Canadian companies aiming to improve work force diversity are increasingly using their student hiring programs as a key pipeline to bring in new Black talent and ensure those workers stick around.
Two years after signing BlackNorth Initiative, majority of companies have failed to make substantial progress on diversity, survey shows Among the companies committing to change is Sun Life Financial Inc., which has said it will provide 100 scholarships to fourth-year university students who self-identify as Black or Indigenous over the next five years, including a $5,000 contribution toward tuition, a summer internship at the company and dedicated career mentorship.
“There are significant proven significant barriers for Black and racialized individuals when applying for jobs. But I feel like we’re coming upon a new understanding of what those barriers are,” Ms. Jmila said. Most companies only started their Black-student-specific recruitment focus after the summer of 2020, said Graham Donald, the founder of student recruitment advisory firm Brainstorm Strategy Group Inc.
Some companies have tended to recruit from particular feeder schools, but those institutions might be less accessible than others to Black students because of systemic barriers such as higher tuition, said Gwenna Kadima, a recruitment consultant with global tech consulting firm Accenture PLC. “It’s really about equipping them for those unseen rules of corporate Canada,” said Ms. Kadima. “Not just ready to interview, but having built their resumes in a way that will make them attractive candidates when it comes time.”
“I think that’s one of the biggest challenges for these employers,” Mr. Donald said. “If they simply don’t have those people, then how can they represent it? They need to be prepared for some very difficult questions from young people and they need to be honest about their history.”
More racist drivel!