Would this be an inappropriate ask?

Hey savages,


I'll be a hiring a couple more SDRs before the year ends. Our team has 7 reps with only 1 of them being female. She's been jokingly asking me to hire more girls on the team because she feels out-numbered.


Right now, we use 2 different recruiting firms to source our SDRs and they've only given me 3 female candidates all year (2 of which we've hired).


Would it be weird for me to ask our recruiters to intro me to more female candidates?

👥 Hiring
🧢 Sales Management
22
CaneWolf
Politicker
26
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
Referring to them as women instead of girls might also help. But definitely not an inappropriate ask.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
11
🦊
Thank you. 🦊
TheIncarceration
Politicker
0
SDR Manager
Note taken! 
MediocreSalesGuy
Valued Contributor
4
AE (Account Executive)
I don’t think it’s inappropriate. Just tell them you’re trying to diversify the team and could really use additional qualified females on the team.
1nbatopshotfan
Politicker
4
Sales
Start close to home, does your female rep have any friends that she would recommend? She’ll know the culture fit. 
Boudreaux
Politicker
3
Regional Manager
Not at all and it will improve your team in my opinion. I have five counterparts and they are all female, four are killers and the other is new, but off to a great start.
Diablo
Politicker
3
Sr. AE
It's not inappropriate at all and your female rep is absolutely right, thought she might have joked. Lot of the colleagues' have been female and they are too good at sales.
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
3
sales
tell them to hire the best candidate for the job and to make sure they aren't using a double standard when grading male/female applicants.
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
1
VP of Sales
Damn straight
NeildeSaaSTyson
Contributor
1
Senior Account Executive (MM)
Totally fine IMO, we have a nicely balanced team and its a great dynamic.  Lots of perspectives and approaches. 
cw95
Politicker
1
Sales Development Lead
I think it’s fine to ask - I would say not to employ just for that reason but definitely ask and do 100% hire based on ability etc! As you would do if it were the other way around!
TheIncarceration
Politicker
0
SDR Manager
Absolutely agree. I would still consider all candidates equally!
dwightyouignorantsale
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Not inappropriate. When I was the only female AE on my team, there were a lot of things that impacted me that the typical person wouldn’t think about. Often when my male coworkers went to lunch, they often wouldn’t invite me thinking I wouldn’t want to go get wings or go wherever they were going. Or when they did invite me, they were constantly talking about sports or other borderline offensive things in which they would say “sorry for talking about that when you were here”. Having someone that you actually relate to is such an unknown need for me, I’ve realized.
DataSlangah
Politicker
1
SAE
Why do you think that you are not getting as many qualified female candidates?  I don't think it is inappropriate to ask for more diverse candidates at all.  
Cristles
Contributor
1
AE (Account Executive)
I would let the recruitment teams speak to your female SDR. To get a feel of what they need to be looking in for people and what type of person would be a great fit. Or perhaps schedule a call with her and the new applicant to see if it would work(make it part of the hiring process as a last step).
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
0
District Manager
"I've noticed that many of the candidates that you have sent me have been male. Is there anything we can do to reach a more diverse candidate pool?" might get the point across. Good luck! I have been the only female on the team plenty of times, and it can make things more difficult. 
SaaSguy
Tycoon
0
Account Executive
Not at all. Having diversity on a team is good, don't want to get caught in a groupthink loop. 
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
0
VP of Sales
Given the situation it would not be weird. But make sure you clearly express why, or the recruiter might find the request a little odd. Technically it’s illegal to discriminate so to proactively request one gender or the other is a sensitive topic if not handled correctly.
Flippinghubs
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
i think its more than fine 
jefe
Arsonist
0
🍁
Shouldn't be a big deal to emphasize diversity. Agree with @1nbatopshotfan, see if she's got some referrals.
10

Ladies - How do you respond when a prospect gets inappropriate?

Discussion
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