Chances Are Your Hiring Process Is Riddled With Bias

Inclusive hiring is the practice of minimizing bias and creating an equitable recruitment, application, interview, selection and offer process for a diverse set of candidates. It’s critical for attracting and retaining a diverse, engaged and innovative talent pool. It’s also where many companies go wrong. Achieving workplace diversity and equity requires intention and focus in order to overcome systemic and individual biases that have marginalized all too many members of our society.
Here are some tips you can begin implementing right now to make your hiring process more equitable.
Job descriptions
Bias can creep in at all stages of the hiring process, starting with job descriptions. As Marsha Ross-Jackson, Esq., MPA, Senior Lecturer and Associate Dean of DEI at Chicago-Kent College of Law, explains, “What type of job are you trying to fill? What are the requirements? What are the preferred qualifications? How are you wording those job descriptions so that they attract (or discourage) a diverse set of candidates? Take a look at the language you’re using. For example, does any of your language have the potential to be viewed as seeking candidates who are more masculine or youthful? Are you implying a preference for people without disabilities by including requirements like, ‘must be able to walk certain distances’ as opposed to ‘must be able to move items certain distances’?”
TIP: Engage a diverse group of individuals to create and revise job descriptions. This is a great first step toward attracting the best talent, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
TIP: Audit the language of your job descriptions to ensure that it’s as inclusive as possible. Tools such as Gender Decoder may be helpful. You can also check out these lists of masculine-coded and feminine-coded words.
TIP: Include an Equal Employment Opportunity statement and a listing of your company’s benefits. This will demonstrate your commitment to building an inclusive company culture and investing in employee well-being.
TIP: List salary ranges. This will convey that you have a culture of transparency and a focus on equity.
Would you like to learn more?
Join Joel Lesko and special guest Marsha Ross-Jackson, Esq., MPA on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m PT for a powerful webinar titled “Want to Succeed? Stop Hiring People Like You!” – part of our new “DEI Discussions” series. It will feature tips for eliminating bias when it comes to:
- Recruitment
- Candidate screening
- Interviews
- Selection
- Promotions
And make no mistake. Inclusive hiring is not simply the right thing to do. There’s a strong business case. Diversity in the workplace fosters innovation and creativity. A variety of life experiences leads to greater problem-solving, and, as any modern salesperson or marketer can tell you, solving customers’ problems is at the heart of business. Companies that tend to identify, understand and solve problems innovatively and creatively stand out from the crowd. This is supported by abundant research, including McKinsey & Company’s 2015 Why Diversity Matters report, which revealed that companies in the top quartile for gender, racial and ethnic diversity tend to have higher financial returns compared with the national industry medians.
Click here to register for this free webinar, or use the QR code below. You won’t want to miss this hearty discussion filled with actionable insights. Joel and Marsha will also explain the option for booking an Inclusive Hiring webinar exclusively for your organization.

More From Our Blog…
Navigating Thanksgiving – Speak Up or Stay Silent?
Tis the day before Thanksgiving and all through the land, people are anxious. Amidst the joy of the holiday—cherishing togetherness, celebrating with family and friends, and expressing gratitude— there's a potential for discomfort as opinions are shared and points of...
Hidden Hurdles: How Racial Segregation and Discrimination Hinder Black Professional Networks
In the United States, racial segregation and discrimination have cast long and oppressive shadows over the lives of Black individuals. While we often discuss the many consequences of these systemic injustices, one aspect that deserves more attention is their impact on...
Confronting the Backlash: The DEI Imperative
“Three short years after their collective response to massive protests over the police murder of George Floyd, companies are reneging on their diversity pledges." In their recent MIT Sloan Review article titled "Countering the Corporate Diversity Backlash,"...
Announcing the New SunShower App
After months of development, the new SunShower Learning learner app is now ready for prime time. Access a free download here:iTunes App StoreGoogle Play Store When you purchase a license for one or more of our award-winning eLearning courses and opt for delivery...
The Day I Remained Silent: Confronting Discrimination and Stereotypes
By Gina Miller We all have moments in our lives that we look back on with regret, wishing we had acted differently. One such moment for me was the day I didn't speak up in the face of discrimination and stereotypes. It's a story I've carried with me, serving as a...
Brave Marketing Is Good Business When It Comes to DEI
“Kantar’s ‘Brand Inclusion Index’ found that not only is there a financial advantage to a strong DEI strategy, but that there is still plenty of room to stand out.” According to a new report, a lack of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) could be costing businesses...
SunShower Learning: Unconscious Bias Training That Works
"Most [DEI] programs end exactly where they should start." "Only 10% of training programs gave attendees strategies for reducing bias. Imagine a weight-loss program that told participants to step on a scale and left it at that." - Harvard Business Review...
3 Strategies for Responding to Microaggressions
"I’m not biased against gay people. I have a gay friend." "You don't sound Black," or "How long have you lived in this country?” Have you ever overheard or been on the receiving end of a comment like this? If so, did you know how to respond? Being prepared in advance...
Mission Impossible, Jack Reacher and Ouch! That Stereotype Hurts?
Information is the death of emotion What do SunShower Learning courses have in common with Christopher McQuarrie’s famous films, including Mission Impossible and Jack Reacher? Well, when McQuarrie says, “Information is the death of emotion,” we know what he’s talking...
When Barbie Meets AI
What happened when artificial Intelligence (AI) was used to imagine Barbie dolls in cultures around the world? Probably not what you'd expect for a brand that has gained a massive following for breaking down barriers and, more recently, advocating for social and...