CHI & Partners removes CVs and photos from entry-level recruitment process to attract diverse talent
London-based creative shop CHI & Partners has launched a new entry-level scheme aimed at non-graduate talent from all backgrounds.
CHI & Partners removes CVs and photos from entry-level recruitment process to attract diverse talent
The agency's Spark scheme is open to "thinkers, creators, and doers," and will see CVs and photos stripped out of the application process to remove unconscious bias. The initiative will aim to attract diverse new talent to the agency – building on its skillsets and culture, and bringing new experience and thinking to its creative output.
Instead of the traditional submission, applicants will be asked to answer four creative and strategic questions before coming to meet the firm's team in November. A number of candidates will then be selected to begin working with CHI & Partners in January 2017, with another intake following in September 2017.
Fern Nott, head of talent at CHI & Partners, said: “We all know diversity is a big issue for the industry. Our communications need to speak to everyone in society, not just the select few who look and speak like us. Unconscious bias is a part of human nature – people naturally gravitate towards people who are similar to them; we all do it all the time. Removing CVs and photos from the application process means we won’t unconsciously favour people who went to the same school as us, or who have the same hobbies. We’re letting the talent speak for itself."
As well as offering access to training through CHI & Partners’ IPA membership and the agency’s own proprietary &Academy scheme, Spark will provide an introduction to the cross-discipline expertise of The&Partnership’s content, media, PR, data analytics and CRM agencies – giving candidates a comprehensive overview of the marcomms industry. Applications are being accepted online until 7 November.
The company's move comes as others in the industry look to tackle diversity by shaking down the recruitment process, including Denstu Aegis and JWT. The latter has recently launched an initiative called JWTeach to open up ad land to a broader and more diverse talent pool.