Minimising and Preventing the Influence of Unconscious Bias in Recruitment

Minimising and Preventing the Influence of Unconscious Bias in Recruitment Here at Pure, we really value the importance of recruiting people who will be a great cultural fit for an organization but we also recognize the need to balance this with ensuring that unconscious bias does not mean a business unintentionally discriminates or misses out on employing fantastic talent. Everyone has unconscious bias, it isn’t intended, it is based on social backgrounds and life experiences which can shape our views and influence our decisions without us even realizing. However, this can impact on recruitment and people management decisions as people unintentionally categorize, stereotype or favor people they feel an affinity with. As well as the potential to miss out on hiring a great candidate and impacting on the ability to build and maintain an inclusive workforce, it can also affect an organization’s overall talent pipeline. People are more likely to leave if they are unconsciously overlooked for career progression and development. This can lead to a less diverse senior team and as McKinseys ‘Delivering Through Diversity’ report showed, there is a statistically significant correlation between a more diverse leadership team and financial outperformance. So while gut feelings, shared values, and cultural fit are still important, there also needs to be an awareness of minimizing and preventing the influence of unconscious bias. Here are just some of the things organizations can consider. Staff training The best tool to begin tackling unconscious bias is to make more people conscious of it in the first place. Raising awareness of what unconscious bias is and the impact it can unintentionally have on recruitment, workplace culture and business success will engage more people to look for ways to counter it. There is a wide range of training courses available, both on and offline, which can help people to identify their own bias, find out more about the potential legal implications and work together to challenge and reduce bias in recruitment and across the business as a whole. Inclusive job descriptions Recent studies, including by software company Textio, have shown that many words commonly used in job descriptions are unconsciously seen as more masculine, such as competitive, dynamic and driven, while terms such as supportive and collaborative are more associated with women. Excessive jargon and acronyms can alienate people from outside of the industry, even if they have the skills and experience required, and not everyone would comfortably align themselves with being an ‘expert’ even if they have the desired level of experience. LinkedIn studies and an internal benchmark report by Hewlett Packard have also shown that an extensive list of essential requirements can impact on the diversity of applicants. This is because women only tend to apply for jobs if they feel they meet every requirement, whereas men will apply even if they only meet some. Before advertising a job description, read it again with unconscious bias in mind, ensure there are a mix of both masculine and femini ne associated words, and only include what really is essential criteria, making it clear what is desirable but not vital. Name blind recruitment Removing certain information from candidate applications can help to prevent unconscious bias at the shortlisting stage. As well as identifying factors such as age and gender, even someone’s name can influence our thoughts by conjuring up perceptions or an association with someone we like or dislike. Other factors such as the name of the university someone went to or their personal interests can also spark unconscious bias. What pieces of information can be excluded depends on the type of role and what you are looking for in candidates, but it is worth exploring what can be removed at this stage to help the team evaluate applications just on skills and experience. Diverse hiring committee Because unconscious bias can involve unintentionally being drawn to hiring people like ourselves, making recruitment a team effort can help to prevent this. Ideally, an interview panel will comprise a diverse team of people for a balance of different perspectives, but even having two people rather than just one can make a difference. It can also be really helpful to include people who are not so invested in the appointment, for example from another part of the business. However, even when it is a group effort, it is important to be aware of the potential for conformity bias. This is where people unconsciously follow suit and conform to the views of the majority of the team if they think they are favoring a particular candidate. Interview templates and criteria Having a structured interview process which is the same for all candidates will help to ensure the process is as fair as possible. Agree some set questions in advance and create a clear, objective scoring system for everyone in the recruitment process to follow. Including competency-based interview questions, as used by Pure’s expert recruitment consultants, will help to keep the focus on establishing whether candidates have the relevant experience needed by asking for examples of when they have demonstrated particular behaviors or skills. However, there does need to be a balance between structure and providing a good candidate experience. Candidates still need to have the chance to shine, to ask their own questions and if the interview is too rigid and formulaic it may not reflect the overall culture of the business. Outside perspectives Helping to prevent unconscious bias during the recruitment process is another area where working with an external recruitment agency can really add value. Our expert consultants can help by advising employers throughout the process and handling initial applications to create the interview shortlist. They can also sit in on interviews to provide a more diverse recruitment panel and an external perspective.

Business Analysis Resume Samples

Business Analysis Resume SamplesIn order to have a successful business analysis resume, one needs to get the right documents. But not all of these will be needed by the companies you are applying for. The employer that is looking at your resume will only need information on skills you know. If you know how to use Excel and PowerPoint, then you could apply for these positions.The employer's knowledge of business analysis resume samples does not mean that they will want to hire you. They are more likely to look at samples of resumes that they do not have much experience with. It also means that they will look at resumes that are from well-qualified applicants. Therefore, it is important to know what type of resume they want and then use an easy to use guide to make yours stand out above the rest.So what type of job are you looking for and how can you find a sample of a general business analysis resume? You may want to ask your friends or your coworkers about any available samples. You should also check online for some different samples.Remember that this type of resume will not be all that is required of you. It will not be enough to only make sure that you can use Excel and PowerPoint and understand what you are writing about. Make sure that you include the things that they like in resumes and in cover letters.When writing a resume, you should make sure that you include what the employer is looking for first: their company history, financial statement, vision and mission. Next, you should talk about the skills you have that are in line with these and include them on your resume. Finally, give them a list of references that can vouch for you.If you cannot find any jobs that fit this description, look for the right opportunities. Take a look at your job board and see if there are any postings that you feel could be appropriate for you. Ask the supervisors at your place of employment if they would like to have you submit some samples of resumes. Take care in writin g these so that you are able to meet the requirements of the employers.One thing that is often overlooked when it comes to business analysis resume samples is to make sure that you properly format the letter. You should try to include a two-page cover letter as well as a one-page job application.These business analysis resume samples will help you become familiar with some basic elements of the job. Take a look around online and see if there are any places that will give you some free samples. This is a great way to start on your job search and show the potential employer that you are serious about working in their company.

