Paris 2024 calls it “onboarding”. Every Monday morning, new employees are welcomed in the Atrium with long applause, followed by a day of inclusion marked by a presentation by the organizing committee and its codes, a reminder of safety and usage rules for computers, cell phones, and meeting rooms. The day ends with an escape game, helping them navigate the six floors and 28,000 square meters of the massive Pulse building, which serves as the headquarters of Paris 2024 located in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis).
That morning, about forty people are joining the flagship team, which currently consists of 1,700 employees and will grow to between 4,000 and 4,500 during the Games. The positions for these fixed-term contracts (forming a “new promotion”) include signage project manager, senior project manager for operational integration, sports physician manager, mission manager for bus transport systems, site technologies expert, and executive assistant.
“The first instruction we give is: Start building a network, with the people you arrive with being your first level of network,” explains Chantal Lasnier, Deputy Director of Talent and Diversity at Paris 2024.
Currently, while the reception for fixed-term contracts (as Paris 2024 is now at the legal threshold for offering permanent contracts ten months before the deadline), interns, and trainees takes place every Monday, the arrivals will be daily during the first week of January. The Olympic Games organizing committee (Cojo) has anticipated significant recruitment peaks at the beginning of the year and in April. With the structure having been built with a high number of managerial positions, it “starts to assign roles site by site, which explains the large influx of arrivals, with several individuals performing the same job but at different sites,” says Chantal Lasnier. “The majority of newcomers are dedicated to operational roles.”
Recruitment is mainly done through postings on the Paris 2024 website. “The jobs at the Olympics are so unique that we are now trying to have a more collective and informative approach,” adds Chantal Lasnier. “Instead of starting from our positions, we consider the skills of future candidates and tell them: Come join us, and based on your profile, we will tell you what positions you can occupy. Don’t limit yourself, especially since there are many opportunities in various fields.”
Currently, Paris is recruiting at a level equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree plus 4 or 5 years, “but as we get closer to the Games, we will move towards a level equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree plus 2 or 3 years,” Chantal Lasnier further explains.
To ensure successful integration of new employees, the organizing committee relies heavily on the introductory day. “I explain to people that Paris 2024 is like getting on a high-speed train that doesn’t stop at stations,” says the Deputy Director of Talent and Diversity. “It’s up to each individual to strategize how to climb aboard, and we are here to provide the tools and help them quickly understand the environment. We coordinate the general onboarding, and each department then implements it, but everyone understands the importance of anticipating things for a smooth integration.”
To bring the committee to life, moments of engagement are organized, including communication sessions, sports and inclusion challenges, and meetings with athletes. In the coming months, most employees will leave the headquarters to join the competition sites, truly immersing themselves in the Olympic adventure and being at the heart of the action.
