Building an inclusive work environment means fostering maximum collaboration within the company. This can be the foundation for an elevated growth graph, especially when conducting business in a multi-cultural region like the UAE. 

When individuals from diverse backgrounds come together, they bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. This can ensure you cater to a broader target audience. But to hire a diverse workforce, you should implement an inclusive recruitment strategy.

If we analyze the numbers highlighted in the research conducted in 2021 by Statista, around 66% of the full-time employees rated inclusion and a sense of belonging at work as the most valued and considered workplace features.

However, establishing an inclusive workplace is a challenging task that requires comprehensive strategic planning. But no need to worry; this blog will extensively address all the critical concepts and strategies required to make your recruitment procedure inclusive, ultimately contributing to maximum inclusion at your workplace. 

Companies need to actively dismantle bias and attract diverse resources. The most essential step in this regard is implementing a diversity-based recruitment strategy.

Now, here is the question and the main challenge: What is inclusive recruitment, and how can a diversity recruitment strategy be implemented?

Let’s start by briefly explaining the concept of inclusive recruitment to give you an idea. Then, we will delve deep into the best practices for making your recruitment process more inclusive, so keep reading if you want to learn the art and science of this amazing concept.

Understanding the Concept of Inclusive Recruitment

Diversity and Inclusivity (D&I) is the most highlighted factor in today’s corporate world. Companies are introducing a variety of D&I promotion strategies as a result of realizing how important it is to have a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Inclusive recruitment means actively seeking out and welcoming individuals from various backgrounds, including race, gender, age, nationality, and specially-abled persons. It involves removing biases and barriers hindering the hiring process and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.

By embracing inclusive recruitment practices, organizations can tap into a wider talent pool, foster innovation, and create a more positive and productive environment. Inclusive recruitment is not just about meeting diversity quotas but about creating a culture of respect, acceptance, and customized experiences for all individuals.

We are now familiar with the notions of inclusive recruitment practices and DEI. To leverage this concept and make your team diverse, recruiters at RFS HR Consultancy have suggested the best practices for you, following which you can achieve your DEI goal.

Best Practices to Implement Inclusive Recruitment Strategy

There are various strategies that help you make your recruitment process inclusive, but we will look at the ones suggested by our recruiters and proven practically.

Tap a diverse talent pool

Eliminating border barriers and being flexible in your requirements can help you access a broader talent pool. This will allow you to benefit from a diverse range of skills and experiences. This is the most efficient strategy for implementing D&I while recruiting for your company.

By removing geographical limitations and being innovative in candidate research, companies can find candidates from different countries and cultures, fostering a truly diverse and inclusive workforce.

While searching for potential candidates for any open position, go beyond the traditional methods and be innovative, like contacting universities or visiting job fairs. The easiest way is to work with an international recruitment firm like RFS HR and take advantage of their global network of professionals.

This strategy brings in a broader spectrum of perspectives and ideas and allows organizations to access talent that may not be available locally. Embracing an international approach to recruitment can enrich the company culture and drive innovation through a melting pot of backgrounds and expertise.

Customize Job Descriptions 

Rethinking the job description and being creative while writing it can also help you get better candidates and, ultimately, a perfect hire. 

It will be easier to reach a more diverse pool of candidates who may have a more varied and required skill set if terms like “must have X years of experience” or “degree required” are removed from the job description if they are not strictly necessary. 

Focusing on the essential skills and qualifications needed for the job rather than arbitrary requirements opens up opportunities for individuals who may have the necessary skills but not the traditional stuff. 

Moreover, using neutral language and avoiding jargon or biased language makes the job posting more inclusive and appealing to candidates from different backgrounds.

Utilize AI tools

The most complex aspect of biases is how they inadvertently and subconsciously influence our choices. In the recruitment process, utilizing AI tools to assess applicants’ qualifications and skills objectively can help overcome these unconscious biases. 

In light of the recent advances in AI algorithms, a plethora of AI-based recruiting software, including Pymetrics, Fetcher, Manatal, Skillate, turbo-hire, and many more, can be used. 

These machine learning-based programs can be a relief while recruiting an inclusive workforce due to their bias mitigation approach, increasing match quality, and data integration.

Apply the Blind Recruitment Strategy

A blind recruitment strategy is considered the most efficient way to maintain meritocracy in your recruitment process. What does blind recruitment refer to?

A blind recruitment strategy includes various steps to blur the personal identity and socio-demographic details of the candidate to maintain a sense of anonymity during recruitment. 

In this strategy, providing blind resumes for hiring is considered the most effective way to exclude all the halo effects, confirmation bias, affinity bias, group thinking, and stereotype bias, which can affect the decision-making power of the hiring team.

Getting Help from a Professional Recruitment Agency

Following all the parameters can be challenging and messy sometimes. However, inclusive recruitment plays a crucial role in the company’s growth and must be addressed at any cost.

Considering this scenario, the most convenient and proven way to make your recruitment inclusive is by seeking help from recruitment agencies in UAE. These agencies have the expertise and resources to ensure the hiring process is fair and unbiased. 

They can help you conduct a thorough assessment of candidates, implement diversity and inclusion measures, and provide guidance on creating policies that promote equal opportunities. By working with a recruitment agency, you can expedite the hiring process and improve your chances of locating competent candidates from diverse backgrounds. 

Conclusion

We have discussed the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the workplace and how they can affect your company’s growth and, if implemented perfectly, can change the trend of your graph positively. These five essential strategies discussed earlier are the least an organization can do to promote equal opportunities. However, by partnering with a recruitment agency, you can go the extra mile to achieve excellence in a particular area.

RFS HR Consultancy is one of the best recruitment agencies in UAE, and we are on an international recruitment mission in Dubai to help businesses acquire international talent and implement DIO policies. If you are a hiring manager or a business leader striving to make your recruitment inclusive, our top recruiters in UAE are just a click away.