Diversity as a Top Talent Trend

LinkedIn recently released their Global Recruiting Trends for 2018, which revealed that the top four talent leaders and hiring managers are identifying as extremely important factors that will shape the future of recruiting and hiring.

The leading top trend and company priority moving into 2018 is, unsurprisingly, diversity!

Why is diversity so important?

Diversity has a direct impact on company culture. Having a more diverse group working for your organization creates an organic and inclusive atmosphere leading to improved performance and higher morale. In turn, this leads to endless, positive collaboration and higher financial gain for your company.

Diversity provides a better representation of customer base(s). Not only are you more representative within your organization, but you are also more representative of the people you provide products and services to. This can lead to stronger working relationships and increase the longevity of those relationships, thus establishing a more profitable and secure future.

What are organizations focusing on?

#1 is Gender. This is easily obtainable and measureable information. It is not surprising that women are gaining headway in “non-conventional” fields and management positions. However, engineering, computer/IT, jobs in construction, police and fire, just to name a few, are still highly inequitable in terms of diversity of gender. Part of the issue is the perception and unconscious bias that recruiters and hiring managers aren’t aware they possess.

#2 is Race and Ethnicity. One of the major challenges indicated in the report was that candidate diversity is scarce; however, we may not be looking in the right places. This goes back to having diversity within your organization. Sending minority representatives to job fairs and recruiting events can increase the likelihood of attracting that diverse talent. Representation is important!

What is this movement leading towards?

• Internal cultural changes in the workforce – building and strengthening diversity

• Revamping interview formats and processes – mirror the internal body and work from the inside out

• Embracing artificial intelligence to help eliminate bias – Sourcing, screening & helping you build that more diverse candidate pool