By Janey Wellons
Today's job market is competitive. Organizations need the best talent to drive innovation and success. You’ll want to ensure that you are tapping into every available talent pool. We’ve made great strides toward gender equality. However, there’s still a significant disparity in job application behaviors between men and women. You may have heard the statistic: men often apply for jobs when they meet only 60% of the qualifications. Yet, women tend to hold back unless they meet 100%. What does this mean for organizations? Why should they encourage women to apply, even if they don't meet all the job requirements?
Let's dive into the reasons why a culture of inclusivity and encouraging women to apply can yield numerous benefits for your organization.
Diverse Perspectives Drive Innovation
When you encourage women to apply, your organization opens doors to a more diverse talent pool. Diverse teams bring a variety of perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the table, fostering innovation and creativity. Research has shown that diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones, leading to better problem-solving and decision-making.
Tap into a Larger Talent Pool
By encouraging women to apply, organizations can tap into a larger talent pool. By removing the perceived barriers to entry, such as rigid job requirements, organizations can attract qualified candidates who may possess transferable skills or unique experiences that align with the role's objectives. This expands the candidate pool and increases the likelihood of finding the best fit for the position.
Addressing Unconscious Bias
Encouraging women to apply helps to address unconscious bias in the hiring process. Often, job descriptions are written with a certain bias towards specific traits or experiences. This can often exclude qualified candidates who may approach the role from a different perspective. When you encourage women to apply, organizations challenge these biases and create a more inclusive hiring process.
Enhancing Company Culture
Fostering a culture where all individuals feel valued and supported is crucial for employee satisfaction and retention. Taking steps to encourage women to apply sends a powerful message that diversity and inclusion are priorities within the organization. This, in turn, fosters a more inclusive and supportive company culture where all employees can thrive.
Meeting Diversity and Inclusion Goals
Many organizations have set goals to increase diversity and inclusion within their workforce. Encouraging women to apply is a proactive step towards achieving these goals. By diversifying the talent pipeline, organizations can create a more representative workforce that better reflects the communities they serve.
Your organization can make progress by encouraging women to apply, even if they don't meet all the job requirements. This is beneficial for individual candidates and organizations. By fostering a culture of inclusivity, tapping into a larger talent pool, addressing unconscious bias, enhancing company culture, and meeting diversity and inclusion goals, organizations can unlock the full potential of their workforce and drive greater success in the long run.
So, to all organizations out there, let's break down barriers, challenge norms, and create opportunities for everyone to thrive. Encourage women to apply – you won't regret it.
Need a little extra help reaching female applicants? TalentRemedy has a team of experts to perform consultative and recruiting services. We can help you quickly fill those open roles. Contact us at info@talentremedy.com or 703-362-0175 to set up a time to discuss how our team can support you.