SIDEBAR: 10 Tips for Recruiting Women
by Cheryl Bentsen
Material benefits are important, but so is the psychology of the workplace
- 1. Ask women in your IT organization for their perceptions about the work environment and ways in which it might be improved.
- 2. Find out what women want. If not foosball, how about concierge service to pick up dry cleaning and run errands? Women are looking for ways to simplify their busy lives.
- 3. Provide a work environment that takes into account safety issues, such as well-lit, secure parking facilities.
- 4. Offer incentives/rewards for employee referrals.
- 5. Build a relationship: Follow up applicant interviews with e-mail or phone contact.
- 6. Network with grassroots organizations such as Women in Technology International (www.witi.com) to keep in touch with professional IT women's groups.
- 7. Encourage women applicants to meet women within the organization.
- 8. Read the latest tech study by the Association for American University Women (available online at www.aauw.com) to learn more about women's attitudes toward IT.
- 9. Provide options for flexitime for employees with child- and elder-care needs; offer continuing education opportunities.
- 10. Create a work atmosphere that values diversity and encourages employees to freely contribute ideas. If women are not accepting your job offers, ask them why.
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.