IKEA is breaking new ground in remote working by offering paid positions for 10 real-life staff to work in its Roblox virtual store. The store is set to open on June 24, making IKEA the first brand to offer jobs on the gaming platform. The job listing for positions in the Roblox outlet, titled “The Co-Worker Game,” describes it as a unique opportunity unlike typical IKEA jobs. This move onto the Roblox platform marks the company’s first venture into mainstream gaming and aims to provide people with a chance to immerse themselves in the working world of the IKEA store.
Prospective applicants for the Roblox store positions are asked to consider how they would feel about being turned into pixels and what they would do if the store ran out of pixelated hotdogs. The job posting also challenges applicants to think about which pixelated IKEA furniture piece they would be and why. Candidates must be aged 18 and over, residing in the United Kingdom or Ireland to apply for these remote positions. If selected, they will work in various sections of the online store assisting customers in choosing furniture and serving digital meatballs, all while being paid £13.15 ($16.82) per hour, similar to the rate of real-life IKEA employees in London.
The new hires will collaborate with unpaid Roblox players who will have opportunities to interact with customers, explore showrooms, advance in their roles, and use IKEA products to organize their virtual space within the game. Roblox, a popular gaming platform, allows users to play user-created games, create their own games, and also serves as a social network where players can connect with others and developers. With approximately half of US youth aged 12 to 17 using the platform monthly, Roblox has garnered widespread popularity.
IKEA’s move to the virtual world follows other brands such as Walmart in creating virtual stores on Roblox, where users can make purchases of physical items that are then delivered to them. However, it remains uncertain if customers will be able to buy real IKEA products through the game interface. The announcement of IKEA’s unique job opportunities sparked viral reactions on social media, with users expressing their excitement and disappointment. Memes were shared, showcasing the enthusiasm for the job listing, while American TikTok users created videos in anticipation of IKEA potentially extending the job offer to the United States as well.
Overall, IKEA’s innovative approach to remote working through the Roblox platform signifies a shift towards engaging with customers in virtual spaces. By offering paid positions in their virtual store, IKEA is creating an immersive environment for individuals to experience the company’s products and services in a unique and interactive way. Brands like IKEA and Walmart are pioneering the integration of online gaming platforms into their marketing strategies, tapping into the growing trend of virtual experiences and social interactions. As technology continues to evolve, the opportunities for brands to connect with consumers in virtual spaces are endless, opening up new possibilities for remote work and virtual engagement.
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