Jaguar Land Rover and Gorillaz are working together to recruit the next generation of world-class electronics and software engineering talent with a code-breaking challenge found in the virtual band’s app (watch vid).
The best performers within the app will be fast-tracked through the recruitment process, helping to meet the Jaguar Land Rover brand’s goal of employing thousands of bright new talents over the next year. It is 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.
Interested applicants can download the Gorillaz App now at the iTunes App Store® (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gorillaz/id1217997478?mt=8) or Google Play™ (http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Parlophone.Gorillaz&hl=en).
To find out more about Jaguar Land Rover recruitment, visit www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com. For more information on specific roles in Electrification, visit www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com/jlr-roles/product-creation/electrification/.
Noodle, the band’s guitarist and a 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!”
The Gorillaz App today launches a new Jaguar Land Rover recruitment area in the form of a 360-degree environment situated in the garage of the band’s home, which also features all the iconic vehicles from the Gorillaz past. 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 Concept1, the first all-electric Jaguar 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 will focus on cracking code in Alternate Reality Game format (ARG). The challenge takes them on a series of code breaking puzzles that will test their curiosity, persistence, lateral thinking and problem solving skills – all real world attributes of a new generation of software and engineering talent.
“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.”
“This exciting collaboration between Gorillaz and Jaguar Land Rover adds an Alternative Reality Game layer to what is already a cutting edge mixed reality mobile experience combining AR, VR and 360,” said Davor Kravac, Executive Creative Director at B-Reel London.
The Jaguar I-TYPE, Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s all-electric Formula E racecar, appears in the garage. Users can click on a poster of Noodle with the I-TYPE and “FanBoost” which enables them to vote for the @JaguarRacing team drivers to gain a power boost during their next race or to follow the @JaguarRacing Twitter channel.
The project follows the Jaguar Land Rover STEM initiative with Gorillaz in 2016, where founding member and female guitarist, Noodle, became the Jaguar Formula E Racing Ambassador. As the UK’s leading investor in research and development, and a leading global automotive manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover is putting Noodle at the forefront of its campaign to address the skills gap that manufacturing is facing worldwide.
The company has used its debut season in Formula E to promote the Jaguar Land Rover brand’s thought-leadership position as a business that is shaping the future to solve the technology innovation and skills gap challenges.
Traditional application methods remain open and resumes will be accepted, but Jaguar Land Rover invites potential applicants to download the app, break the codes and solve the problems to fast-track their way into employment.
(1) All illustrations, photographs and specifications shown here are based on the Jaguar I-PACE concept vehicle. Final U.S. specifications, design, equipment, and accessories have not been determined. Therefore, U.S. production vehicles will differ from the one shown.
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About Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports sedan and sports car marques.
