Despite what you might read in the news or on social media, diversity is more than just a buzzword when it comes to the workplace. It can actually help companies build innovation, profitability, and employee satisfaction. Here are a few ways that diversity in the workplace can create positive, lasting impact.
Builds Creativity. When organizations bring together employees from different cultural and experiential backgrounds, generating creative solutions can come more easily. Employees are more likely to question the status quo and think outside of the box to tackle complex problems. They take more novel approaches to the work that they do, causing the company to overall be more adaptable.
Fosters Innovation. Diverse teams bring broader perspectives and foster innovation. By challenging conventional thinking, companies can now make decisions that positively impact the bottom line. According to a McKinsey report (1), companies in the top quartile for gender and racial diversity are more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians. Additionally, a BCG study (2) highlighted that organizations with more diverse management teams have a 19% higher revenue from innovation compared to companies with below-average diversity.
Causes Work Satisfaction. Other than financial benefits, diversity promotes a more inclusive and respectful workplace culture, which increases employee engagement and retention. People feel valued when their unique perspectives are welcomed, a consideration that recent grads do not take lightly, nor should they. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), equity and inclusion is a career readiness competency that employers should seek to promote open-mindedness, flexibility, and adaptability in the workplace in order to recruit top talent (3).
Represents Customer Base. Lastly, having a more diverse workforce better reflects the global customer base companies serve. As businesses operate in increasingly international markets, the ability to meet diverse consumer needs becomes crucial to ensure success. Additionally, companies that embrace diversity and reflect a diverse workforce are seen as more relatable and inclusive by global customers, opening the door for lucrative relationship building opportunities and partnerships.
Increasing workplace diversity isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s a strategic imperative for companies hoping to hire and retain the best employees. What that said, students should strongly consider a diverse organization for their next internship or job to experience the benefits firsthand.
If you want to get a head start, join us for our Diversity Recruitment Event on Thursday, October 17th from 5-8 PM at the University Center Ballroom. This is open to ALL students. Enjoy a free dinner, network with top organizations, and hear from UMBC alum Bobby Allen ’99 about his work at Google.
(2) https://www.bcg.com/publications/2018/how-diverse-leadership-teams-boost-innovation
(3) https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined
]]>My name is Makayla Gleeson, I am a Career Peer Advisor for the Career Center and I will be running the Career Center blog. I’m currently a graduate student in the Public Policy department studying Public Management. This blog will be updated every two weeks on Mondays, so be sure to check back!
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, diversity in the workforce is an issue I think about a lot. Frequently, a workplace “culture” can involve the same types of people together, and it can be intimidating if one doesn’t fit in. But diversity in the workforce is a huge advantage to an employer and a huge advantage to the employees. While employees may feel more comfortable to be themselves in a diverse environment, they’re also more likely to collaborate creatively in an environment that fosters diverse thought. This is great for an employee but even better for employers who appreciate creative solutions to problems they look to solve.
Employer partners will come to UMBC to mingle with students and recruit students from diverse backgrounds; however, this event is open to all students. Our keynote speaker for this event is Karl W. Reid, the Executive Director of the National Society of Black Engineers. Have freedinner and win great prizes. Meet employers who are interested in diversifying their workforce. Top organizations will be on hand to discuss career opportunities within their organizations/agencies. Dress professionally and bring several copies of your resume. A list of organizations will be available on the Career Center's website. Limited seating will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. This event is co-hosted by the Career Center and the UMBC Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.You can find more information on the Career Center MyUMBC page here.
If you’re interested in working for the government and have a disability, the Career Center also offers the Workforce Recruitment Program. The WRP is a recruitment and referral program for students and recent graduates to connect with employers looking to hire. More information can be found here. If you’re interested in registering, contact Caroline Bodnar at carolc@umbc.edu.
There are plenty more resources the Career Center offers for specific populations! For students of all backgrounds, there are resources linked on the Career Center website for the common barriers students run into when they are looking for a diverse work environment. Whether you are LGBTQ+, a student with special needs, an international student, or a student with military experience, there are resources available to you through the Career Center that can help you find the right work environment for you.
Finding the right employer doesn’t have to be an arduous task. The Career Center helps all UMBC students, no matter their background. You can get specialized career help by scheduling an appointment with a Career Specialist through the “schedule an appointment” button on UMBCWorks, or you can utilize the online resources available on the Career Center website.