What It Really Takes To Achieve Diversity
By Diversity Recruiters™
In the wake of George Floyd’s death, there’s been an incredible uptick in inquiries by firms looking to improve their stance on D&I issues. In many cases, companies are looking to firms like Diversity Recruiters™ to assist them in making radical changes to their hiring processes. This is good news for all; however, these changes must be thoughtful, and they mustbe carried out with much care.
In the midst of the current environment, firms have also increased their focus on diversity hiring – particularly, in leadership positions. While having a diverse workforce is essential to any growth-oriented business, additional structure and systems must also be installed within organizations to ensure adequate representation in hiring processes.
Our founder, Tony Wright, was recently interviewed by Bloomberg on this very issue. As he points out, strong diverse candidates are naturally skeptical about pursuing opportunities in new organizations without a thorough vetting. A major warning sign for these applicants is the lack of historical effort around D&I strategies. Talented employees require a sense of belonging to do their best work. This must be evident throughout the process of interviewing employers when evaluating a career change.
Bloomberg Article – https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-10/wall-street-s-campaign-to-hire-black-talent-isn-t-going-so-well
In addition to the hiring process, firms must understand how implicit biases negatively impact diverse individuals. They must fully accept, nurture, and guide all employees irrespective of their differences. In many cases, this type of support isn’t readily available for the under-represented population.
In today’s marketplace, talent retention and diversity are tremendously important. Employers with a full understanding of what it takes ‘beyond the hire’ are usually best equipped for growth and innovation. They, too, are best equipped to find the world’s best diverse talent.