5 ways to attract and retain diverse candidates, improve your hiring process, and more

5 Ways to Attract and Retain Diverse Candidates

Diversity, equity, and inclusivity are vital for a company's growth and success, not just business buzzwords.

Studies from McKinsey show that companies with a good mix of gender and ethnic backgrounds do 25% better financially than average companies.

Businesses must create and maintain a strong diversity plan throughout their company. To put this commitment into action, here are five key areas businesses should focus on:

1. Use diverse sourcing strategies to reach a broader range of candidates

• Network with multicultural organizations in your industry
• Showcase commitment by joining different communities and attending events
• Share recruitment opportunities with organizations serving diverse communities

2. Write inclusive and accessible job descriptions

• Use bias-free language in job descriptions to not discourage anyone from applying
• Eliminate unnecessary requirements from job descriptions?
• Get an outside perspective to review the job description

3. Build a structured interview process to ensure fairness

• Keep the DEI strategy present throughout the interview process?
• Ensure every candidate goes through the same experience?
• Ask every candidate the same set of questions
• Establish a rubric to evaluate and score each candidate?

4. Use diverse interview panels to reduce unconscious bias

• Form diverse interview panels
• Ensure every candidate receives balanced feedback from a variety of perspectives

5. Make diversity visible in the company

• Incorporate DEI into day-to-day practices
• Clearly define DEI strategies and commitments?
• Train employees to understand and embrace differences

Creating and maintaining a diverse workforce is essential for attracting and retaining talented employees. This requires a continuous dedication to diversity, fairness, and inclusivity throughout the entire company.

For smaller businesses, establishing a culture that values diversity and inclusivity is even more important as it can fuel growth and increase overall success.

While achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce may take time, staying committed to these principles will yield numerous benefits for your company.

6 Hiring Process Improvements for HR Teams

Your hiring process may be effective, but there is always an opportunity for improvement.?

Attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent is essential to the success of businesses, particularly for HR directors managing multiple locations where the hiring process is more complex.?

That's why it's a good idea to evaluate your recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes to make sure they're meeting your business' needs, keeping up with industry trends, and complying with regulations.

Here are three key takeaways:

1. Evaluate and optimize the candidate experience: The candidate's experience can significantly influence your company's reputation. Simplify job applications, make your website user-friendly, and gather feedback from local hiring managers to improve this experience.

2. Embrace technology for efficiency: Technology, like an applicant tracking system (ATS), can streamline your hiring process. Tools supporting remote applications, interviews, and onboarding are particularly beneficial in a multi-location operation setting.

3. Boost inclusion and diversity efforts: A diverse workforce can increase creativity, better decision-making, and enhance your company's reputation. Strategies to improve diversity and inclusion include writing unbiased job descriptions, using a variety of job boards, and providing DEI training for hiring staff.

For a more comprehensive understanding and additional tips, read our full blog post here .

The Growing Trend of Skills-Based Hiring

In today's job market, companies are shifting away from the traditional requirement of a college degree. Instead, they’re looking for candidates with the necessary skills to excel in their roles.?

This approach, known as skills-based hiring, has gained traction recently as organizations seek to find qualified talent in an increasingly tight labor market.

"Sometimes a college degree may not equal skill mastery," says Sid Upadhyay , co-founder and CEO at Wizehire.

This approach offers numerous benefits for companies like biopharmaceutical company Merck, which has successfully utilized skills-based hiring.?

• Merck posted 900 roles in 2022 that didn't require a four-year degree
• They received interest from over 4,000 job seekers

By hiring candidates based on their skills and experience, rather than just their educational background, companies can ensure that they bring in highly qualified individuals equipped to succeed in their roles.?

If you're a business owner looking to hire the right talent, consider ditching degree requirements and focusing on skills.?

Read more about this trend and how to implement it in your hiring practices here.

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