Find diverse candidates for clients' senior roles

1-Oct-2008

Diversity is important in business today, and giving your clients access to diverse high-flying candidates will set your agency apart form others. So how do you go about finding them?

Diverse teams make better, more informed decisions. That’s because diverse teams harness individuals’ differences, create an inclusive, supportive environment where staff are more satisfied and empower staff to respond better to the needs of their clients and service users. Diversity is highly valued within firms across every sector and, as a recruiter, you will be required to meet the demand for diverse talent swiftly and effectively.

So how can recruiters harness that talent so they can present strong shortlists to their clients?

Look beyond tarditional networks

Say you need to source candidates for a finance director role. Your first port of call would naturally be your network of accountants to find an appropriate contender. This is the obvious option, but we need to be a little creative in order to secure a more diverse shortlist for your client. You should look outside your usual reference points. Look for people who have had non-traditional careers — individuals who have led within, say, a finance function within a different sector. Or those who have work experience, but not necessarily academic experience within the field.

Improve your general knowledge

To generate interest from individuals outside your usual networks, I would advise beefing up your general knowledge. Look at the topical issues outside the sectors you usually operate in and take an interest in their developments. If you are able to relate to others on a diverse range of issues, your network will grow and flourish.

Nurture your networks

Be proactive. And once you’ve become involved in a new network, be generous with your time, keep in contact regularly, get to know individuals and take an interest. By investing in your networks, you will see them develop into long-term partnerships.

Use non-traditional media outlets

If you are serious about harnessing diverse talent for a role, and your assignment also includes advertising campaigns, then it is worthwhile spending some time researching non-traditional media outlets to advertise in. In the UK, there is a wealth of media — across print, broadcast and radio — that is targeted specifically for different communities.

Candidates may respond to an advert for the post in the traditional way, and many do, but our experience is that women and individuals from black and minority ethnic backgrounds don’t always see themselves in the senior roles for which they are more than qualified and so may not apply. Search is therefore an excellent way to uncover their talent and encourage them to make applications.

Work with your candidates

Let’s face it. At the top level, interviewers are still predominately white males. Therefore, you need to work with your candidate to ensure their background and experience is presented in the best possible light and explore how their skills can add real value to your client’s firm.

From our experience, we find that the majority of our candidates who are from less traditional backgrounds have often had extensive experience working within voluntary organisations or have held non-executive roles. Work through these experiences with your candidate to identify how this will add value to your client’s organisation and how it can be presented as such.

At the same time, have an open and honest discussion with your clients on how the candidate has demonstrated leadership qualities by all the work that they have experience in — either paid or unpaid. It would also be useful to set out the business case, in the first instance, for why having a candidate from a diverse background should be considered for the role.





l Look outside traditional networks

l Improve your general knowledge

l Nurture your networks

l Tap into non-traditional media outlets to advertise positions

l Work with your candidates to ensure their experience is presented in the best light