Soha's Top 4 Tips for Finding Inclusive Work
As you navigate your individual career journeys, you may come across a dilemma: How do I know if this workplace will be a good fit for me?
Since you will presumably spend a significant amount of time in this space, it is natural to be curious about whether your identities – individually and collectively – are valued, supported, and embraced by your employer. Although there is never a way to be 100% certain a position will be a perfect fit, the 4 tips below can help avoid some potential negative experiences!
DISCLAIMER: While unlikely, it would be a disservice not to warn that some employers may react negatively to these tactics. In exploring the inclusivity of a workplace you may come across as a troublesome prospect and be denied the position. It is up to you to weigh the importance of securing that specific position against finding yourself in a potentially negative space.
#1: Look at the diversity of the leadership
“Diversity and Inclusion” has become a common buzzword for hiring departments, and Equal Opportunity hiring language is commonplace. Some of these are legal requirements, some are marketing strategies, but they don’t always mean the organization actually acts in inclusive ways. The best way to see if an employer “walks the walk” is to look at the composition of the leadership: if you see a solid mix of diversity and different identities have a seat at the table where the important decisions are made, that’s a great sign. Diversity statements and promises of inclusivity are much less meaningful if the organization’s leadership doesn’t reflect that very goal.
#2: Ask about the culture of the employer during interviews
At times being direct can be the easiest! Ask about culture during your interviews. Ask if there are affinity groups for different identities. Ask if there’s diversity among the employees. Ask how the company responds to/supports different identities. What have their responses been to identities important to you? Do their answers tend to be performative (vocal support, but not more) or action-based? The more concrete actions the organization has taken, the better.
#3: Browse review sites
Looking through review sites like Glassdoor.com will alert you to some troublesome workplaces. A note of warning: like any other review-based website, employer reviews tend to skew to extremes. Individual reviews may call a workplace the worst they’ve ever seen or liken it to paradise on earth. Remember to take reviews with a grain of salt and look for patterns. While one review may be misleading, if 10 mention the same issue then there may be more to worry about.
#4: Pay attention to everything during your interview!
The interview is one place where you can ask direct questions, but it’s also an opportunity to silently gather information. Is there diversity among the interviewers? Are they engaging you in a conversation or are they talking at you? Are they open to the comments and feedback you may have or are they dismissive of your concerns? How do they treat the other employees around them? While the nature of online interviewing as the effects of the pandemic continue makes it harder to gather information this way, make sure you actively take in all the information you can during your interview process! Don’t be afraid to follow up with any concerns.
If you have any questions about these tips or want individualized advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to Soha Jafarzade in Skidmore's Career Development Center at sjafarza@skidmore.edu.