MightyRecruiterPart of the challenge that many businesses are encountering when cultivating a diverse STEM workforce starts at the recruiting process. Today’s economy is lush with opportunity for STEM candidates. Companies are competing left and right for them. With STEM candidates having their pick of employers, you are probably wondering how top companies cultivate a diverse STEM workforce? Here are some ways you can give your company an edge when competing for STEM candidates.
Find Out What They Want
In order to know what they want, you need to understand how they think. Today’s STEM graduates want to work for employers who have something to offer them besides a paycheck. Make sure your company has a mission that is worth working towards. Today’s candidates have spent years surrounded by science and technology, play to those interests by making sure your company has made some contributions or achievements in those areas. They want to work for employers who are ready or currently in the process of revolutionizing the respective industries they are in. One way that top companies cultivate a diverse STEM workforce is by maintaining one.
Presentation Is Everything
STEM candidates are so used to visual enhancements and technological advancements that employers have to find ways to capture their attention and engage them. Employers have to work on their presentation because it is the first point of contact for many candidates. Putting together a strong presentation that is visually stunning, innovative, has personality and that strongly identifies with your company’s brand is a good way to start. Candidates want information, so make sure that information doesn’t just call to their senses. It should entice them and encourage them to share it with their friends and peers to increase exposure. This is extremely vital to your recruitment processes because it is what creates the first impression, which is often lasting. They is also one of several main ways that top companies cultivate a diverse STEM workforce.
Customize Your Recruitment Processes
In order to create a diversified STEM workforce, you have to assess each aspect of your hiring processes. Many top companies cultivate a diverse STEM workforce by customizing their application and recruitment strategies. Take a good look at your company and what it has to offer these individuals. Do not treat the recruitment of these specialized individuals like you would normal job candidates. These professionals need to be wooed a certain way. Unlike traditional job candidates who are competing for a limited number of jobs, STEM individuals know they are a limited group of professionals that companies all over the world are competing for. They know their worth and are not afraid to be selective in how they choose which organizations to work for.
Cater to Them
Revamp your hiring processes so that STEM candidates feel respected, treasured and wanted. They should feel like they are the missing link whether or not you decided to hire them. Their skills and potential future contributions to your organization are very valuable, but first you need to make sure your recruitment strategies are up to date, pleasant, effective and targeted to these individuals. Many of today’s STEM professionals are fresh out of school. This may very well be their first interview or job. Many of these candidates may not have good interview skills yet. Your HR personnel and interviewers will need to walk a fine line so they can avoid insulting, disrespecting and making these individuals feel turned off. No matter what caliber of STEM professionals you want to hire, you need to treat all of them equally and with respect and consideration for their individual skill and experience. Be open and honest with them
Support Them
It is not uncommon for STEM professionals to consider several different companies at the same time. It is also not uncommon for them to be a bit aloof or uncertain when you are interviewing them. No matter where they are in their career goals, or if they are fresh out of school, make sure your organization has measures in place that provide them with support. That support can be given in the form of constructive feedback, interview resources and information on how they can better improve their marketability. Tailoring your hiring processes to STEM candidates can help you to recruit more of these professionals to your organization. Providing candidates with support can help your company to create a diverse STEM workforce. Candidates that ultimately choose another company over yours today, may be so impressed with your company’s recruitment process that they provide good feedback to their recruiters. By painting your company in a good light to recruiters, your organization can gain the advantage over other competing companies. For other ways on how your organization can like top companies cultivate a diverse STEM workforce, check out the resources that are available here at Mighty Recruiter.