The positives and negatives of networks and tech hiring

In a fast developing industry such as tech, the acquisition and retention of talent is a crucial success factor. Often, hiring through personal networks can lead to a quicker and more successful hiring process than traditional methods – and sometimes contacts can even encourage under-represented groups to apply for positions they wouldn’t consider otherwise. But there’s a downside: personal networks are significantly different in size, structure and utilisation depending on a person’s social origin and gender. Does hiring through networks lead to an exclusion of whole social classes? Do contacts influence retention time positively for men yet not for women?

This talk presents current research results and provides suggestions on how to tackle talent acquisition in tech without giving up on representation and diversity.