World Class Recruitment Strategies from the World’s Most Famous Terrorist Group

Currently creating global chaos this terrorist group is unlike anything the world has ever seen. This terrorist group won’t be named. If you have not heard of them then you’ve probably been hiding down a hole. It’s probably safer down there anyways.
As hideous as these terrorists are, you have to admit one thing. They have their recruitment strategy down pat.
This isn’t some rag tag outfit calling jihad. It’s a well-orchestrated beast, using social platforms and media to recruit en masse.
These people aren’t nice people, their culture is tyrannical akin to the Lannisters of GOT fame. They abduct, rape, torture, murder and who knows what else. This doesn’t sound like an organisation I want to join, and yet tens of thousands now swell the ranks.
[bctt tweet=”No job is perfect. Sell the good & the bad. Bad can be good. @StanRolfe”]
Young single women from well to do families of a different religion in countries thousands of miles away are joining. Why? There’s no paid parental leave here, there’s no equality, far from it but yet they join.
Young men across the other side of the world support the cause. There’s no recognition of service, or corporate freebies or junkets. Do as you are instructed or you’ll die, get arrested or suffer a brutal beating. Or all three in no particular order.
What is their EVP? What benefits do I get? What’s their diversity inclusion stats? What’s their budget in terms of recruitment marketing? Are they using agency? What’s their attrition? Do they have workforce planning?
Sitting, well, actually laying in my bed I’ve been thinking about this post for months. In fact it’s a variation on an original post I wrote about a year ago. What can I learn from this in terms of talent attraction and employment branding?

#1 Their message is certainly authentic. It doesn’t get more authentic then beheading someone on camera. Even the quality of footage is poor. This isn’t high def. More like beta tape to blue ray.

Key takeaway: BE AUTHENTIC.

#2 Get social. Costs you nothing and reach the masses. Everyone should be your recruiter.

Key takeaway: LEVERAGE YOUR NETWORKS THROUGH SOCIAL AND REDUCE MEDIA ADVERTISING SPEND. WHY RELY ON A FEW WHEN YOU CAN RELY ON MANY.

If it’s worthwhile the media will pick it up and run it for you.

#3 Don’t be afraid of selling the bad

Key takeaway: NO JOB IS PERFECT. SELL THE GOOD AND THE BAD. BAD CAN BE GOOD.

#4 Tap into passion

Key takeaway: PASSION DRIVES EVERYONE TO DO ALMOST ANYTHING.

#5 Be unreasonable

Key takeaway:  SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO STAND YOUR GROUND AND NOT COMPROMISE.

Got that from a former SAS Officer who spoke at a leadership conference I attended. It applies here.

Whilst I am indirectly giving these barbaric people more air play, anyone in the talent space should be paying attention and learning from all situations including these to improve how we do things.
What have you learnt from these events in terms of talent acquisition?
Note: This post has been sitting on the shelf waiting to be posted. Each time we’ve looked to post it something horrible takes place. There will never be a right time to post it. Our thoughts go out to all those innocent lives lost and hope that one day in the not too distant future this will be a distant memory.