There's a three-month paid month internship opportunity that's up for grabs from Waste and the creative agency is on a mission to recruit diverse talent in an unusual way—through Animal Crossing: New Horizons. As Alistair Campbell, executive creative director at Waste, says: "Advertising remains a predominantly white, middle-class, young and, in certain areas, even still male industry. If we want to change that, we need to change the way we find and nurture talent."
Since its launch just a few months ago, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has become an effective way for brands to create engaging virtual experiences, especially when it comes to connecting with Gen Z and Millennial players. Within the game, players can visit virtual recreations of real businesses, including Waste's own office, complete with a water cooler, decorated walls and comfortable modern seating. Within the game, there's a creative brief that can be completed to apply.
Image Credit: Waste
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Virtual Brand Experiences
- Brands can leverage virtual platforms like Animal Crossing: New Horizons to create immersive and engaging experiences for Gen Z and Millennial players.
- Alternative Recruitment Methods
- Companies can explore unconventional approaches, such as using video games like Animal Crossing, to attract and recruit diverse talent.
- Gamification in Hiring
- Integrating game elements into the recruitment process, like completing creative briefs within a virtual game, can make it more interactive and appealing to potential candidates.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Advertising and Creative Agencies
- Advertising and creative agencies can embrace in-game recruitment campaigns to diversify their talent pool and reach a wider audience.
- Virtual Reality and Gaming
- The virtual reality and gaming industry can capitalize on the trend of brands using platforms like Animal Crossing for marketing and recruitment purposes.
- Human Resources and Talent Acquisition
- HR departments and talent acquisition professionals can explore gamification and alternative methods in recruitment to attract and evaluate candidates in a more interactive way.
