The Hiring Bias Reset: Rolling out the Welcome Mat to Newcomers
My province of British Columbia celebrates its rich history of immigration during Multiculturalism Week, held the third week of November. The province is the most ethnically and culturally diverse in Canada. We truly value the cultural and social contributions newcomers bring to our communities.
But like other Canadian provinces, many prefer “sameness” in our workplaces. Hiring processes still tend to be biased toward “culture fit” and “Canadian experience”.
It’s assumed teams with similar perspectives, backgrounds and experiences perform better. In reality, “sameness” leads to groupthink. It dulls innovation and creativity and excludes or underutilizes those who are different.
Our economic success going forward requires a new hiring mindset. There are record high job vacancies in many sectors. It’s crucial we attract and hire more newcomers and fully leverage their skills, abilities and knowledge.
So, how can we hire better?
As a leader, one new approach your team can adopt is hiring for “culture add”. Intentionally seek candidates with lived experiences, perspectives and characteristics not currently found in your team. This can help build a more well-rounded, inclusive team that brings more creativity and engagement.
Another approach is to view international experience as an asset. Newcomers are aware of the best practices (concepts, processes and techniques) of your global counterparts. Tapping into their experience can open the door to new thinking, innovations and growth opportunities for your team.
Lastly, recognize international credentials, when roles don’t require national certification or licensing. Provide candidates an opportunity to showcase their knowledge and expertise in the hiring process. This levels the playing field for newcomers and increases your pool of qualified candidates.
These hiring approaches provide many other benefits, including:
mitigate systemic bias and discrimination:
give a competitive edge in attracting skilled newcomers;
drive greater team productivity; and
foster a work culture of belonging and acceptance that benefits all.
As a province, let's continue to open our communities to newcomers. But let’s also “roll out the welcome mat” at our workplaces through better hiring practices.
Thank you for reading this blog. You can also check out my Diversity and Inclusion Resources for more great information and tips on more inclusive hiring approaches and fostering workplace diversity and inclusion.
You can book a free consultation with me to discuss tailored diversity and inclusion solutions.
