How to determine if a company values DEI

DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) is crucial to workplace culture, the hiring process, the day-to-day of an office, and so much more. Diversity and inclusion have always been important, but it has become a priority for companies across all industries to operate inclusively in recent years. Many now have practices and protocols to support and increase diversity. 

In today’s world, where people are crossing borders for education and work, it’s never been more important to be inclusive and to prioritize equity as often as possible. Companies have a responsibility to do this, and it’s not something that leaders should treat lightly.

Having DEI policies in place is a significant first step, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the company values these things. Sometimes you can tell that diversity is of the utmost importance to an organization, but other times it can appear as more of a front or an obligation. And in some cases, companies don’t even try to make it look like they value DEI at all. How easy is it to tell? Let’s break it down.

One of the best things you can do, especially if you’re researching a company before applying or interviewing for a job, is to pay attention to the language in their job postings. Is it gender-neutral? Are there any red flags in the language used anywhere that would lead you to believe they don’t prioritize diversity? Understanding a company’s vibe from the get-go helps you know where an organization stands and whether you’d like to work for that kind of employer.

Along the same lines, reviewing a company’s website is very important. The website can be an excellent indicator of where that company stands on certain things. It may also give you a view of how diverse the company is (or isn’t), especially if the site features content about its owners, managers, and employees. A company’s website will also sometimes have anti-discrimination policies posted, which is important to be aware of and note.

You should also pay attention to job review boards and websites. Reading through current and former employee reviews can help you learn more about other people’s experiences with the company. It may even provide insight into the company’s culture. It’s also highly possible that if there were discrimination issues in an office, someone would have written a review about it to let people know what had happened. You’ll want to be as informed as possible about any history the company might have before you even take an interview, just in case there’s a pattern that you might not have been aware of otherwise.

Lastly, this might seem obvious, but asking questions in a job interview goes a long way. Don’t be afraid to come prepared with questions that force hiring managers to speak to the company’s DEI policies and history. If you don’t ask questions, you might miss out on some red flags that you should have known about, and you would never want to assume something about a company only to find out later that you were mistaken.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are all invaluable aspects of the workplace. Working for a company that treats everyone equally while valuing inclusivity by any means necessary is of the utmost importance in today’s world. Do your research on the company you’re interviewing with, and you won’t regret being armed with the knowledge before you get in too deep.

— Article by Sean Kelly. In addition to being an analyst researching the latest industry trends for College Recruiter, Sean Kelly also co-founded a nonprofit local news publication in Savannah, GA called The Savannahian.