How Can Recruitment Messaging Be Co-Created to Attract Diverse Talent in Tech?

To attract diverse tech talent, co-create recruitment messaging by involving diverse employees, using inclusive language and imagery, partnering with community groups and ERGs, incorporating candidate feedback, sharing authentic stories, aligning with inclusive values, leveraging data, fostering digital campaigns, and ensuring transparent two-way communication.

To attract diverse tech talent, co-create recruitment messaging by involving diverse employees, using inclusive language and imagery, partnering with community groups and ERGs, incorporating candidate feedback, sharing authentic stories, aligning with inclusive values, leveraging data, fostering digital campaigns, and ensuring transparent two-way communication.

Empowered by Artificial Intelligence and the women in tech community.
Like this article?
Contribute to three or more articles across any domain to qualify for the Contributor badge. Please check back tomorrow for updates on your progress.

Involve Diverse Voices from the Start

To create recruitment messaging that truly resonates with diverse talent, include representatives from different backgrounds in the development process. This can be done through focus groups or collaborative workshops where employees from underrepresented groups share their insights on language, values, and cultural nuances that should be highlighted. Their perspectives ensure that messaging feels authentic and inclusive.

Add your insights

Use Inclusive Language and Imagery

Co-creating messaging means collaboratively choosing words and visuals that reflect a wide range of identities and experiences. Avoid jargon or technical terms that may alienate some candidates, and include images that showcase diversity in race, gender, disability, age, and other dimensions. Testing these materials with diverse employee panels can help gauge effectiveness and inclusivity.

Add your insights

Engage External Community Partners

Partnering with community organizations, advocacy groups, and professional associations focused on underrepresented populations can provide invaluable input. These groups help co-create messaging that addresses the unique challenges and aspirations of their communities, making recruitment efforts more targeted and culturally relevant.

Add your insights

Leverage Employee Resource Groups ERGs

ERGs are an internal resource for co-creating tailored recruitment messaging. By collaborating with ERGs, companies can highlight specific support systems and career growth opportunities that appeal to diverse candidates, demonstrating the company’s commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace environment.

Add your insights

Incorporate Candidate Feedback Loops

Actively solicit feedback from applicants and new hires regarding the recruitment messaging they encountered. Using surveys or interviews, candidates can share what resonated or felt off-putting. This iterative co-creation process ensures messaging evolves continuously to better attract diverse talent.

Add your insights

Embed Authentic Stories and Testimonials

Work with current employees from various backgrounds to co-create narratives that highlight their tech journeys within the company. Authentic testimonials can dispel stereotypes and humanize the brand, making it easier for diverse candidates to envision themselves thriving in the organization.

Add your insights

Align Messaging with Inclusive Employer Brand Values

Co-create messages that emphasize the company’s commitment to equity and inclusion. Engage multiple stakeholders to define and communicate values such as fairness, support for professional development, and work-life balance. Clear, consistent messaging reassures candidates that diversity is a lived value, not just a buzzword.

Add your insights

Utilize Data to Inform Messaging Strategies

Collect and analyze data on candidate demographics, application trends, and hiring outcomes as part of a collaborative team effort. Understanding where messaging succeeds or falls short can guide co-creation of more targeted and impactful recruitment communications appealing to diverse tech talent.

Add your insights

Foster Collaborative Digital and Social Campaigns

Invite diverse employees to partner in creating digital content, such as videos, blogs, or social media posts, showcasing inclusive workplace culture. Co-creation empowers employees to authentically share their experiences, helping to attract a broader spectrum of candidates by reflecting real workplace diversity.

Add your insights

Prioritize Transparency and Two-Way Communication

Develop recruitment messaging through open dialogues with current and prospective employees about career pathways, challenges, and support systems within tech roles. Encouraging questions and providing honest answers builds trust and lets candidates feel involved in the company’s culture from the outset, enhancing appeal to diverse talent.

Add your insights

What else to take into account

This section is for sharing any additional examples, stories, or insights that do not fit into previous sections. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Add your insights

Interested in sharing your knowledge ?

Learn more about how to contribute.

Sponsor this category.