Inclusive recruitment is actively seeking out and considering candidates from various diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ability.
Companies need to strive for inclusive recruitment to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of their customers and broader society.
In recent years, we've seen a massive spike in diversity and inclusion programmes. Still, there's a big difference between talking about diversity and acting on increasing the equity of opportunity awarded to underrepresented communities in your recruitment processes.
Here are some tips for getting great at diversity recruitment and making 2023 your year for excelling at inclusion:
Define diversity and inclusion in your recruitment process. This includes setting clear goals and metrics for measuring progress.
Review job descriptions and requirements to ensure they are inclusive and non-discriminatory. Ask yourself what this role would be like for people from different diverse groups, and if exclusive, ask how you can improve it.
Use inclusive language in job postings and avoid using language that could be interpreted as exclusive or biased.
Utilise a variety of recruitment channels to reach a diverse pool of candidates. This should focus on proactive engagement through employee referrals and professional organisations focusing on underrepresented groups. Avoid signing up for loads of pledges and waiting for diverse talent to appear.
Establish an inclusive interview process by training recruiters and hiring managers to conduct inclusive interviews.
Consider using diverse recruitment providers like Clu as a resource to help connect with qualified candidates from underrepresented groups.
Encourage employee resource groups to act as ambassadors for the company and help attract underrepresented candidates.
Provide internships, apprenticeships, and other development opportunities for underrepresented groups to help them gain the skills and experience needed to compete for open positions.
Offer flexible work arrangements to attract candidates with caregiving responsibilities or other personal obligations that make it challenging to work traditional 9-to-5 hours.
Regularly review and analyse diversity data to track progress and identify improvement areas.
Inclusive recruitment is not just about checking a box or meeting a quota. It's about creating an equitable environment where everyone can thrive.
By implementing these strategies, companies can ensure that their recruitment process is inclusive, which can help them build a diverse and talented workforce.
Inclusive recruitment is a crucial step towards creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. By defining diversity and inclusion, reviewing job descriptions and requirements, utilising a variety of recruitment channels, establishing an inclusive interview process, encouraging employee resource groups, providing development opportunities, offering flexible work arrangements, and regularly reviewing and analysing diversity data, companies can take steps to ensure that your recruitment process is inclusive and welcoming to all candidates.
