Tips for Inclusive Recruiting

• The best candidates will bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills, not just a high GPA.
• Consider being flexible with requirements in order to attract a broad range of strong candidates.
• List only the essential job requirements and minimum education levels needed to start the role.
• Including unnecessary qualifications can discourage women and people of color from applying, as they are less likely to pursue a position if they do not meet all listed qualifications. 
   

• A handshake upon greeting or eye contact while speaking may not be culturally appropriate for all students. Follow the communication cues of the students by offering a smile and a friendly greeting.
• Ask open-ended questions about students’ interests to get them engaged in conversation.
• Avoid acronyms or jargon unique to your organization.
   

• Communicate your organization’s commitment to equity and diversity, such as stating your organization’s values, what affinity groups you have, and other related initiatives.
• Be open with students about the culture of your organization. Share information to help them assess whether your organization is a good match for them.

• Reflect your organization’s values around creating an inclusive work environment.
• Identify the specific ways employees can support inclusion efforts.
• Make special note of inclusive benefits (parental leave policies, partner benefits, etc.)
• View this sample position description.

• University of Minnesota’s Job Posting Guide has tips for reaching today’s college students.
• BE MSP Workplace Toolkit is a free online course, produced by MakeIt. MSP (a Twin Cities workforce development organization), designed to help you and your organization spark conversations and build an inclusive culture in your workplace.
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has guidelines for interview questions.
• Fearless works with The BrandLab  through four areas of programming to ensure that both the workplace and work produced are culturally competent, inclusive to diverse identities, and equitable.
• The University of Minnesota Alumni Association has an Addressing Systemic Racism webpage.
• The University of Minnesota Office for Equity and Diversity has an Education Program for External Partners.
• Handshake offers Diversity & Inclusion: The Ultimate Guide for HR & Recruiting.

• Students can work full-time during school breaks and/or part-time during school, as long as the work is related to the student’s major field of study. Students must have completed two semesters in the U.S. before becoming eligible for internships.
• Students are responsible for filing paperwork with the U of M and can be authorized to begin work within seven working days.
• As an employer, you need only present the student with an internship offer of employment—no government filings, no expense.
   

• Students can work part-time or full-time in a position related to their major for at least 12 months after graduation.
• Students are responsible for filing paperwork with the UMN and may be eligible to begin work as early as immediately following graduation.
• Students who earned a degree in a STEM major (such as math, engineering, chemistry, or computer science), and who are working in a STEM-related position, are eligible for an additional 24 months of part-time or full-time work (for a total of 36 months), assuming the employer is or will become e-verified (called an OPT STEM extension).
• As an employer, you need only present the student with an offer of employment—no government filings, no expense.
   

Employers can sponsor international employees for longer-term work. The most common way is to apply for an H-1B. There are other visa possibilities, including permanent residence ("green card").

• H-1B: No minimum duration, maximum is three years at a time. Renewable for up to six years. Costs range from $2,000-6,000.
• Permanent Residence: Also known as the green card. Expenses vary.

Learn more information from the UMN International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).