How do we develop diverse candidate pipelines for companies in 2022? Over the last 18 months, the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion has shifted the workplace. Following the death of George Floyd, discussions around talent acquisition, recruitment, and retention have challenged companies across all industries to ask questions around the cultures that have been built in the workplace. With underrepresented groups leaving companies in droves following on from his murder that year, between May and September of 2020, we witnessed these same groups being headhunted for diversity, equity, and inclusion job opportunities. Indeed, the worldwide employment website said that diversity and inclusion job postings rose by an astonishing 123%.

With organisations now implementing talent strategies to increase diverse representation across businesses, what can recruitment agencies and external suppliers that work with companies do to develop diverse candidate pipelines? Here are three recommendations to consider.

Your focus is on speed and not enough on quality

We get it. You receive a brief and the client provides you with a turnaround date of yesterday. You’re known for being able to deliver either on or before time. But you want your candidate pipelines to be more diverse of the market that is out there. Filling the role with similar talent is an assured safety measure that the client will be satisfied with. Its predicted success.You do not have to trade speed for diversity, but you will need to create time to develop new pathways to deliver a quality filled diversified pipeline.

Create time to expand and diversify your search profiles

Based on the sector you work in you probably have ‘ideal’ candidate profiles that fit the roles you fill. And while that is great, what does that mean for underrepresented groups that do not fit or fill these profiles? Because there is no ‘one’ ideal candidate, rather than referring to the one or two that come to mind when filling roles, why not take the time to create 2-3 more? Yes, the short-term investment is that it will take a few days to create and develop a selection of diverse profiles, but ultimately developing this step will provide long term quality and success for your clients in the long run.

Build diverse pipelines by building new relationships

This could become a part of your business development strategy. Within our day-to-day work, we make the time to network with existing relationships we have with clients, and we even make the time to get to know successful candidates that have been hired. But what can we do to begin building meaningful connections with diverse candidates? Get out of your comfort zone! Explore new online communities, sign up to online discussions, career fairs and external industry events that garner diverse talent. Not only will you get to know meet new talent, but you’ll also be able to gather intel that clients will appreciate.

Recruitment agencies may not work as seamlessly or consistently with company recruiters, hiring managers and talent partners as they would like. But, as industry leaders across respective sectors, accountability and external insight into the candidate market gives you, the supplier, the consent to enhance and add value to your clients when delivering your services.

To discuss further, please get in contact with our Managing Director, James Cumming.