The Top Ten Ways to Recruit Immigrants into the Workplace
Immigrants often seek better life conditions in another country. Most bring talents, knowledge, and skills that can benefit the host country. However, the immigrant too often endures discrimination (both intentional and unintentional) and the challenges of trying to adjust to the new society. It is the responsibility of the host country’s businesses and communities to develop a strategic plan to take full advantage of the immigrant’s potential. The following is a list of things to consider in the recruitment of immigrants.
1. Develop a strategic initiative designed to recruit immigrants into the organization.
2. Conduct surveys and interviews with immigrants to determine what they believe is needed for them to access employment.
3. Develop an advisory board made up of representatives from the full range immigrant groups to work with host country representatives. Use the advisory group to gain insight into how to recruit and to champion the recruitment efforts in their communities.
4. Do not hesitate to use non-traditional approaches to advertising (e.g., informal contacts, recruiting through friends, putting advertisements in different languages, etc.).
5. Make the criteria for promotion and retention clear to the applicant.
6. Make it clear how, once employed, an individual can report within the organization any perceived discrimination.
7. Provide information about how immigrant workers can improve their skills (e.g., language or technical knowledge) within the organizations. Keep in mind that many immigrants come to the host country with training and education that the host country often does not recognize. Rethink the barriers to taking advantage of their talents.
8. Evaluate current recruitment policies to determine if they inadvertently steer immigrants away from professional positions.
9. Educate recruiters on issues confronting promotion within the organization.
10. Survey immigrants who were offered jobs, but chose not to accept. They can provide valuable insight into how to strengthen the recruitment effort.