As a society, we understand the importance of building a more inclusive workplace. Hiring a diverse workforce benefits not only employees but also benefits companies as a whole. We recognize that diversity brings different perspectives, ideas, and experiences that can lead to innovation and growth. In this article, we will discuss how to attract, hire, and retain diverse candidates to build a more inclusive workplace.

What exactly is Hiring Diverse Candidates?

At its core, diversity hiring means creating a workforce that includes individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. It involves making an effort to recruit and hire candidates from underrepresented groups such as women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other minority groups. It’s not just about meeting quotas or checking boxes; it’s about creating a culture of inclusion and equity within an organization.

Why Hiring Diverse Candidates is Important?

Hiring diverse candidates is important for many reasons. 

• Create a More Inclusive Environment: When people of different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives work together, it leads to a more dynamic and creative workplace.
• Provide Diversity in Customer Experience: If a company serves a diverse customer base, it makes sense to have a diverse team that can relate to and understands the needs of those customers.
• Eliminate Biases and Promote Fairness in The Workplace: When companies are intentional about hiring diverse candidates, it shows that they value all individuals regardless of their background, ethnicity, gender, or any other factors.
• Inspire Creativity and Improve Performance: When people with different perspectives come together, they are able to think outside the box and come up with more creative solutions to problems.

Not only is hiring diverse candidates the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense. It leads to a more inclusive, fair, and innovative workplace that is better equipped to serve a diverse customer base.

Challenges When Hiring Diverse Candidates

While hiring diverse candidates is important, it is not without its challenges: 

• Unconscious Bias: Despite best efforts, unconscious bias can still play a role in the hiring process. This bias can result in hiring decisions that are not based on merit and can limit the diversity of the workforce.
• Lack of Diverse Networks: Many hiring managers may not have diverse networks or know where to find diverse candidates. This can limit the diversity of the candidate pool and make it more difficult to find qualified candidates from underrepresented groups.
• Limited Pipeline: In some industries, there may be a limited pipeline of diverse candidates with the required skills and experience. This can make it difficult to create a diverse workforce, even with the best intentions.
• Resistance to Change: Some employees may resist efforts to create a more diverse workforce, feeling that it is unfair or unnecessary. This can create tension within the organization and make it more difficult to implement effective diversity initiatives.

Successful Hiring Diverse Candidates Strategy

Creating a diverse workforce requires a comprehensive and intentional approach that goes beyond just posting job listings and hoping for the best. The following are some strategies that have been proven to be effective in hiring diverse candidates:

Review Your Job Descriptions

Make certain that your job descriptions are inclusive and without bias. Avoid using gendered language or words that may deter certain candidates. Use a tool like Textio to analyze your job descriptions for gender-coded language.

Expand Your Candidate Pool

Consider posting your job openings on a variety of job boards and social media platforms. Reach out to diverse professional associations and networks, and consider partnering with organizations that support underrepresented groups.

Show That You Care About Diversity

Make sure your website and social media channels highlight your commitment to diversity and inclusion. Showcase your employee resource groups and diversity initiatives, and share stories of your diverse employees’ experiences.

Use Blind Hiring Practices

Consider implementing blind hiring practices, such as removing names and addresses from resumes or using skills-based assessments. This can help eliminate bias and ensure that candidates are evaluated based on their skills and qualifications.

Conduct Inclusive Interviews

Train your interviewers on inclusive interviewing techniques, such as asking open-ended questions and avoiding stereotypes. Make sure all candidates are asked the same questions and evaluated based on the same criteria.

Ensure Diversity in Your Hiring Panel

Make sure your hiring panel includes diverse members, including women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. This can help eliminate bias and ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

Foster a Culture of Inclusion

Create a culture that respects and encourages diversity. Encourage employees to share their perspectives and experiences and provide opportunities for professional development and growth.

Offer Employee Resource Groups

Underrepresented workers may find a welcoming and accepting environment in employee resource groups. Encourage employees to join and participate in these groups and provide them with the resources and support they need to thrive.

Provide Diversity Training

Offer diversity and inclusion training for all employees, including managers and leaders. This can help build awareness and empathy and provide practical strategies for creating a more inclusive workplace. It can also help team members identify unintentional biases they had no idea existed.. 

Implement Employee Referral Programs

Encouraging employees to refer candidates from underrepresented groups and providing incentives for successful referrals can help create a more diverse workforce.

One Step Closer to Hire Diverse Candidates

Hiring diverse candidates is not just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do. A diverse workforce brings a range of perspectives and experiences to the table, leading to better decision-making, innovation, and creativity. By following these tips, you can attract, hire, and retain a diverse workforce and build a more inclusive workplace.

At Boulo Solutions, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We recognize that diversity is key to our success, and we will continue to strive for a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported.

Reference:

• Gençer, H. (2019). Group Dynamics and Behaviour. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1201477.pdf.