HR lessons from Sherlock

Recruiting army veterans

The show also shines a light on the need to recruit military veterans. Sherlock’s sidekick, Dr John Watson, is a former military veteran who inadvertently finds himself assisting Sherlock.   

A study by Barclays Armed Forces Transition Employment and Resettlement (AFTER) programme found that 15% of ex-militia applicants have been asked whether or not they had killed anyone during combat, alongside other challenges from writing a CV that resonates to having their previous career misconstrued by civilian employers. While Sherlock would have no problem invading Watson’s privacy like this, recruiters should not take note.   

Stuart Tootal, Head of the Barclays AFTER programme, called the findings “concerning”. Tootal continued: “By focusing on unhelpful stereotypes, such as the candidate’s ability to handle a weapon, interviewers are completely overlooking all the transferrable and valuable skills that will play out well in civvy street.”