The recent public outcry over racial disparities has motivated companies across the country to take a critical look at the way workers are recruited, hired, and retained. Only 8 percent of professionals working in Fortune 500 companies are Black, according to one study by the Center for Talent and Innovation. Diversity and inclusion (D&I;) within the internet industry workforce also continues to be a work in progress. While significant improvements have been made, there is more work to be done.
Internet Association’s (IA) first annual D&I; Benchmark Report found that 56 percent of member companies regularly recruit from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), or other predominantly minority-serving institutions. We want to build on those efforts, which is why this week we launched a job referral site as a new resource to connect diverse candidates interested in joining the internet industry with IA member companies.
IA’s job referral site — launching with hundreds of jobs with more to come — will serve as a centralized location for diverse job applicants to learn more about the opportunities available to them and help IA member companies connect with qualified applicants from underrepresented communities. IA is partnering with nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders such as the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, AnitaB.org, the HBCU Caucus, and the National Urban League to develop a strong database of talented candidates for open positions within the industry, including women technologists, alumni from historically black and hispanic institutions, and other diverse candidates.
The need to hire diverse and outstanding talent has once again taken center stage in the national spotlight We are proud to partner with Internet Association to assist in recruiting diverse HBCU alumni through the launch of this important job referral service initiative.
Dr. Harry L. Williams, President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund
The recent spread of COVID-19 has led many campuses and businesses to close their doors this year making it even harder for companies that relied on traditional campus interviews and job fairs to attract talent. It’s even more critical now that job seekers are able to use online tools to connect them to prospective employers in the industry.
We are excited to have IA as an ally in our mission to expand opportunities for women in tech,” said . We hope that IA’s new referral site will serve as a tool for women technologists to pursue roles for their talent, especially at a time when so many individuals are in need of quality career opportunities.
Stephanie Rodriguez, Vice President of Policy and Engagement at AnitaB.org
IA’s job referral site, which is powered by Aliro, makes viewing, sharing, and applying for open positions easy and seamless. Just visit referrals.internetassociation.org, create a profile, and upload your resume to receive email updates right to your inbox with new job openings that fit your profile.
Once on the site, you can search through our job listings using keywords or locations. When you’ve found an opening you’d like to apply for, you can do so by clicking “Apply Now” and you’ll be directed to the company’s application process.
Our site also makes it easy to refer a job opening to a friend. By clicking “Refer Somebody I Know” you can share relevant listings with your network via email or social media.
We are proud to partner with IA in our shared pursuit of helping people find jobs and pursue rewarding careers in the internet industry. Connecting diverse talent with opportunities at internet companies is an important step in our mission to economically empower under-resourced and underrepresented communities.
Clint Odom, Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, and Executive Director, Washington Bureau at National Urban League
Our member companies, which include social media platforms, ecommerce sites, and commercial cloud providers, among others, recognize the importance of having a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community and online users they serve. We are committed to improving diversity at every level and career field within the industry. Ensuring job applicants from underrepresented populations have access to open positions within the industry is the first step toward achieving that goal.
As founder and co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, I applaud the Internet Association on the rollout of their Job Referral tool targeted to HBCU job seekers. In order to achieve true diversity and inclusion in our workforce, we must be intentional in creating opportunity for students and alumni from our biggest producers of diverse talent: HBCUs. I look forward to continuing engagement with our private partners as we seek to make HBCUs a part of every entity’s D&I; strategy.
Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC)
IA is proud to partner with minority-led organizations to ensure our hope for a more inclusive future becomes a reality. By working together, we can make significant strides toward dismantling systemic inequality and ensure that every American — regardless of race — has equal access to the kinds of career opportunities that will set them up for a successful future.
