3 Fantastic Ways To Overcome Stereotype And Attract Great Talent

Stereotype: This refers to  Identification of a person or individuals based on their particular gender, age group, interest, personality, or membership to a social category.

Have you ever wondered if your organization had lost opportunities to employ quality personnel due to stereotype .Maybe too you are the type of employer to stereotype? You may think you’re as open-minded as the next person, but this may not always be the case. When you consider certain individuals for open positions at your company, their unique challenges may make it difficult for you to be open to hiring them.

Let’s say, for instance, a military spouse comes in to fill out an application. Like most employers, you know that being married to the military makes them highly likely to move. In most cases, they won’t stay in the same place for more than three years. Does this mean you shouldn’t hire them? No. In fact, statistics show that today’s employee turnover rates show that those three years may actually make them some of your longest-tenured employees. In addition, these individuals bring with them unique qualifications and skills that they’ve gained from being married to military personnel; they are more apt to be a team player, more independent, and more flexible.

Other individuals face those same stereotypes as well, like stay-at-home mothers and fathers that are returning to work, professionals who have been laid off and unemployed, women, the aging workforce, returning retirees, and veterans. Each of these candidates can offer something unique ,but only if you’re open enough to consider hiring them.

So, how do you overcome conventional stereotypes and attract this unique talent?

Overcoming Stereotypes for Jobs

• Identify Stereotypes- The first step to overcoming stereotypes is to be aware of what they are. Identifying them can be easier than you think too; you just have to monitor your thoughts a little more closely. What do you think about when you hear someone is a military spouse? What is your reaction when you find out that a man is a stay-at-home dad? Are these thoughts consistent, and do they happen before you even get to know the person in question? If so, they are stereotypes.
• Focus on What They Bring to the Table- One of the easiest ways to overcome stereotyping is to refocus. Instead of thinking, “This man is a stay-at-home dad who hasn’t had a real job in 5 years. What’s his deal?,” think instead about what qualities, skills, and experience he can offer. He most likely understands that he’s reentering the workforce with one hand tied behind his back, so he’s going to put in a great deal of effort to secure and keep his job. He’ll also have learned a lot in the past five years about working independently, being patient, and getting the job done no matter what obstacles are in the way.
• Make it a Habit- Stereotypes may be hard to overcome, but they are simply habits that you’ve learned over the years. Overcoming them means developing new habits that focus on hiring the right individuals for permanent or temporary jobs . It won’t be easy to push aside the habit at first, but if you continue to practice and repeat your effort, you can learn a new way of thinking.
• Good Luck

credit www.hhstaffingservices.com (Edited)