Recruitment of Women in Non-Traditional Fields

Despite laws that prohibit discrimination and harassment, women are still underrepresented in traditionally male dominated occupations. For example in the skilled trades, women constitute less than 3% of the workforce. Even at the apprenticeship level, women represent only 7% of the workforce. This is not just in the trades, accordingly to Dr. Anita Borg, President and Founding Director of the Institute for Women and Technology, There is a drop in percentage of women getting bachelor degrees in computer science and engineering. If you look at any engineering field, it's quite low. If you take the average over all of engineering in the United States, 11% are women engineers. [1]

To counter this trend, the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women offers these recruitment strategies and resources, compiled from a list of organizations whose focus is on increasing the number of women in non-traditional occupational areas. There are many more resources than those listed here. Each listing has its own suggestions and additional links and information. We encourage employers to develop, explore and utilize these resources and strategies. It takes a strong commitment from the top of an organization to make recruiting women a priority.


EMPLOYER STRATEGIES FOR RECRUITING WOMEN

  1. Recruitment Process

  • Successful recruitment takes time. Allow enough time to spread the word and obtain a diverse pool of applicants. Make sure the job announcement is given to as wide an audience as possible and go beyond standard employment listings.

  • Job announcements, especially the description of the organization, can be used as a marketing device. Include reasons why women or minorities might want to work at your organization.

  • Sending out job announcements alone is a bare minimum approach and will not generally produce a sufficiently diverse applicant pool, especially when attempting to attract women to nontraditional positions. Make calls to groups or contacts who may help spread the word. Make follow-up calls on leads. Personal contact is crucial to success.

  • Use the Internet effectively to attract women applicants. Consider creating a women's page and ask viewers to sign up to be put on a mailing list. Send e-mails to the list about the application process. Provide FAQs and offer to answer any questions.

  • Make sure that the recruitment staff is diverse and includes women and minorities.

  1. Recruitment Policy and Organization Policy

  • Revise recruitment policy to ensure it supports diversity in more than name only.

  • Eliminate all unnecessary qualifications which do not closely relate to the job and any possible discriminatory requirements.

  • Ensure that publications (e.g., website, brochures, flyers, etc.) have visual images of women employees.

  • Create an incentive or reward program for employees who attend any kind of workshops and conferences which benefit women's career development.

  • Include female role models at career expo and discussion panels. Put their real success stories on the website.

  1. Announcement and Messaging

  • Announce to all employees the organization's strong policy statement that prohibits unlawful discrimination and supports women in nontraditional jobs.

  • Send strong and positive messages about hiring women to the public. In recruitment materials, be sure to include messages that specifically include women applicants and visual images of working women.

  1. Assessment

  • Do a series of interviews or focus groups with current women employees to gather their suggestions and solicit their support for recruitment efforts.

  • Find out what attracted them to the workplace and why they stay.

  • Conduct a statistical gender analysis of the selection process in order to determine whether women are being disproportionately screened out at any stage.

  • Obtain the most updated information on the labor market pool and compare this your employment data.

  • Review the recruitment process and suggest improvements after a job has been filled by asking what worked, and what needs improvement.

  1. Long Term Strategy

  • Approach colleges with occupational education programs in their communities or/and internship programs. Develop a collaborative goal of recruiting female students.

  • Create internship programs, preferably paid, to encourage career exploration.

  1. Support of Women Employees And Retention

  • Ensure that proper facilities and equipment are available for women employees (e.g., women's bathrooms, appropriate-sized uniforms, etc.).

  • Address key issues that commonly affect women, such as sexual harassment, job assignment and promotion, family care, transportation, and health and safety concerns.

  • Review the organization's policies on sexual harassment, pregnancy, and childcare.

  • Encourage support groups for women.

  • Establish a policy of pairing women with mentors.

  • On an ongoing basis monitor the progress of the organization in preparing the workplace for women 

​

CASE STUDY: Dramatic Results from Less Than a Day of Recruitment

The Maui Economic Development Board's Women in Technology Project (WIT) was launched in 1999 with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor. Employers and labor unions had indicated that they had never succeeded at attracting qualified female applicants, and that they surely had never had more than 10% female applicants. Historically, women entering non-traditional occupations have lacked access to the old-boys network through which most positions are filled. [2]

>Access Concerns

WIT knew that the greatest barrier to women entering non-traditional occupations was that they do not have access to the predominantly male informal networks that would make them aware of job opportunities. The main focus of WIT's recruitment strategy was to make sure that qualified female applicants learned of career opportunities. The first labor union WIT assisted with recruitment was the Laborers' International Union of North America-Maui Local.

>Flyer with Female Image

The first way that WIT helped was by developing a flyer with a prominent image of a female construction laborer and the heading Female Applicants Wanted for Laborer Apprenticeship! The flyer also gave information about the specific wage range for apprentices, benefits, the application process, and the dates applications would be accepted.

