It has become more common to hear employers talk about valuing workplace diversity and inclusion. For Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers, this meant including a certain number of people of different genders or races in the workplace. Today’s Millennial generation, however, prefers “cognitive diversity,” or the blending of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives within a team.

As employers seek to hire people with diverse racial, sexual, class or religious backgrounds, you can drive the conversation about the value that your own diversity brings to a company.

Use these shifts in values to your advantage when applying and interviewing for jobs. Here are eight benefits of a diverse workplace that you can cite when talking with employers:

1. Adaptability—Having a workforce of diverse experiences and backgrounds will better prepare organizations to adapt to unforeseen challenges and opportunities.
2. Range of Service—A diverse workforce can impact the range of services the organization can provide.
3. Varying Perspectives—Employing professionals from a variety of industries and backgrounds can bring new and different perspectives to the table.
4. Learning and Growth—Having a diverse staff will create opportunities for people to get to learn more about different backgrounds and professions.
5. Communication—A staff that can conduct business and provide customer service in multiple languages means opportunities to grow and expand into new markets.
6. Increased Productivity—An organization with a diverse workforce can often increase productivity by tapping into the wealth of knowledge on staff.
7. Increased Innovation—Having a wide variety of opinions, skills, experiences and backgrounds on staff is a great way to encourage innovation in the workplace.
8. Satisfy a Diverse Customer Base—An organization whose staff represents its diverse customer base is a great way to create connections between the staff and the customer.

Blog shared from Goodwill Industries International