It might seem like the latest buzzword or something that sounds more like a good idea than something that should be a priority, but recruiting new employees with an eye to diversity can be the best decision your company can make. 

We all benefit by learning from, working with and talking to people who don’t share the same exact background we have: it allows for new ideas and perspectives, new methods for problem solving and it helps us understand the world better.

It’s also a smart business practice: surveys have found companies that prioritize diversity have a greater than 25% likelihood of being more successful than their competition, will earn 2.5 times more cash flow per employee; productivity on diverse teams increases 35% and teams with diverse members make better decisions 87% of the time. What’s the downside?! 

Let’s take a closer look at why recruiting for a diverse workforce is important — and how staffing firms like ABLE Associates can help! 

• Improve creativity. If you’ve ever moved away from the town where you grew up, or spent time in another city, you know that people look at things differently in different areas. One person’s winter wonderland is another’s frozen nightmare; a beachfront paradise gives another person anxiety over accidentally bringing home a suitcase full of sand. But it’s so much more than that — people from different backgrounds think about things differently and have more perspectives, bringing different experiences to the table  than a more singular experience makes possible.
• Boost resilience. A diverse team can better adapt to changes, support each other in their times of stress and can find creative ways to make adjustments when problems arise. If you have a team that includes people who have made big moves in their life, from one region or country to another, you have a core group of people who understand how to make the best of trying situations and will persevere through almost any situation. They’re great leaders who can offer advice and solutions that people who haven’t been challenged in the same way might not consider and they are able to put things into perspective — every crisis will pass, just make it through and learn from it. 
• Make connections to other markets and industries. Imagine how much easier it would be to connect with new clients, customers and partners if you can speak their language and understand their customs? Having a diverse workforce helps do that! It allows your company to better prepare for pitches and meetings if you can understand the priorities and customs of importance to your international and regional clients and customers and help win them over to want to do business with you. It shows a willingness to learn and be respectful of others and that’s a quality more businesses prioritize. Speaking of which..
• Boost your corporate reputation. No one wants to be viewed as a company that’s behind the times. No one wants to be criticized on social media for failing to keep up or for sticking with outdated practices that might appear to be discriminatory. It also might create a tricky legal situation if your hiring practices seem to focus more on only hiring from a single kind of talent pool rather than better representing the world around you. If you’re striving to be a leader in your industry, the best way to do that is to embrace change – and that means changing the kind of employees you prioritize and hire and making a concerted effort to have your employees reflect and resemble the communities in which you’re doing business. 

So how can ABLE Associates help your company prioritize diversity? 

We can help improve the language in your job postings. Understanding your client base and reviewing your job postings with an eye to meeting your diversity recruitment goals means our dedicated team of recruiters can eliminate and change any language that might deter people from hiring if they feel their particular background might not have the same chance of being hired. We can better highlight your inclusiveness and interest in bringing in people from a variety of backgrounds by making sure the language in your post is as inclusive and welcoming as possible to best entice a greater variety of applicants. 

We can expand your reach. ABLE exists to help our clients find great candidates with the experiences and skills you’re looking for, and we can do so quickly by first starting with the job candidates we know. Our experts also can get your job post information into new locations and new audiences you might not have considered before or might not know about — it’s our job to do this! We use our networks and our skills to send your message to places you don’t have time to explore and we can get you results quickly. 

We help save you time. Working with ABLE means you don’t have to add to your to-do list. By partnering with our recruiting specialists, we take the hard work of looking for new candidates off your list and allow you to focus on other pressing tasks. We’ll find great candidates that meet your priorities and can offer up first interviews and skills assessments, meaning we’ll only bring to your attention candidates that we feel would be a great fit for your team. If you’re prioritizing different backgrounds, language skills, levels of education or abilities, we can focus on those attributes and make sure you’re finding the talented candidates that will help you succeed while building on your diversity goals. Your success and satisfaction is our priority! 

The world is a changing place and we need to embrace all that makes us different, because our differences make us stronger. Working with ABLE to find a team of top talent that better reflects the world around you helps you meet your goals faster while building a resilient, adaptive, intelligent and supportive team faster! Call ABLE today to learn more and let’s get to work.