Fic: Recruitment Drive
Jul. 29th, 2024 06:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
badly_knittedTitle: Recruitment Drive
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Ianto, Jack.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1260
Summary: Now Torchwood is out in the open, recruiting more staff is a much bigger deal, especially since Jack has decided anyone should be able to apply.
Spoilers: Nada.
Written For: Challenge 432: Open at
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fan_flashworks.Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood or any of the characters
The most important prerequisite for anyone wanting to work for Torchwood was an open mind. So much weirdness surrounded the organisation that anyone who already had their mind made up about the universe and how it worked would never be able to handle the things they’d be expected to deal with. A complete lack of prejudice was also a plus, but humans being human, that was probably a bit too much to expect of every candidate, which was why open-mindedness held the top spot. An open mind at least allowed people to re-evaluate any prejudices they might have, and to realise how foolish and unnecessary they were.
Still, applying for a job with Torchwood could prove unnerving for anyone too set in their ways. To start with, the whole ‘aliens are real and have been visiting earth for a very long time’ thing was enough to make some potential recruits crawl into a corner and hide. Then there was the fact that some alien races had three or more genders, or only one, and that was without taking into account how physically, mentally, and culturally different they were from humans.
Most were also technologically superior. Some of the devices that fell through the Rift, if they worked at all after their rough trip to earth, were often capable of doing things that went against many of what the majority of humans considered universal laws. Without an open mind, seeing a colleague turned into something else entirely, possibly something completely unrecognisable, could result in traumatic shock and a nervous breakdown. Once the damage was done, retconning the memories away didn’t always fix things.
All that being said, once Torchwood came out of the shadows following the whole 456 debacle, and the existence of aliens became common knowledge, the institute had found it necessary to expand operations. That in turn had led Jack to open their doors to anyone who was interested in a career with them. For a while, interviewing potential recruits had become an almost fulltime job, first weeding out applicants who were completely unsuitable either due to physical or mental health issues, criminal record, or a number of other less easily defined criteria, then taking a closer look at those who passed the first stage, gradually whittling them down to a more manageable number.
Field agents needed to be physically fit, psychologically stable adults with good eyesight and hearing, who were capable of following orders, but could think for themselves and adapt accordingly as situations changed. Standards of fitness were lower for those who would be primarily doing deskwork, and for the computer and tech specialists. A talent for languages was also helpful, although by no means essential. There were other roles to be filled as well: scientists and engineers, medical personnel, support staff, public relations…
“It’s a bit like running open auditions for a talent show,” Ianto mused, watching as the latest batch of hopefuls were sorted into groups by some temps they’d employed for the purpose. Aspiring field agents in one group, those with computer skills in another group, those applying for clerical jobs in a third, and so on.
Jack nodded. “It’s certainly a varied bunch.”
“What were you expecting? Torchwood is the Next Big Thing. Everybody wants a part of it. I know you wanted to open the field to all comers instead of headhunting from the military, the police, and the emergency services like we’ve done in the past, but you must have realised there’d be a lot of unsuitable candidates.
“Ah, but that’s the point! It removes the mystique if people feel that anyone can apply, and who knows what previously unimagined abilities we might uncover? Borrowing your talent show analogy, just because someone doesn’t look like they can sing doesn’t mean they won’t surprise you by having an amazing voice.”
Ianto inclined his head. “Fair point. Still, some of this lot are obviously underage.”
“In which case, if they show promise, we can keep them in mind for when they’re older. Wouldn’t be the first time. William and his friends spring to mind.”
“Fair point, and that’s certainly an option, but some of the others are…” Ianto frowned, searching for a polite way to phrase it. “Shall be just say a little past their prime?”
“Age is just a number. I’m not saying we should employ the more… mature candidates as field agents, but some folks prefer their secretarial staff to have been around a bit. You know, age and experience.”
“It depends on the kinds of experience. No good hiring someone who can type over a hundred words a minute but doesn’t know how to use a computer.”
