So here’s something I didn’t expect to write: I got an E on a security test.
Not a driving test. Not a French GCSE. A test to see if I had what it takes to be an ARC Operator at Arc Monitoring. And I failed. Spectacularly.
And you know what? It was brilliant.
The test that felt like a game
I took the challenge at The Security Event earlier this year. It was meant to be a fun activity — Arc Monitoring’s interactive quiz to see how you’d perform under the pressure of remote monitoring. Split-second decisions, scanning live feeds, identifying threats, staying calm.
I’ve worked in Fire & Security for years. I’ve helped dozens of companies market themselves so I’m fast on a PC. I thought I’d cruise it.
Reader: I did not cruise it.
I got an E. And I haven’t shut up about it since.
What gamers already know
What struck me — beyond my total humiliation — was how familiar the whole experience felt. It wasn’t like a corporate test. It was fast, visual and relentless. It felt like a game.
And that’s the point. Gamers are already doing this — every night, in their bedrooms. The quick thinking. The pattern recognition. The ability to stay cool under pressure.
These aren’t just skills for winning Fortnite. They’re job-ready instincts. And the ARC Operator role is one of the few jobs in our industry where those instincts are actually an advantage.
But this post isn’t really about gaming — it’s about marketing for Fire & Security recruitment. For this campaign, you’d have to rethink your Buyer Persona. For an installation company, the target is no longer the manager/owner of a business, it’s the ideal type of Fire & Security engineer you want to attract.
This is about how we tell stories that make people want to work in Fire & Security. And more particularly for YOUR company.
Because here’s the thing: no one grows up dreaming of being an ARC Operator. Or a CCTV engineer. Or a compliance specialist.
But they might if we started telling better stories. Stories that show the real excitement, the importance, the teamwork and the sense of purpose behind the job.
Storytelling is marketing is recruitment
That test I took? It wasn’t just a recruitment tool. It was a marketing asset. It started conversations. It sparked laughs. It made people curious.
And it made me think:
- What if more Fire & Security companies did this?
- What if your next job ad was a challenge?
- What if your careers page made someone feel something?
If we want to attract younger talent, or switchers from other industries, we need to meet them where they are. That might be online. That might be through games. But it’s always through story.
Let people feel what it’s like to work with you
Arc Monitoring didn’t say: “Watch CCTV screens”. They said: “Can you handle the pressure? Can you spot danger faster than a criminal? Can you stay sharp and pass the baton cleanly to the next shift?”
It’s compelling because it’s true. And they’re not afraid to say it.
So here’s my nudge to the Fire & Security world:
- Don’t just post a job description.
- Don’t just list the hours and salary.
- Tell a story.
- Show what it feels like to do the job well.
Especially if you want people who don’t yet know they belong in this industry.
Like the gamer in your family. Or the multitasker who’s worked in retail. Or the problem-solver who just hasn’t found their fit yet.
Let’s give them a reason to choose us — on purpose.
Start with this: Could you be an ARC Operator?
The interactive quiz isn’t online (yet), but Arc Monitoring’s approach to recruitment is a masterclass in making it feel real — and exciting.
We wrote about the experience here: Read the full story about ARC Operators on Arc Monitoring’s blog.
If you’re trying to attract installers or ARC Operators — or anyone who hasn’t yet considered a career in Fire & Security — this is the kind of storytelling that could change minds.
Because recruitment is marketing. And a better story is where it starts.
