Hiring for Diversity

CHAPTER 5Writing Inclusive Job Descriptions and Candidate Communication

“We're looking for a dynamic, committed team player who will go the extra mile in a fast-paced environment.”

This line from a job description might appear normal and welcoming, yet it has five problematic words and phrases. If you can't spot them, don't worry, because by the time you get through this chapter, you'll have a trained eye for sussing out—and eradicating—potentially exclusionary language from your job descriptions.

Writing inclusive job descriptions and candidate communication is an essential skill because many job seekers’ first impressions of your organization will come directly from what they read in your posting. When you use exclusionary words and phrases, you not only tarnish your talent brand, but you inadvertently convince countless qualified candidates that this is not the job for them. Job seekers from underrepresented communities will infer what you don't really mean to convey and miss out on prime opportunities; your organization will lose the chance to bring in new people with needed capabilities and fresh ideas. Inclusive language is an important first step in setting the tone for inclusion and belonging to all potential job seekers.

Consider the case of Snagajob, an online staffing platform that specializes in hourly work. Because they serve a diverse workforce to begin with, the company's leaders felt strongly that Snagajob's staff should reflect that diversity. To help achieve ...