Welcome to the first #SFWITWednesday post of 2015!
Have you ever felt like you want your company to level the gender gap to have a more diverse team? While there are things companies have been recently trying, there is a lot you can do as an individual that would make a huge difference! Add the following to your resolution list, and make sure to hold yourself accountable. Very soon you’ll have your diverse team and no longer be the minority in the room!
1. Refer more women to job openings at your company!
Have you been referring people to job openings at your company? Everyone has talented friends, or friends of friends. Make sure to tell them why they should work at your company, and convince them to let you refer them!
2. Recommend a qualified woman – whether there is an opening or not
At times, the recruiting process can be rushed due to a number of circumstances. It may affect the time hiring teams have to ensure they have a diverse set of applicants to consider. So why not introduce them to a stellar woman technologist any time you can so when positions do open up, they already have a diverse set of candidates to consider?
3. Say ‘YES!’ to interviewing candidates to help build a more diverse team
Like women hires – you don’t want the hiring process at your company to feel like recruiting into a fraternity… so contribute to the diversity of the interview panel! Hold your team accountable to ensure there is always at minimum one woman available to interview potential candidates.
4. Speak at conferences, meetups, and networking events
The best way to get the word out to other women, is by making yourself visible. Considering the number of women speaking at tech events can be small, people will be sure to take notice of you when you speak about the work you are doing at your company. In turn, other women technologists may want to apply!
5. Be a role model
Sign up to be a mentor to girls and women who are interested in tech, and talk to them about what you do. The tech industry lacks women role models… if you can’t find one, be one!
Readers, what new year’s resolutions have you set? What else can individuals do to increase the number of women they work with? Post in the comments below!
About the blogger: Sukrutha Bhadouria is a Sr Member of Technical Staff at Salesforce, and the Managing Director of Bay Area Girl Geek Dinners. Follow Sukrutha on Twitter @sukruthasays and follow Salesforce WIT @salesforcewit to keep tabs on other great content and WIT events.