Using Social Networks and Professional Organizations

to Recruit Women in Business, Technology, and Engineering

Recruiting Women

• In the past, women had limited choices in the job market.

• Recruiting promoted jobs not careers.

• Choices were limited, but STEM programs have changed that outcome.

• Seek out emerging technical talent in programs like STEM and build relationships.

• Encourage current women employees to serve as role models and ambassadors.

• Ask hiring managers and teams not only what they are looking for, but what they are missing on their teams.

It’s time to change recruiting practices

• When possible, establish corporate memberships with key organizations and start building relationships.

• Participate in conferences or

networking events targeted to

women in technology.

• Attract women professionals using a high level of interaction to build “talent communities.” Use tactics like virtual career events, online chat sessions, podcasts, and videos.

Organizations and talent communities for women

• Successful diversity recruitment requires high touch points.

• Make internal networks of technical women a cornerstone of diversity recruitment.

• IBM estimated that close to 30% of their total professional women hires world-wide were made through internal networks.

• Encourage stakeholders to maximize sponsorships and internship opportunities or sponsor scholarships.

Sponsor conferences and network with associations

Seek out job boards for women

• Post on job boards that specifically target diverse populations.

• Positions advertised on these sites will shape the group of candidates who self-select and express interest in positions.

• Job descriptions send

signals that influence

both the recruit and

the recruiter (terms

like competitive or

assertive signal men

to apply).

• Choose sites that are

credible and have a

positive reputation.

• Strategically and selectively choose social networks women in technology are actively using.

• Organizations always offer ways to connect socially on their websites.

• Follow sites and contribute to conversations when it’s appropriate.

• Remember, social identity and cultural background will impact conversations in social media —be genuine and authentic.

• Communicate in a female-friendly way — leverage talent branding and the visible benefits of working for your company.

Engage with social networks to source

• Promote employer brand with your team, and your candidates — it’s critical to the success of your recruiting efforts.

• Talent brand is based on the principle of personal pluscorporate, not personal vs.corporate.

• Think consistency, not conformity, and you’ll follow the path of other companies who have been successful with diversity hiring.

• What you say about your company must be true — talk about things you’re proud of.

• Emphasize that employee culture is a priority and a company-wide initiative.

Promoting the talent brand of your company

• The Passion Projects is a

GitHub recruiting strategy designed to show women

they can have a great

career in technology, and

it’s a great place to work.

25% of the last 60 hires

were women.

• Etsy changed its

interviewing process to be

more female-friendly and

increased the number of

female engineers by

500%.

Be the face of employer brand for your candidates

Forbes, “New recruitment strategies

at GitHub, Etsy attract female

engineers”

• Change the tone of

conversation to be inclusive.

• Successful recruitment for

women candidates requires a

commitment.

• Develop at least a 3-year

diversity and engagement plan.

• Reduce bias in job description

language.

• Make company culture the

number one reason your

candidates should choose your

company over others.

Final tips for finding women in the talent pool

Take advantage of these online communities and job boards that target women in technology. When possible, sign up for memberships to take advantage of conferences and networking events sponsored by these organizations:

Witi – National Women in Technology

http://www.witi.com/

Job board: http://www.witi4hire.com/

Society of Women Engineers

http://societyofwomenengineers.swe.org/

FabFems

http://www.fabfems.org/about

National Conference for College Women Student Leaders

http://www.nccwsl.org/2014/06/02/network-at-nccwsl/

American Society of University Women

http://www.aauw.org/

Anita Borg Institute

http://anitaborg.org/

(continued)

Visit Diversity Job Boards and Organizations for Women in Tech

Elevate (formerly 85 broads)

https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/about

Levo League

http://www.levo.com/employers

Women in Business Industry

http://www.equalitymagazines.com/index.php/services/rates/j

ob-postings#pricing

Women Tech World

http://www.womentechworld.org/links.htm#wtl

National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology and Science

http://www.iwitts.org

LatPro

https://www.latpro.com/cms/recruiter?1414727545

Society for Advancement of Hispanics/Chicanos

and Native Americans in Science

http://sacnas.org/about

National Society of Hispanic MBAs

http://www.nektpro.com/

Society of Asian American Scientists and Engineers

http://www.saseconnect.org/

Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in Information

Technology (CDM-IT)

http://www.cmd-it.org

Jobs for Mathematicians

http://www.mathjobs.org

National Society of Black Engineers

http://www.nsbe.org/home.aspx

Catalyst: Expanding Opportunities for Women in Business

http://catalyst.org

WomensJobList.com

https://www.womensjoblist.com/account/login

Association for Women in Mathematics

https://sites.google.com/site/awmmath/home

Advancingwomen.com

http://www.advancingwomen.com

Job Accommodation Network

http://askjan.org/empl/index.htm

Association for Women in Mathematics

https://sites.google.com/site/awmmath/home

National Society of Hispanic Engineers

http://national.shpe.org/

American Indian Science and Engineering Society

http://www.aises.org/news/woc

Diversity Job Boards and Organizations for Women in Tech

Contact Amy Albright, Director of Recruiting Operations, North America

Cognizant Technology Solutions

For information about the 2015 Diversity Recruiting Strategy

Carolyn D. Munoz, MA

Carolyn.Munoz@cognizant.com

Social Media Strategist, North America Recruiting

Let’s Connect: LinkedIn Twitter: @carolyndmunoz

Cognizant Technology Solutions

www.cognizant.com/careers

Thank you