Why Consider Alternative Talent Pools
- Diversify Your Reach - Recruiting from the same talent pool is like fishing from the same pond — eventually, it becomes unproductive. Diversifying your talent resources casts a broader net and builds a more reliable pipeline for a variety of candidates.
- Expand Possibilities - Including overlooked talent groups brings distinct advantages to recruitment and retention strategies. Nontraditional talent pools can bring greater dedication, consistency, energy, insight, and perspectives to your workforce.
- Local Expertise - Maryland is rich with resources that support new and diverse talent pools so when you hire these candidates, you get guidance to support long-term success. Engage with the resources to learn more.
Youth/High School Students
Without hesitation, we entrust our children in the hands of young people as babysitters and lifeguards. Why would we hesitate to entrust them with our jobs?
- Hiring youth brings fresh perspectives and boosts team energy.
- Each generation offers unique insights into consumer trends and preferences.
- Younger employees may obtain security clearances more easily.
- MD Insurance Administration confirmed workers' compensation rates are unaffected by the age of employees.
- Maryland laws prohibit age discrimination, protecting young workers.
- Employers can train youth and cultivate their skills according to your standards, right from the start. Link to PDF
- Collaborating with local schools provides direct, meaningful access and exposure to future talent.
- College and Career Readiness professionals, teachers, and school counselors are uniquely connected to students and can cultivate candidates to match them with the best opportunities, serving as an initial screening for employers.
Learn more about apprenticeship services provided by your local school districts.
Varying Ability
Employing individuals with disabilities is a socially and ethically responsible decision — which also improves business performance, innovation, and profitability.
- U.S. Department of Labor reports that employees with disabilities show higher job retention rates, reducing turnover costs.
- Employees with disabilities are also reported to demonstrate lower absenteeism, enhancing productivity.
- Their diverse perspectives drive innovation, supported by 92% of companies, according to a survey by Accenture.
- Customers favor companies that hire individuals with disabilities, fostering brand loyalty according to a survey by Employment Disability Resources.
- Governments offer financial incentives like tax credits for hiring individuals with disabilities.
- They contribute to increased productivity, as evidenced by a 35% higher likelihood of financial returns above industry averages for companies with diverse workforces, according to the Institute for Corporate Productivity.
Underserved Populations
Underserved populations enrich the workforce with diverse perspectives, driving innovation and creativity. Valuable language and cultural skills foster global connections to expand your organization’s reach. Hiring from resilient and adaptable communities can help your teams overcome challenges with fresh insight. Engaging with these populations is a strategic approach that fosters a collaborative, dynamic, and inclusive workplace.
Veterans
Hiring veterans brings strong leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to the workforce. Their discipline, diverse perspectives, and global experience promote collaboration and innovation. Many veterans hold security clearances and have access to support networks. This strategic move is not just corporate social responsibility, it also enriches your company's talent, supporting organizational success and growth.
Second Chance
Offering employment to individuals with criminal records benefits both organizations and communities, regardless of the candidate's age. Stand Together Foundation notes. “Excluding people with criminal records from the workforce is estimated to cost the U.S. economy up to $87 billion annually”.
- Reduced Turnover and Training Costs: Second chance hires often demonstrate high levels of loyalty and commitment, leading to lower turnover rates and reduced recruitment and training costs for employers.
- Community Reintegration and Rehabilitation: By offering opportunities to individuals with criminal records, employers contribute to their successful reintegration into society, reducing recidivism rates and promoting community safety.
Second chance hiring not only expands the talent pool, bringing diverse perspectives and brings valuable skills to the workforce, but also ensures legal compliance and demonstrates your organization’s investment in the community’s well-being. Return Home can guide you.
Success Stories & Support
Learn more about the steps
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How MAC Can Help
Employers are busy running their businesses and solving their own challenges so they can grow their organizations, their teams, and their impact on the economy. Share your workforce hiring and retention challenges with us, and we can help you navigate the solutions that will build your talent pipeline for today and the future.
Contact us to learn more about what we are doing and how we can help.
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