The importance of integration in tech hiring

According to recent research from Gartner, companies that have sustainable diversity initiatives showcase a 20% increase in inclusion, which leads to increased productivity, retention, and employee performance.

There are key opportunities for diverse tech talent to integrate into a company and use their cultural experiences to share ideas and drive innovation.

Let’s take a closer look at the importance of integration in tech hiring and onboarding tech talent.

The difference between integration and assimilation  in tech onboarding

Integration is when companies are welcoming of different perspectives and encourage individual experiences to blend into the work culture. This flexible approach to onboarding encourages diverse talent to use their cultural influences to drive performance. A company that favours integration is willing to adapt their ways of working to bring out the best in its employees.

Assimilation is when employees are expected to adapt to a company’s culture. Employees are encouraged to modify their thinking and behaviours so that they align with a company’s processes and vision. Assimilating diverse talent into an existing team can often mean that employees feel they’re unable to be their authentic selves at work.

The importance of onboarding tech talent into an integrated environment

According to DevSkiller, the employee turnover rate for the tech industry is 13.2% – higher than many other business sectors. In today’s candidate-driven market, the need for companies to retain talent is more important than ever.

Recent research from Wiley Edge has found that the most common reason that young tech workers leave a role is a lack of sense of belonging (27%). Employers therefore need to ensure that new hires feel that their cultural experiences are valued, and that they’re seen as a strength.

If employees don’t feel that they have the freedom to be themselves at work, they’re more likely to feel insecure about their place in the company. In turn, this affects their ability to be creative and perform at their best.

According to research from Great Place to Work, when employees feel a sense of  belonging in the workplace they are 3 times more likely to look forward to coming to work, and 3 times more likely to say their workplace is fun. They’re also 5 times more likely to want to stay at their company, and 9 times more likely to believe people are treated fairly, regardless of their race.

Creating a sense of belonging

Creating a sense of belonging begins at the recruitment stage. Employers should aim to demonstrate their preference for integrating talent by showcasing their flexibility and being transparent in job adverts.

Making role requirements clear, providing salary information, and emphasising skills over experience can attract a more diverse range of talent. Removing biased language from job descriptions using tools, like Totaljobs’ Gender Bias Decoder, ensures that adverts don’t isolate candidates.

Similarly, tools like Equality Boost can help companies increase applications from underrepresented groups by running targeted display advertising campaigns. Companies can also demonstrate their commitment to integration by displaying an Equality Boost Badge on job listings.

Offering personalised benefits packages

Research from Gartner finds that personalised benefits and initiatives can increase feelings of inclusion by up to 38%. Employers should therefore aim to offer tailored, flexible packages that are appealing to all demographic groups. Personalisation is key to ensuring that benefits meet the needs of tech workers, both inside and outside of work.

Supporting diversity initiatives

Being proactively involved in diversity initiatives demonstrates that employers care about inclusion and integrating talent into the workforce. Partnering with organisations like Tech Talent Charter and Colorintech, can help companies create a stronger sense of community and drive greater diversity and inclusion.

Likewise, providing talent with access to external networks provides workers with a space to discuss and share their experiences, away from the workplace. In turn, this can promote a sense of belonging and reassure workers that their experiences are valued.

For more information on the tools that can help you integrate tech talent into your workforce, visit our platform at https://www.cwjobs.co.uk/recruiters.