Siouxland Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 3

Siouxland Magazine | Conversing / 12
Small businesses are the backbone of our
communities, and hiring diverse talent is
crucial to their success. Hiring employees
from different backgrounds can bring new ideas,
experiences, and perspectives to a company,
leading to increased innovation and improved
business outcomes. However, finding and hiring
qualified, diverse candidates can be a challenge
for small business owners. This article will discuss
some strategies that small business owners can
use to find and hire diverse talent from their local
Siouxland community.
Inclusive Hiring Practices:
How Small Businesses Can Expand
Their Network and Deepen The Talent Pool
By Bryan Shusterman
Develop relationships with local colleges
and universities:
Developing relationships with local colleges and
universities can be an effective way to identify and
attract diverse talent. Reach out to the career services
department and offer to participate in career fairs
or speak to students about job opportunities.
Consider offering internships or co-op programs
to provide students with valuable work experience
and identify potential full-time hires.
Partner with local community organizations:
Partnering with local community organizations can
be an effective way to find diverse candidates.
Consider reaching out to organizations that serve
underrepresented groups, such as immigrant
advocacy groups, minority business associations, or
disability rights organizations. These organizations
often have connections to a pool of qualified
candidates and can help spread the word about job
openings.
Attend local job fairs:
Attending local job fairs is another way to connect
with diverse candidates in the community. Job fairs
provide a platform for small businesses to showcase
their brand, connect with potential candidates, and
learn about the local talent pool. Be sure to attend
job fairs catering to diverse candidates, such as
those hosted by minority-focused organizations or
targeting individuals with disabilities.
Use local job boards:
Posting job openings on local job boards is an
effective way to reach out to candidates in the
community. These job boards are often free or lowcost
and can provide small businesses access to
diverse candidates. Consider posting job openings
on job boards that cater to specific groups, such as
women or veterans.
Leverage social media:
Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook,
and Twitter are powerful tools for small businesses
to connect with diverse candidates. Consider
creating a company page on social media platforms
and using it to share job openings, company news,
and updates. Additionally, consider joining local
business groups on social media and participating
in discussions to build relationships with potential
candidates.
Use employee referrals:
Employee referrals can be an effective way to find
diverse candidates. Encourage current employees
to refer qualified candidates from their personal
and professional networks. Consider offering
incentives such as bonuses or extra vacation days
for successful referrals.
Train your hiring team:
Training your hiring team on unconscious bias and
inclusive hiring practices is crucial. This training
can help them identify their own biases and
make more objective hiring decisions. Encourage
your team to ask open-ended questions and
avoid making assumptions about a candidate’s
background. Additionally, consider implementing
blind screening processes that remove personal
information such as name, age, and gender from
resumes.