Jaguar Land Rover have a new approach to attracting new engineering talent
Jaguar Land Rover and Gorillaz are working together to recruit the next generation of electronics and software engineering talent with a code-breaking challenge found in the virtual band’s app.
The best performers will be fast-tracked through the recruitment process, helping to meet Jaguar Land Rover’s ambition to employ thousands of bright new talents over the next year.
Jaguars Land Rovers Global initiative aims to recruit more than 1,000 electronic and software engineers, and needs 5,000 recruits business-wide this year.
It’s a major change in the way the business looks for candidates, aiming to tackle the engineering skills gap and inspire and attract a diverse range of talent and new thinking.
The Gorillaz App today launches a new Jaguar Land Rover recruitment area with a 360-environment situated in the garage of the band’s home. Here, applicants can explore and take a two-part challenge.
The first part, designed to educate users about the benefits of electric vehicles, involves assembling the Jaguar I-PACE Concept, Jaguar's first all-electric five-seater sports car. Users can learn about the vehicle’s performance, battery technology, space, charging and range.
The second and more demanding part of the game, developed to engage and recruit budding electronic wizards and coders, will focus on cracking code in Alternate Reality Game format (ARG).
The challenge consists of a series of code breaking puzzles that will test curiosity, persistence, lateral thinking and problem solving skills.
“As the automotive industry transforms over the next decade, fuelled by software innovation, we have to attract the best talent and that requires a radical rethink of how we recruit," said Alex Heslop, Head of Electrical Engineering at Jaguar Land Rover.
"Here we’ve found an engaging way to recruit a diverse talent pool in software systems, cyber systems, app development and graphics performance. It will be the first of its kind.”
The project follows on from Jaguar Land Rover’s STEM initiative with Gorillaz in 2016, where founder member and female guitarist, Noodle, became Jaguar’s Formula E Racing Ambassador.
As the UK’s leading investor in research and development, Jaguar Land Rover is putting Noodle at the forefront of its campaign to address the skills gap that manufacturing worldwide is facing.
Noodle, Gorillaz guitarist and Jaguar Land Rover ambassador, said: “Can you crack the code? Put your skills to the test!! Hey, maybe you might land yourself *the* most BADASS job you can imagine. Dare to win!”
Interested coders and engineers can download the Gorillaz App now at the iTunes App Store or Google Play.
Traditional application methods remain open and CVs will be accepted, but Jaguar Land Rover invites potential applicants to download the app and break the codes and solve the problems to fast-track their way into employment.