“Just because someone is over a certain age doesn’t mean they’re computer illiterate,” Jack pointed out. “That’s ageism, isn’t it? And if they’ve gone to the time and effort to learn new skills, that’s a plus. It means they’re open to expanding their horizons. The only ones we should be automatically rejecting are those with criminal records, and then only the ones convicted for serious crimes, anything involving violence, theft, fraud, hate crimes, that kind of thing.”
“We can’t employ everyone, Jack. We’re not Torchwood Tower, with its eight hundred plus employees.”
“No, but we are expanding, and in time there’ll be branches in all major countries.”
“Who should employ people already resident in those countries.”
“Ideally, yes, but who’s going to train the people who’ll run the overseas offices? We are. We’ll need to send out personnel to help get them set up and running, people we know and trust who have all the necessary skills and can pass them on.”
Ianto sighed. “I suppose you’re right, but it’s a bit of a daunting prospect.”
“It’ll be fine. We’ll take things one step at a time, starting with expanding the Cardiff team and training people up to run offices in England, Ireland, and a rejuvenated Scottish branch. Archie’s looking forward to having some new faces around, preferably youngsters he can terrify with his wild tales.”
“He’s getting as bad as you for telling highly embellished versions of otherwise boring events.”
“Storytelling is an undervalued talent in this day and age,” Jack complained.
“You just want to have a new bunch of people to hang on your every word, because we’ve heard all your stories before. They don’t have the same impact the tenth time around.”
“I still have some stories I’ve never told.” Jack turned thoughtful. “You know, maybe we should set up the English branch somewhere in the midlands instead of London, a more central position might be an advantage, easier access to all parts of the country.”
“Might be wise. London didn’t do too well last time around,” Ianto said, expression sober.
“That was then, and I wasn’t in charge. We’ll do things better this time, I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“You’d better, I’m relying on you to keep me on the right track.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“For anyone else, perhaps, but I’ve no doubt you can handle it. Your organisational skills are unmatched.”
“Flatterer. You’re biased anyway.” Ianto smiled, then turned serious. “Right, let’s go and find out what we’ve got this time, see if any of them have the potential to be good Torchwood material. Out of fifty-seven candidates, there have to be at least a couple who might make the grade.”
“My money’s on the little old lady with the knitting,” Jack said, grinning. “She might just surprise us. She certainly knows how to handle those needles.”
Ianto laughed, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
The End
Still, applying for a job with Torchwood could prove unnerving for anyone too set in their ways. To start with, the whole ‘aliens are real and have been visiting earth for a very long time’ thing was enough to make some potential recruits crawl into a corner and hide. Then there was the fact that some alien races had three or more genders, or only one, and that was without taking into account how physically, mentally, and culturally different they were from humans.
Most were also technologically superior. Some of the devices that fell through the Rift, if they worked at all after their rough trip to earth, were often capable of doing things that went against many of what the majority of humans considered universal laws. Without an open mind, seeing a colleague turned into something else entirely, possibly something completely unrecognisable, could result in traumatic shock and a nervous breakdown. Once the damage was done, retconning the memories away didn’t always fix things.
All that being said, once Torchwood came out of the shadows following the whole 456 debacle, and the existence of aliens became common knowledge, the institute had found it necessary to expand operations. That in turn had led Jack to open their doors to anyone who was interested in a career with them. For a while, interviewing potential recruits had become an almost fulltime job, first weeding out applicants who were completely unsuitable either due to physical or mental health issues, criminal record, or a number of other less easily defined criteria, then taking a closer look at those who passed the first stage, gradually whittling them down to a more manageable number.
Field agents needed to be physically fit, psychologically stable adults with good eyesight and hearing, who were capable of following orders, but could think for themselves and adapt accordingly as situations changed. Standards of fitness were lower for those who would be primarily doing deskwork, and for the computer and tech specialists. A talent for languages was also helpful, although by no means essential. There were other roles to be filled as well: scientists and engineers, medical personnel, support staff, public relations…
“It’s a bit like running open auditions for a talent show,” Ianto mused, watching as the latest batch of hopefuls were sorted into groups by some temps they’d employed for the purpose. Aspiring field agents in one group, those with computer skills in another group, those applying for clerical jobs in a third, and so on.
