Whatever HR structure models you use at your company, one thing you have to keep in mind when hiring and training employees is that everyone is different. People have different traits and experiences based on their age, sex and a number of other qualifications. While you cannot use these factors in hiring and other decisions, taking them into account once you have hired an employee can help both the company and the employee get the most out of the employment situation.
First off, you should make it a priority to diversify your company. You might think that having a workforce that has a sameness to it would be a good thing, but research actually shows the opposite. According to research from McKinsey, companies that have a good ratio of male and female employees are 15% more likely to outperform peer companies. When it comes to racial diversity, the advantage is even bigger, with racially diverse companies outperforming their peers by 35% on average. With this stat in mind, you should make sure your HR recruiters look for diversity in job candidates.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you are hiring candidates that are a good match for the position. When searching for diversity, you don’t want qualifications to take a backseat, as hiring an lesser qualified candidate can set back your efforts. A Robert Half survey of company CEOs found the No. 1 reason for failed hires is a poor skills match, with 36% identifying that as the top reason. Focusing on diversity to the detriment of skills is likely to produce poor results.
Diversity in your company doesn’t just mean racial and sex diversity. You also should strive for a diversity in ages of the people you hire. Some companies tend to value experience, while others like to hire young, hungry people who are willing to work more for less. Both HR structure models can work, but for best results, your talent acquisition strategy should aim for a mix of young and experienced workers. Keep in mind, though that young workers are more likely to leave for another job after a short time. And while older employees may be more loyal, they can present their own issues.
Whether you use outplacement companies or do your own hiring, it’s important to keep these considerations in mind. Diversity in the workplace is important, but hiring for the right skills should come first.