>Fax with Image & Stats

WIT then compiled a fax list of over 200 women-serving organizations, cultural organizations, day care providers, social service providers, health service providers, housing agencies, welfare and unemployment offices, grocery stores, health clubs, Laundromats, and beauty salons. WIT developed a cover sheet for the fax that included an image of a female construction worker and explained briefly that women are underrepresented in apprenticeships, that apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training with benefits, and that most traditionally male apprenticeship fields offer significantly better pay than traditionally female occupations. The cover sheet asked the recipient to copy, circulate and post the flyer and to notify potentially qualified female applicants. WIT faxed the flyer with cover sheet to the fax list of over 200 organizations, as well as hand-delivered 100 flyers on bright yellow paper to the local workforce development office, public housing office, and welfare-to-work office.

>Press Release

WIT also drafted a press release to the local media with the title Female Apprenticeship Applicants Sought by Laborers' Union that resulted in a story the Sunday before recruitment opened. WIT also copied the text of the fax cover sheet and flyer into an email and distributed the email to its distribution list of over 500 people, including the state and county Commissions on the Status of Women.

>Results

The results of the implementation of these albeit basic recruitment strategies were dramatic. Based upon WIT's minimal efforts for the Laborers' International Union of North America-Maui Local, designing and faxing out a flyer with cover sheet and writing a press release, over half of their apprenticeship applicants were women and 6 women made it through pre-apprenticeship training and were placed into apprenticeships. The time invested in these recruitment efforts was minimal. It took about 2 hours to compose the fax list, another hour to design the flyer, and an hour to design the fax cover sheet and send out the faxes. It took about an hour to write and submit the press release and another hour to copy and hand-deliver flyers. The key to any successful recruitment strategy has been making employers recognize the value and return on investment in seeking out well qualified female workers.


[2] Adapted from Christine L. Andrews and Leslie Wilkins. Recruiting Women to the Trades: Marketing Strategies that Work, Maui Economic Development Board, Women in Technology Project.
 

RESOURCES

 
African-American Women in Technology (AAWIT)
 
  • Offers support for African-American women in the information technology field. Fee required for membership. Members are eligible for job search services, online learning courses, and a mentoring program. The membership fee is needed.
 
 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

x

 

Fee to list jobs

 

x

Fee to access job listings

x

 

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

x

 

Fee to list resume

x

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

 

 

The American Association for the Advanced Science (AAAS), Science Careers.

 

  • Provides job listings and information about workshops and career fairs. Employers can post jobs and search resumes from a database. The organization supports minority scientists' networks and job searches.

 

1200 New York Avenue NW,

Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 326-6400

http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

x

 

Fee to list jobs

x

 

Fee to access job listings

 

 

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

x

 

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

 

 

American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)

 

  • Provides various support for higher education and career development. The membership fee is $25 for college students, $65 for professional members per year. Members can put their resumes in the database, and employers can post jobs..

 

2305 Renard SE, Suite 200

Albuquerque, NM 87106

Phone: (505) 765-1052, Fax: (505) 765-5608

http://www.aises.org/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

x

 

Fee to list jobs

 

 

Fee to access job listings

x

 

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

x

 

Fee to list resume

x

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

x

 

America's Job Bank

 

  • A nation-wide job search site operated by the U.S. Department of Labor in partnership with state-operated Public Employment Services. Contains government and private sector job openings.

 

http://www.ajb.org/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

x

 

Fee to list jobs

 

x

Fee to access job listings

 

x

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

x

 

Fee to list resume

 

x

Fee to access resume listings

 

x

Job search tips

x

 

Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (ABI)

 

  • Offers services for women in technology fields including computer science and engineering, information technology, software, networking and electronics in both the public and private sectors. Website gives detailed advice for job interviews and provides links to well-known job websites.
 
1501 Page Mill Road, MS 1105
Palo Alto, Ca 94304
Phone: (650) 236-4756, Fax: (650) 852-8172
http://www.anitaborg.org/
 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

 

x

Fee to list jobs

 

 

Fee to access job listings

 

 

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

 

x

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

x

 

Beyond Parity – Workbook for Action (PDF)

 

  • Focused on the academic medicine field, this workbook helps to identify gender barriers at work. Panels discuss how to improve the working situation for female employees and suggest tips to implement policies that benefit women.

 

National Center of Excellence in Women's Health, University of Illinois at Chicago

http://www.uic.edu/orgs/womenshealth/bp_workbook156.pdf

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

 

 

Fee to list jobs

 

 

Fee to access job listings

 

 

Recruitment tips

x

 

Resume listings

 

 

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

x

 

Building California Construction Careers (BC3)

 

  • Provides information about pre-apprenticeship which generally last 6-12 weeks. Prepares candidates for the general apprenticeship entrance requirement with pre-apprenticeship programs. The organization also provides apprenticeship programs.

