MightyRecruiter7 Tips for Successful STEM Diversity Recruiting
The science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professions are largely dominated by older, white men. The group, in general, is not very diverse. However, having a varied workforce is an important part of scientific excellence. When STEM teams have to solve some sort of problem, diversity can help give a different perspective to the problem. Because of the importance of these distinctions in the scientific fields, STEM diversity recruiting has to be amped up.
What can businesses do to successfully recruit a more various STEM workforce Your company will have to incorporate diversity into the very fabric of the company culture. You can use these seven diversity recruiting tips to make the process a little easier.
1. Embrace Diversity as a Competitive Advantage
If your business views diversity as an advantage in the STEM field, you will be more likely to successfully recruit a wide assortment of workers. In other words, your company should realize that diversity can lead to new ideas and different viewpoints in problem solving. This embrace of diversity can help attract different workers to your business.
2. Focus on Inclusion
It’s one thing to have a diverse workforce, but it’s another to actually include everyone in the company community. Successful STEM diversity recruiting relies on inclusion of all employees no matter their gender, race, beliefs, sexual orientation, experience or culture. If a potential employee feels they are going to be ostracized for their difference, they will likely not want to work for you.
3. Create Benchmarks
Benchmarks are a great tool to measure the results of recruiting efforts. They’re also a great way to help keep the company on target. No matter the size of your business, you can use tactics meant to track diverse pools of candidates. You should even consider partnering with local STEM education organizations, schools and universities. Creating benchmarks will help you better understand what your goals are and realize when you have met these goals.
4. Understand the Communities
In order to have successful STEM diversity recruiting, your company has to understand the community you are recruiting from. A better understanding of the community will show you exactly how a varied workforce will benefit not only your business, but the community that you are a part of. This understanding can help you better promote your diverse recruiting because you’ll be able to show the potential workers the change they can be a part of.
5. Use the Language of Diversity
Diversity has to be a major part of the company culture, business practices and management styles. The language you use throughout all of your business practices should promote this mixture of lifestyles. In order to have a good STEM diversity recruiting program, you have to use the right promotional, community and managerial language. Every aspect of your business, even those unrelated to recruiting, should promote the benefits of a diverse workforce.
6. Incorporate Employees into the Recruiting Efforts
While your current workforce may not be extremely ranged, you should still use it to help bring in a more diverse group. Your employees will be able to identify with other potential employees based on their race, gender, age, ability, circumstance, experience, ethnicity, culture and point of view. When the potential employees you are trying to recruit see these similarities, they may be more likely to accept an offer of work from you.
7. Stay Committed
Finally, you have to work hard to stay committed to STEM diversity recruiting. Chances are you won’t see results from this right away. It could take years to really see the diversification of your workforce come into effect. However, no matter how your plan is going, you have to stay committed. You have to keep the promotions going, use consistent language and stay connected to those you’re in partnership with. If you want to recruit a diverse workforce, you have to be committed to the end result.
STEM Diversity Matters
Diversity in the STEM professions can lead to new innovations, better problem solving and a cultivation of talent. It’s an important part of STEM and economic growth. STEM diversity does matter, so you have to make sure to use the right tactics to get this diverseness into your company. If you want to stay at the forefront of STEM technologies, you have to keep your company distinctive.
The main thing you have to do for successful STEM diversity recruiting is incorporate the language of diversity into all levels of your business. Make workforce variation a real goal throughout your business, and you will have a better chance of finding diverse recruits. There are a lot of steps you can take to make your business better. Use resources at Mighty Recruiter to get a better understanding of how you can improve your business and make dynamic hires.