Advertising

Recruitment is the process of attracting a field of applicants and advertising can be the key to attracting a broader field. The shift from print media to digital advertising means there are more opportunities than ever to extend your reach.

You may wish to think about advertising outside traditional methods: for example, community job boards, via community groups and at job centres, or using social media platforms and encouraging your networks to share onwards.

Asking individuals to share vacancies with friends or networks can be useful in widening your search, but it should be noted that it does carry the risk that the vacancy is shared among similar groups of people – you may attract more applicants, but the applicants may not be diverse.

There are other ways to ensure your advertising reaches and engages with people. You could include policy statements about inclusive practice, encouraging people from different backgrounds to apply – see the section on positive action.

Using testimonials and case studies from staff or volunteers from currently underrepresented groups may help to create a greater sense of belonging. You can also use imagery to illustrate diversity – where this is the case, make sure to use images of real people rather than AI-generated content.