Recruiting Women
I am nearing the end of my employment at The Pittsburgh Foundation since I am moving back to Chicago in October. As such, I've been on the job hunt for my next human resources role while making sure I pay close attention to the benefits, perks, and pay that is offered for the position.
What is troubling me during this search is a well-known statistic stating that women will only apply to jobs where they are 100% qualified, whereas men will apply if they are only 60% qualified. As a result, I wondered what gets women to send in their application for a certain job and what companies can do to attract more female applicants. According to a Gallup poll, women differed from men in three different categories as to what they valued most from the next job: diversity, work-life balance and having the ability to do what they do best (I'm looking at you, micromanagers).
Is there a correlation between job descriptions, careers web pages and the interview process and how women are recruited and apply for jobs? During my search, I've visited a lot of careers and about pages to find more information on a company's culture, leadership team, and staff. I've been met with many videos of what the state-of-the-art office looks like and with employee appreciation day photos. Sometimes I would see volunteer day photos and a video of a woman in color speaking about her experience at the organization. Too bad that woman is usually in a staff/admin role that suggests she was a diversity hire and may never see a c-suite position in her career since the same leadership page is cluttered with white males.
I can relate to the study done by Gallup. I am entering a new chapter in my career. I just finished my graduate degree in Human Resources Management from Temple University, I am currently studying for my SHRM-CP exam, and I'm looking forward to starting a family with my partner in Chicago, moving again to the Midwest that I thought I left behind. I care deeply about being valued while not being overworked. It matters that while in an admin role such as HR, I will be given space to share my ideas on company and HR strategies. I want my 401K, FSA and raises/promotions and I want the chance to develop. I want to be mentored while allowing space for self-management and the ability to create my own career path in the company.
To attract and retain women, companies should ask their female employees what they value in their job and in their company. From there, you'll know what women-friendly perks and benefits to advertise on the job description and careers page. Promote from within, making sure that the leadership team reflects the staff, while making sure to pay fairly. And once that woman is in her new position, let her do what she does best: her job.
Credit: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/390275/recruiting-women-takes-more-than-competitive-pay.aspx?utm_source=linkedinbutton&utm_medium=linkedin&utm_campaign=sharing
