If you’re a business owner looking to fill roles in your company, it’s important to think outside the box as you search for candidates. You can do this by hiring freelancers, rather than big-name agencies, and you can look to candidates like those who are disabled, seniors, and veterans. And as you bring on new employees or freelancers, consider ways to improve your workplace in order to foster a positive work environment for a diverse staff.

Hiring local freelancers

Some companies rely on contractors or freelancers for projects such as content creation, website design, and marketing. While it may be tempting to seek help from larger, trusted agencies, look to online job boards to find local qualified contractors. The benefits are two-fold; not only will you be supporting your local economy, but you’ll also have the ability to choose from a diverse pool of candidates who have varied backgrounds and experiences.

Part-time workers

If you’re thinking about adding part-time workers to your roster to help with tasks such as delivery driving, event staffing, or to fill customer service positions, consider looking to local agencies or senior community centers to find those with different abilities or older adults looking for work. 

Many seniors can jump into part-time roles with ease and motivation, likely with years of work experience that will be helpful for your company. For some seniors, part-time jobs are crucial to help supplement their retirement, so they’ll be hard-working and eager to earn. 

Offering opportunities for other individuals who are typically on the fringes of the hiring pool, such as people with disabilities or veterans, will help diversify your workplace and help your business thrive.

Mentoring through internships

Another great way to add to your workplace is through offering internships to young people. By developing intern programs, you can provide work opportunities to young people with the added benefit of mentorship. You’ll enrich their lives by providing positive role models, and their youthful energy will likely help raise morale in your company.

Before you take on an intern, make sure you’ve outlined what their program will entail. Determine how long the internship will last, and create some learning goals. Assign a staff member to be their mentor, and be sure to check in throughout the internship to monitor their progress. Give the intern a few important responsibilities to help them feel they are a valued member of the team, and be sure to offer guidance and feedback throughout.

Workplace accessibility

As you add more diversity to your workplace, consider ways in which you might need to adapt to meet the needs of your staff. For example, if a new staff member has a disability, be sure that your office or business is accessible. Aim to accommodate for a number of different needs, such as installing wheelchair ramps and educating the rest of your staff about awareness and sensitivity.

Other ways to make your workplace more accessible is by adopting assistive technology such as color-coded keyboards, Braille displays, screen-reading software, and speech recognition and sign language apps.  

As you build your company’s team, think outside the box, and begin to consider different hiring pools for candidates. Local freelancers are great candidates for jobs such as content development, marketing, and website design, and you’ll have the added bonus of putting money directly into your local economy. Consider hiring seniors, veterans, or people with disabilities for part-time (or even full-time) roles, and be sure your workplace is accessible for those who are differently-abled. If you’re building an internship program for young people, be sure to assign a dedicated mentor for each intern and help that person grow and learn throughout the program.

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