The Ad They’ll Never Forget

The Rise of Experiential in Recruitment (And Why You Should Be Paying Attention)

Let’s face it — in a world where attention spans are shorter than a TikTok trend and job loyalty is as rare as a full inbox at 9am, traditional recruitment marketing just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Enter: experiential advertising.

It’s bold. It’s memorable. And yes, it’s having a bit of a moment. But this isn’t just another passing phase like avocado lattes or NFT job boards — this one’s got legs. Especially if you’re struggling to attract, engage, and keep top talent.

So, what is experiential advertising?

It’s marketing people can actually feel. It goes beyond screens and job boards, tapping into the power of real, human connection. Think pop-up brand activations, immersive events, live interactions, gamified applications — the sort of stuff that makes people say "well that was different".

In short, it’s advertising that doesn’t just talk at people — it involves them.

Why now?

Because we’ve hit a turning point. Jobseekers today (particularly Gen Z and Millennials) don’t want the hard sell. They want to be part of something. They want purpose, culture, emotion — not just another job spec that reads like a kitchen appliance manual.

Experiential puts your employer brand front and centre in a way that’s impossible to scroll past. It makes you stand out — for the right reasons — and shows people what it’s actually like to work with you, rather than telling them through a tired tagline.

What’s in it for talent teams?

Here’s the kicker: experiential advertising doesn’t just build awareness — it builds affinity. When people engage with a brand in the real world, they remember it. And when that brand is hiring? Bingo.

Used right, it can:

1. Generate buzz around hard-to-fill roles
2. Bring your culture to life in a way a careers page never could
3. Build a pipeline of warm talent who already ‘get’ you
4. And yes, even stop your leavers from, well, leaving

Real impact, not fluff

We’ve seen clients turn up to freshers' fairs with interactive installations and leave with more qualified leads than three months on Indeed. We’ve helped brands host pop-up cafés for passive candidates (complete with coffee and contracts). The results? Higher engagement, stronger hires, and way fewer ghosted interviews.

TL;DR: Experiential might just be your secret weapon

The recruitment world is crowded, noisy and (let’s be honest) often a bit dull. Experiential cuts through — not just to grab attention, but to spark action.

So if your talent strategy could do with a little more wow and a lot less where is everyone?, it might be time to stop advertising and start experiencing.