Creating an inclusive team is not easy, but it is something that most companies are now expected to do. Diversity is not just a fad—it is an important tool that can boost your bottom line. When you attract diverse talent to your company, you become more innovative. A diverse team benefits from a wider range of views and ideas. Who knows? One of these ideas might turn out to be the next big thing.
Indeed, a recent LinkedIn survey showed that diversity is the number one global recruiting trend. And a recent Boston Consulting Group study suggested that diversity represents a real competitive advantage. According to BCG, “increasing the diversity of leadership teams leads to more and better innovation and improved financial performance.”
Expand Your Talent Pool
Look for candidates with different backgrounds, cultures, ages and sexual orientations. Prioritize the hiring of veterans, people with autism, LGBTQI, people over 40, and people with disabilities to expand your talent pool.
Putting out a regular job ad won’t do the trick. After all, these groups are already underrepresented. You have to seek these candidates out purposefully.
Emphasize Diversity on Your Job Description
Your job description should say that your company prioritizes the hiring of people from underrepresented groups. This will encourage more people from these groups to send in their applications.
While on the topic of job descriptions, remember to use inclusive language. For example, avoid gender-specific terms like “he” or “she” and use instead neutral terms like “the candidate” or “they.”
Diversify Advertising Channels
To attract diverse talent, post your job description in magazines and forums frequently visited by underrepresented groups. Examples include Diversity Working, which is the largest online diversity job board, and Hire Autism, a job board made for individuals on the autism spectrum.
Other excellent options are Hire Purpose (a job board for veterans, service members and military spouses), Recruit Disability (a job board for job seekers who have disabilities) and 70 Million Jobs (a job board for candidates who have a criminal record).
Partner Up With Diversity Organizations
There are several organizations out there that can help you attract diverse talent to your team.
Code2040 is a nonprofit that fights the systemic exclusion of Black and Latino communities from the tech sector. Its mission is to dismantle barriers to entering the tech industry and climbing up the corporate ladder. To carry out its mission Code2040 connects techies in early professional stages with mentors, prospective employees and peers.
Black Girls Code seeks an end to the underrepresentation of African-American women in tech by providing education to girls. Founded in 2011, BGC has programs in computer programming, coding, website, robot and mobile application development. Its ultimate goal is to equip African Americans with the skills they need to make an impact in the industry.
Coding Bootcamps
Every year, millions of newly minted professionals join the ranks of tech companies around the world. Many of them are just coming out of a coding bootcamp, a short but intense program that teaches the learner everything they need to enter the industry. With thousands of graduates obtaining their diploma each month, coding bootcamps are a great place to look for diverse talent.
In addition, the schools that hold these programs like to partner up with local startups and enterprises to place their students. Recruiters would be wise to turn to their nearest bootcamp to headhunt top talent.
There are many great coding bootcamps across the US, but some of our favorite ones include Hack Reactor, Galvanize and Kenzy Academy. Hack Reactor, for example, has campuses in San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Austin, Denver, Boulder, Seattle and Phoenix. The school also offers online programs. Hack Reactor covers Computer Science Fundamentals, Full Stack App Development and Production-Grade Engineering.
These are some basic ways your company can attract diverse talent. Diversity is already a priority for the biggest companies around the world. So make sure it is also a focus for your own firm.