By Heather R. Huhman, Contributor

Let’s be honest, you already know the importance of hiring a diverse workforce. Diversity leads to better work environments, fresh ideas, and new ways of looking at old problems. In 2012, the Center For American Progress found people of color made up nearly one-third of the workforce and women made up nearly half. So you know it’s important to focus on diversity when hiring great employees. But what about when hiring great interns? Too many companies ignore intern diversity in their inclusion efforts and miss the boat on future talent. Why focus on intern diversity? So why is diversity so important in your internship programs? If you think interns are just fetching coffee and getting copies, you couldn’t be more wrong. Your internship program is actually a training ground for top talent. Look at your interns and you’ll be looking at the future of your company. The intern hire you make today has a 60 percent probability of being the entry-level superstar of tomorrow. By focusing on inclusion directly in your internship program, you can be sure to cultivate a diverse workforce. Even better, you can establish a company culture where differences are acknowledged and valued. “This is the kind of place where you can bring your whole self to work,” Suzanne Rosenthal, senior director of human resources for Viacom, said in a Google Hangout on internship diversity. “I think everybody subscribes to the idea that you’re going to work best when you’re bringing your whole self to work and who you are.” Diversity helps productivity, it helps creativity, and it builds an inclusive company culture many smart candidates will find attractive. A more diverse internship pool will also translate into greater entry level diversity. “Remember, organizational diversity doesn’t happen overnight,” said Ashley Mosley, engagement coordinator of InternMatch. “If you stress diversity when hiring interns, it’s giving your company a good foundation to build a more diverse workforce.” How do you promote diversity? Promoting diversity in your internship program means thinking strategically about the issues facing your industry and how to address them. You can’t just decide “we’re going to be more diverse” and then pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Look at your industry from a micro and macro perspective to pinpoint the problem areas when it comes to diverse hiring practices. While every industry has a different set of challenges, here are some general tips on how to cultivate a more diverse intern workforce: Start at the high school level While this is true for many subjects, when it comes to science, technology, engineering, and math (or STEM) subjects, early intervention is a smart policy for fostering greater diversity. STEM students today are the innovators of tomorrow, but soon we might be a little low on innovation. The World Economic Forum ranks the United States number 52 when it comes to quality of mathematics and science education. And the numbers are even more striking for underrepresented students when you consider African American and Latino …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest