What role can recruitment play in creating a gender-balanced workforce throughout the financial services industry? Jay Bevacqua, Recruitment Consultant at Selby Jennings, shares his thoughts for International Women's Day 2020.
The 2020 International Women’s Day theme is that an equal world is an enabled world. What does that mean to you in the financial services?
To me, each for equal means enabling others. I believe the phrase should be used to present opportunities to individuals who may not have had the exposure otherwise. Historically the world of finance has been rather homogeneous— and it is time to level the playing field for all qualified candidates. This includes empowering individuals and reminding them why they are the right person for the job. Equality enables someone to be comfortable in their own skin and achieve greater results—whether in the office or in life.
What sort of conversations around gender equality do you have with clients and candidates in your sector?
Gender equality is a topic that is rather prevalent, but it cannot be stressed enough as there is still a considerable amount of work to do before the wage gap is overcome. Fortunately, clients are now more cognizant of the statistical evidence surrounding diversity so it is become a conversation of how they can execute at a higher level. On the candidate side, gender equality is often paired with career growth as individuals deserve the right the know that they will be compensated and titled according to their success.
What role can recruiters play in creating an equal world?
Recruiters play a vital role in making sure that candidates realize their value within the market. Being a recruitment consultant means that you can dissect the inefficiencies within a business and implement new and diverse solutions. This includes being assertive and standing up for candidates who may be passed on without being given the opportunity to display their abilities.
What advice would you give to a company trying to create a diverse hiring strategy?
The three main pieces of advice would be creating employee resource groups, promoting internal growth, and providing as much mentorship as possible. ERG’s have a consistent theme in conferences that I have attended recently—people long to see individuals who look/think/act like them succeed. Internal promotions are another great way to offer reassurance; this promotes self confidence that their employer will reward them meritocratically.
Jay Bevacqua is a Senior Consultant on Selby Jennings — focusing on Data and Analytics recruitment. As of early 2019, he began taking on initiative outside of the typical recruitment life cycle to boost the presence of inclusivity in the workplace—both internally at Selby Jennings and for our clients. For advice on building a diverse hiring strategy, get in touch with the Selby Jennings team.
About us
Selby Jennings is a leading specialist recruitment agency for banking and financial services. For more than 15 years, we have given clients and candidates peace of mind that the recruitment process is in expert hands. Our continual investment in best-in-class technologies and consultant training enables us to recruit with speed, precision and accuracy. Today, Selby Jennings provides permanent, contract and multi-hire recruitment from our global hubs all over the world.