Jack nodded. “It’s certainly a varied bunch.”
“What were you expecting? Torchwood is the Next Big Thing. Everybody wants a part of it. I know you wanted to open the field to all comers instead of headhunting from the military, the police, and the emergency services like we’ve done in the past, but you must have realised there’d be a lot of unsuitable candidates.
“Ah, but that’s the point! It removes the mystique if people feel that anyone can apply, and who knows what previously unimagined abilities we might uncover? Borrowing your talent show analogy, just because someone doesn’t look like they can sing doesn’t mean they won’t surprise you by having an amazing voice.”
Ianto inclined his head. “Fair point. Still, some of this lot are obviously underage.”
“In which case, if they show promise, we can keep them in mind for when they’re older. Wouldn’t be the first time. William and his friends spring to mind.”
“Fair point, and that’s certainly an option, but some of the others are…” Ianto frowned, searching for a polite way to phrase it. “Shall be just say a little past their prime?”
“Age is just a number. I’m not saying we should employ the more… mature candidates as field agents, but some folks prefer their secretarial staff to have been around a bit. You know, age and experience.”
“It depends on the kinds of experience. No good hiring someone who can type over a hundred words a minute but doesn’t know how to use a computer.”
“Just because someone is over a certain age doesn’t mean they’re computer illiterate,” Jack pointed out. “That’s ageism, isn’t it? And if they’ve gone to the time and effort to learn new skills, that’s a plus. It means they’re open to expanding their horizons. The only ones we should be automatically rejecting are those with criminal records, and then only the ones convicted for serious crimes, anything involving violence, theft, fraud, hate crimes, that kind of thing.”
“We can’t employ everyone, Jack. We’re not Torchwood Tower, with its eight hundred plus employees.”
“No, but we are expanding, and in time there’ll be branches in all major countries.”
“Who should employ people already resident in those countries.”
“Ideally, yes, but who’s going to train the people who’ll run the overseas offices? We are. We’ll need to send out personnel to help get them set up and running, people we know and trust who have all the necessary skills and can pass them on.”
Ianto sighed. “I suppose you’re right, but it’s a bit of a daunting prospect.”
“It’ll be fine. We’ll take things one step at a time, starting with expanding the Cardiff team and training people up to run offices in England, Ireland, and a rejuvenated Scottish branch. Archie’s looking forward to having some new faces around, preferably youngsters he can terrify with his wild tales.”
“He’s getting as bad as you for telling highly embellished versions of otherwise boring events.”
“Storytelling is an undervalued talent in this day and age,” Jack complained.
“You just want to have a new bunch of people to hang on your every word, because we’ve heard all your stories before. They don’t have the same impact the tenth time around.”
“I still have some stories I’ve never told.” Jack turned thoughtful. “You know, maybe we should set up the English branch somewhere in the midlands instead of London, a more central position might be an advantage, easier access to all parts of the country.”
“Might be wise. London didn’t do too well last time around,” Ianto said, expression sober.
“That was then, and I wasn’t in charge. We’ll do things better this time, I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“You’d better, I’m relying on you to keep me on the right track.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“For anyone else, perhaps, but I’ve no doubt you can handle it. Your organisational skills are unmatched.”
“Flatterer. You’re biased anyway.” Ianto smiled, then turned serious. “Right, let’s go and find out what we’ve got this time, see if any of them have the potential to be good Torchwood material. Out of fifty-seven candidates, there have to be at least a couple who might make the grade.”
“My money’s on the little old lady with the knitting,” Jack said, grinning. “She might just surprise us. She certainly knows how to handle those needles.”
Ianto laughed, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
The End
