France Travail organized its 4th ‘Sport to Employment’ event on Wednesday, April 29 in collaboration with L’EPIDE, where job seekers and recruiters came together anonymously for a day of sports activities. Among them were Stephanie and Lise. Let’s take a closer look at this unique recruitment event.
Dressed in sports attire with no distinguishing marks, around a hundred job seekers and nearly twenty potential recruiters gathered on Wednesday morning at the Urbatus room in Saints-Geosmes. This gathering was organized by France Travail, hosting the 4th edition of the event ‘Sport to Employment,’ in partnership with L’EPIDE.
The day began with a brief introduction where only first names were used, no surnames, and certainly no job titles. In groups of ten, everyone rotated through ten specially designed workshops for the occasion. “Each workshop required practical skills that can be transferred to the world of work,” emphasized Marie-Noelle Blaise, the director of L’EPIDE.
Participants included Lise Delompré, HR Manager at Imany, and Stéphanie Thomassin, a job seeker in the healthcare and social sector. They were part of the same group but interacted as Lise and Stéphanie for three-quarters of the day. They worked together to tackle each challenge in harmony with the rest of the group. However, when the identities were revealed, there were some surprises.
The recruitment process is evolving. Participants shared moments of embarrassment and laughter during the workshops, creating closer bonds. Lise recalled how some participants didn’t realize she was an employer due to the relaxed atmosphere. Stephanie appreciated the opportunity to engage socially and meet potential employers in a relaxed setting.
The exercise, far from being destabilizing, facilitated valuable encounters that could lead to future prospects. This format without traditional resumes allowed for a more human-centered approach to recruitment, focusing on skills rather than diplomas. The experience highlighted the importance of personal qualities and well-being in recruitment processes.
At the end of the day, Lise left with interesting profiles, and Stephanie made valuable contacts. This formula demonstrates that experience and well-being are becoming increasingly central to recruitment processes.
/2026/04/29/69f1b6c330f81849905066.jpg "Football: FIFA allows Afghan refugee womens team to participate in international competitions despite Taliban opposition.")
