3D Companies. 2D Job Postings.
Meet Sprite Mario. He was created in 1985, and he first appeared in Super Mario Bros. He’s flat, simple and two-dimensional (with a weirdly shaped 8-bit moustache). Although he is a plumber by trade, his job is simple, save Princess Peach.
Now, meet Super Mario. He is the fully evolved form of the original 1985 Sprite Mario. He’s been around for 32 years. He’s incredibly complex, dynamic and three-dimensional. Mario wears many hats (figuratively and literally). Sometimes he’s saving Princess Peach. Sometime’s he’s a professional golf and tennis player. Sometimes he’s throwing bananas out of suped-up go-karts. And sometimes he’s riding on the back of a cute dinosaur named Yoshi.
You’re probably wondering what this has to do with job postings…
Well, a company is a lot like Super Mario from 2017. Complex, dynamic and three-dimensional. Companies do a lot of great things (including riding green dinosaurs named Yoshi). Companies build unignorable brands, they’re filled with talented people and they tell interesting and engaging brand-stories. And, like Super Mario 2017, companies are constantly evolving and are always on the chase to catch their next star.
Top talent is also a lot like Super Mario 2017. They are dynamic and three-dimensional. They wear many hats and are looking for their own awesome opportunities (to ride green dinosaurs named Yoshi) with great companies. They are motivated by purpose, and are driven to work for companies that align with their own goals.
On the other hand, a company’s job postings are a lot like Sprite Mario. They are flat, simple and two-dimensional. Want to see what it looks like when candidates scroll through 2D job postings?
What I love about this video is that text-based job postings were invented literally right after they filmed the “Intro to the Internet” video — and they’ve still never changed. We’re living in a world of hyper-innovation. HD, 3D, 4K, virtual and augmented reality are all engineered to provide the most clear, bright and lifelike experience. Yet, for some strange reason, job postings are stuck in 1985 providing the lowest possible resolution to candidates.
Companies attempt to attract 2017 Super Mario top talent with 1985 Sprite Mario-style job postings. Companies that do this are literally button-mashing in hopes that they will somehow find their next star. Flat, two-dimensional job postings attract flat, two-dimensional candidates. GAME. OVER.
Talent today deserves a Super Mario 2017-style experience, given to them by a Super Mario 2017-like company. Attempting to represent an evolving, three-dimensional company and opportunity in the form of a two-dimensional text-based job posting doesn’t work. Candidates are looking for opportunities to be Super Mario 2017. Candidates now want to do more than jump across platforms and collect coins. They’re looking to save their own figurative Princess Peach, throw bananas out of suped-up go-karts, get lost in a haunted mansion and sometimes even ride on the back of a cute dinosaur named Yoshi.
A company’s job postings are the perfect opportunity to showcase all of the interesting content a company has to offer, while providing meaningful context to attract best-fit talent. Providing a 3D experience helps candidates explore, interact and engage. Which, ultimately means candidates are more aligned, understanding and prepared for next steps as soon as they click “Apply”.
You’re a 3D company. You have a 3D mission. You probably have a 3D office and 3D careers page. Don’t use 2D Sprite Mario 1985 job postings to try and attract the 3D Super Mario 2017 talent you’re looking for. Tell candidates stories, showcase your awesome company culture and all the great opportunities for growth and goal-alignment. Give your candidates a fully 3D experience. That’s how you win the talent attraction game.
