidates to quickly forget the anxious situation they are in.

In just a few minutes, candidates are plunged into 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 true 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 using an Escape game during recruitment. The Escape game is a recruitment technique that allows 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.

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

The time for action is over! 🕵️‍♂️

Perfect your employer brand

Today, and increasingly so, it is 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 optimising 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 essential 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 clever to hide a recruiter in the group of candidates so that you can 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.

👉 Go for 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 aim of the game is not to replace the recruitment process, but rather to use the experience 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 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 suited to your company and the position.

Don't set up an Escape game that isn't suited to your challenges

It may not sound like it, but the design of the game 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, etc.

⏱ ️ Time must be adapted to your research.

• If you are looking to create a unique experience, a fun first contact while analysing candidates' behaviour, opt for a short format of around fifteen minutes;
• If you're looking for a more in-depth analysis of interpersonal skills and team cohesion, then opt for a longer format of around 45 minutes.

It's up to you!

🧟‍♀️ Theme and plot also play a role. The aim is to find a theme that relates 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 analyse their logic, add individual puzzles ;
• if you prefer 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 initial approach. But be careful not to fall into certain traps...

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

Now it's your turn to play!