DIVERSITY KEY TO TALENT
Filling roles takes more than just ticking boxes. Melanie Burgess reports
EMPLOYERS may do well to hire for personal qualities ahead of qualifications if they want to create that “magic mix” in their work team. Drake International area manager for Queensland Aaron Claridge says there is no better way to get the best talent than to recruit from a diverse talent pool.
“With a rise in business confidence, Drake International have seen a spike in demand for recruitment services, and specifically our employee profiling technologies,” he says. “Most business owners today understand people are the key to success. It’s not just about filling roles, it’s about finding the right fit in terms of both hard and soft skills.”
Claridge says a lack of diversity is the most dangerous blind spot affecting businesses today. “In some roles, an individual may have the hard or technical skills, however the soft skills can be equally, or sometimes even more, critical to the success of a particular role,” he says.
“We encourage clients to not limit their candidate pool based on technical skills alone and employ non-bias recruitment practices.”
The first step to removing bias is being aware that it exists.
Claridge says employers should ask themselves “are we placing enough emphasis on the qualities needed for the role rather than just the qualifications and experience?”. “When you actively practice inclusion in your organisation, you inherently understand the magic of the mix each person can bring,” he says.
“Diversity and inclusion are about creating a safe environment that gives all people an equal voice and value in your organisation.”
The latest Labour Force figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the continued stability of the Queensland labour market, with the unemployment rate remaining at 6.1 per cent at the end of 2018.
“The other trend seen was the creation of more full-time jobs across our state as opposed to the part-time or casual positions, which have been trending in recent years,” Claridge says. “What this means is the attraction of top talent is becoming more important than ever.”
Drake International north Queensland branch manager Michelle Walsh-Glas says the company has had continued success in Cairns, in particular, for almost 20 years.
“We are local people, running a local business supported by a global brand,” she says.
“Drake have helped many find employment, and supported companies, big and small, build their businesses and improve their talent pool using our inclusive recruitment practices.
“We encourage businesses to look outside the box and challenge the status quo when it comes to sourcing their next hire.”
Drake is currently recruiting for an executive officer for the Western Cape Communities Trust.