 

1225 8th Street, Suite 390,

Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 443-3302, Fax: (916) 442-0052

https://apprenticeship.cabuildingtrades.org/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

 

 

Fee to list jobs

 

 

Fee to access job listings

 

 

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

 

 

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

x

 

Environmental Careers Organization

 

  • Focused in the environmental field, this agency provides useful career tips for environmental specialists, advice on different kinds of environmental jobs, and websites of the nation's largest environmental consulting firms.

 

30 Winter Street, 6th Floor

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 426-4783, Fax: (617) 426-8159

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

 

x

Fee to list jobs

 

 

Fee to access job listings

 

 

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

 

x

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

x

 

Girl Start

 

  • Girl Start is a non-profit organization that encourages and empowers girls in the science field by offering after-school programs, Saturday camps, and summer camps, all designed to create hands-on learning experiences for girls.

 

1400 W. Anderson Lane

Austin, TX 78757

Phone: (512) 916-4775 or 1-877-768-4775

Fax: (512) 916-4776

http://www.girlstart.org/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

 

 

Fee to list jobs

 

 

Fee to access job listings

 

 

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

 

 

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

 

 

Girls Tech

 

  • Provides guidelines for teachers, parents, and youth leaders about how to use electronic information resources (website, CD-ROMs, games, etc.) to appeal to girls and stimulate their interest in the science and information technology fields.

 

A program of Douglass College, the undergraduate women's college of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

 

 

Fee to list jobs

 

 

Fee to access job listings

 

 

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

 

 

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

 

 

Mentor Net

 

  • Aimed at women and minorities, this agency offers a nationwide electronic mentoring network in the computer science field as well as a one-on-one email-based mentoring program. Candidates can post resumes online and access employment resources free of charge.

 

1275 S. Winchester Blvd., Suite E

San Jose, CA 95128-3910
Phone: (408) 296-4405

http://www.mentornet.net/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

 

 

Fee to list jobs

 

 

Fee to access job listings

 

 

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

x

 

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

 

 

Minority Environmental Leadership Development Initiative

 

  • Focused on minorities in the environmental field, the website provides information on job openings in government and the private sectors and workshops. Also provides general advice on interviewing and search strategies.

 

University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources and Environment

Phone: (734) 615-2602, Fax: (734) 936-2195

http://www.umich.edu/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

x

 

Fee to list jobs

 

 

Fee to access job listings

 

 

Recruitment tips

 

x

Resume listings

 

x

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

x

 

National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology, and Science

 

  • Provides successful tips for both job seekers and employers in nontraditional fields. Also provides E-job (i.e., job search and job posting) as well as on-line mentoring services.

 

1150 Ballena Blvd, Suite 102

Alameda, CA 94501-3682
Phone: (510) 749-0200, Fax: (510) 749-0500

http://www.iwitts.com/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

x

 

Fee to list jobs

x

 

Fee to access job listings

 

x

Recruitment tips

x

 

Resume listings

 

 

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

x

 

Sciencejobs.com

 

  • Affiliated with New Science Magazine, this website helps job-seekers find employment in the science field and allows them to post resumes online.

 

201 Mission Street, 26th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94105

Phone: (415) 616-4427, Fax: (415) 543-6789

http://www.sciencejobs.com/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

x

 

Fee to list jobs

x

 

Fee to access job listings

 

x

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

x

 

Fee to list resume

 

x

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

 

 

Tradeswomen, Inc.

 

  • Founded in 1979, Tradeswomen, Inc. is California's first organization for women in the trades. Promotes recruitment of women and publishes educational brochures about recruitment and prevention of sexual harassment by employers. Job seekers can search for jobs on the Job Board.

 

1433 Webster Street

Oakland, CA 94612

Phone: (510) 891-8773

http://www.tradeswomen.org/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

x

 

Fee to list jobs

 

 

Fee to access job listings

 

x

Recruitment tips

x

 

Resume listings

 

x

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

 

 

Job search tips

x

 

Women in Technology International (WITI)

 

  • The career development site supports women seeking jobs in the business and technology fields. Candidates can post resumes on the database and search for jobs. Employers can also post jobs. Many thoughtful articles about tips on job hunting and interviews..

 

13351-D Riverside Drive #441

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Phone: (818) 788-9484, Fax: (818) 788-9410

http://www.witi.com/

 

Services

Yes

No

Job listings

x

 

Fee to list jobs

x

 

Fee to access job listings

 

 

Recruitment tips

 

 

Resume listings

x

 

Fee to list resume

 

 

Fee to access resume listings

x

 

Job search tips

 

 

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