If you read our previous blog – Looking for your next job? 5 reasons why you should make diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) a requirement – then you might be asking yourself, how do I know if a company is genuinely committed to DEI? On the surface, a company may be saying all the right things, but how can you tell if DEI is genuinely ingrained into the company’s culture?
To help you out, we’ve rounded up seven ways to identify if a company is genuinely committed to DEI. (A little hint… you’ll also find a handy downloadable guide of questions you can ask in an interview. You’re welcome!)
1. Scan their website for evidence of diversity
A company’s website will give you a lot of information regarding their commitment to progression in DEI. Check to see if there is evidence of diversity in the photography they use, in their executive team, and their employees. Have they been transparent about their DEI benefits and policies on their website? Does the company have a mission statement or purpose and does it mention DEI as a priority? Take a look at the companies HR department and see if there are team members whose title relates to diversity.
2. Take a look at their social media
The language a company uses and topics they choose to speak to through their social media will give you an insight into where a company stands and positions itself around DEI. Are they actively sharing and talking about causes that matter to you? What commitments did they make to the Black Lives Matter movement? Is there evidence that key diversity events are supported? Are they using diverse imagery? Is there a hashtag that demonstrates the company’s culture? The answers to all these questions will give you a good insight into how committed a company is to DEI.
3. Identify who the company aligns itself with
The people and organizations a company associates itself with can say a lot about a company. Take a look at who they are aligning and collaborating with and this will tell you more about their purpose and values. Who are the partners listed on their website? Who do they follow and engage with on their social media? Does the company have an advisory board and are the people on this board diverse?
4. See what others are saying
While one person’s experience does not necessarily reflect an entire company’s way of operating, any comments on the diversity of the workplace are valuable information for you. Research and read any reviews that have been made about the company, take a look at the comments on their social media channels, have a look at their employee’s LinkedIn profiles – what do they say about their employer?
5. Take a close look at their job ad
Is it gender-neutral? Do they talk about their benefits and policies upfront? Don’t just look at the job ad that you are considering applying for, take a look at a few of their job ads to get a genuine feel for the company culture. Look out for stereotypes, gendered job titles, and the use of pronouns. Reading more than one of the company’s job ads can also help you identify any patterns in the language they use and the benefits and policies that they put forward.
6. Find out if the company has a target for women in leadership
This can be contentious. While some people may see this as a company just trying to ‘fill a quota’ we challenge you to think differently. If a company has a target of women in leadership, doesn’t this show that they have identified that there is a gender imbalance in their workplace and are working towards rectifying it?
7. Ask the important questions in your Interview
An interview is a perfect time to find out more about a company. Be prepared with some questions that you can ask the company around their commitment to DEI. To help you with this, we have prepared a list of questions that you can take with you into your next interview.
And last but definitely not least, look for progress, not perfection. A company that is honest about where they are on their journey – and the areas in which they are working to improve – is more likely to be genuine than those that are saying otherwise.
WORK180 has your back when it comes to job searching. We’ve asked the hard questions for you to ensure our Endorsed Employers are proud to support diversity, inclusion, and flexibility – and most importantly, your success. To view and apply for a job through WORK180 visit WORK180.