For a long time, we built workplaces around a very narrow definition of who “fits.”
And then we wondered why we keep facing talent shortages.
Here’s the reality I see every day:
There is no shortage of talent — there’s a shortage of access.
At Back to Work Connect, we work with returners and career changers who are experienced, capable, and ready to contribute. But too often, they’re locked out by outdated hiring practices and rigid ideas of what a “perfect CV” looks like.
Inclusive hiring isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It’s a business decision.
When companies get this right, three things happen:
• They unlock new talent pools they weren’t reaching before
• They retain people longer because they’ve built cultures where people actually want to stay
• They perform better — because diverse teams bring better thinking, better problem-solving, and better results
And the data backs it up — companies with more diverse leadership are significantly more profitable.
But here’s the thing:
You don’t get those results by intention alone.
You get them by changing how you hire.
That’s why we built our Returner Friendly Recruitment Training — to give organisations practical, realistic ways to open up opportunity without lowering the bar.
Because the goal isn’t to change the talent.
It’s to change the system so more talent can succeed within it.
For more information and supports on creating a Returner Friendly recruitment process reach out to our team at info@backtoworkconnect.ie
Keep up to date with the latest Returner Friendly employers, upskilling & retraining opportunities by joining our platform HERE
Sign up to our newsletter & job alert today and never miss the ideal opportunity again ! Sign up HERE
#FutureOfWork #InclusiveHiring #Returners #Leadership #TalentStrategy #DiversityAndInclusion
