There is a large discussion of how to get greater diversity in the workplace, especially in maagerial positions. A HR firm should be formed to go around to malls and other places with entry level employees and based on customer experience identify candidates who excel. The HR firm would then place these individuals in managerial jobs or managerial trianing programs. Colleges/Universities provide this job for those fortunate enough to take advantage of this opportunity. The problem this solves is that there is no similar screener role for motivated talented people with limited academic credentials.
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I am for creative ways to allow qualified candidates to get into good positions. The mall trolling idea for good customer service and sales people is an old idea that works fairly well, just be careful to make sure the candidates are motivated enough for your industry. I believe the the best way to promote diversity is to hire the most qualified candidates. We need to cut out the rhetoric, our current liberal political system has done more to hurt diversity in the workplace than anything else. We need to encourage acheivment and success for everyone blind to race, creed or color. Always try to help in the diversity cause but be careful not to hinder the business in the name of the cause. Everyone should be held to the same standards!
I really like the idea of selecting people based on seeing them in action. The thought that there might be "talent scouts" out there might also help improve service. Not convinced that it will really help with diversity, but it could be a cool idea for a placement agency. Maybe we could have something similar to help with the nursing shortage.
In the mid 90's when desktop publishing was real hot the high end printing company I worked for would go around to Kinkos in New York City and hire the kids that ran the Computer rooms.
Pretty much all hires were excellent, intelligent and motivated. They also happened to be ethnicities that were not represtened in the company. Keep in mind that the company I worked for did this becasue it was COST EFFECTIVE, they really had NO INTEREST in promoting diversity, but it ended up doing just that.