Join us For #CareerGirlChat Tweetchat TONIGHT!

Join us For #CareerGirlChat Tweetchat TONIGHT! I am so excited to announce that TONIGHT, May 28th, is the very first #CareerGirlChat on Twitter at 8pm EST (5pm PST)! I have wanted to host a tweetchat for a long time and finally found a few other career girls to do it with me!  Tonights #CareerGirlChat will be hosted by myself, Nicole Crimaldi, Founder of Ms.CareerGirl.com, Shirley Lau, Founder of TheModernCareerGirl.com, and Marcy Twete, Founder of CareerGirlNetwork.com. You definitely want to join us because our topic is solving the issues and challenges that career girls face AND we will be giving away a $130 office supply kit from  mobilegear.com! To follow the chat, log on to Twitter and use a tool like Tweetchat.com to follow our hashtag,#CareerGirlChat! Looking forward to chatting with you tonight!

Three questions to ask at interview

Three questions to ask at interview We all know that interviews end with an opportunity to ask questions. Sometimes by the time you get to the end of a long interview you just want to escape, not prolong things by asking questions. Anyway the employer has probably been telling you about the company for ages. There’s nothing to be gained  by asking a question is there? If you ask anything you might look as if you haven’t been listening. Cant you just go home? Well no! You do need to ask questions. In most organisations you are also being assessed on this part of the interview. So how many questions? Three well-chosen and specific ones is probably the optimum. Any fewer and it might look as though you couldn’t be bothered to do your research, any more and you risk holding up the process and the next candidate. Do plan questions in advance and not on the day. You’ll need to have a good 4 or 5 planned. It’s quite possible that answers will have been provided to some of your possible questions during the day. You do need to be responsive to information you’ve been given, otherwise you’ll look as if you haven’t been listening! So what to ask? Question 1. This should demonstrate a real understanding of what the organisation says about itself on the website. Try to be ingenious with this. “I see you have recently won an award for…, are you expecting any more awards this year?” isn’t very incisive! You could however note an award and ask a more complex question. For example, you could refer to the recent recognition of a law firm as part of the global elite and ask how the employer feels that the market will develop as performance is increasingly measured on a global rather than a regional basis. How important will it be to have good market share in MINT countries? You’ll have used the same bit of information from the website and crafted a very different and much more impressive question. Do make sure you have a good grasp of the firm’s global reach before you start asking questions like this though! Question 2. You might move on to demonstrate that you have been following the news about your prospective employer. Think carefully about this one and avoid being negative. You need to look as though you want to work for the organisation. Asking Tesco if it believes it can ever recover its credibility and rebuild profitability would not be a winning move! A quick bit of internet research just now has shown me that I could instead ask informed questions about the rise in online business across the supermarket sector and the need therefore to secure more warehouse space. The second option makes me look interested, informed and committed to the long term future of the sale of groceries, however that might happen. And Question 3. How about something to do with the training the employer is planning to put you through. Make sure that the answer isn’t on the website though! Demonstrate a clear understanding of the training offering and nuance your question. For example, the Civil Service Fast Stream will see you doing 6 different jobs over the 4 year training process. You could ask whether you will have any say about which departments and areas you will work in. You might also ask about the extent to which your personal responsibility will increase over the training period or what contribution the employer will be looking for you to make to the business. If you’ve been to presentations on campus and had the chance to talk to recruiters and trainees this might have given you some really excellent ideas on potential questions, (It’s one reason why it’s worth keeping a record of such events.) And finally… The response to your questions will give you some clues as to how the interview has gone. If the interviewer deals with them in short order while ushering you to the door then you might not be expecting the offer. On the other hand if he or she waxes lyrical about the joys of working in the organisation and takes the opportunity to do a hard sell you might be on to a winner!

Fresher Resume Writing Tips

Fresher Resume Writing TipsHere are some of the fresher resume writing tips that can help you produce a good candidate for a new job. These tips are aimed at helping you gain a competitive edge over other candidates by providing a competitive edge yourself.Resume writing tips focus on your goal to apply for the job and learn about the position you want. As such, it's important to know what you need to do in order to get a suitable position and what to do in order to get the job and reach the goal you're after. This will ensure that you do not waste time applying for positions that you do not qualify for.Next, when preparing a fresh candidate resume, it's important to know the most common mistake that employers make. That is, they make the mistake of choosing the most attractive resume first. In reality, it's a decision based on factors such as how long the company has been in operation, the field the company is in, and the kind of applicants who are applying for the job.Some basic fr esher resume writing tips advise using the words that suit the job. For example, in a customer service position, the phrases 'I'd like to offer my services to you'I'd like to add this item to my portfolio' would be ideal. In addition, the words 'I was once a'I have been a' should be included. The person applying should avoid 'I think that' since this could mean that they haven't done anything but he/she thinks they may have, and would not be a good answer to the question.It's also important to have a sound background of how to best promote yourself when you're a new employee. A good way to begin would be with a business card that reads, 'If you are interested in working for this company, please call this number.'It's important to be realistic when it comes to personal information and what's considered appropriate. When filling out the resume, avoid calling a past employer to find out about the position. In addition, avoid emailing the person who sent you the resume because it may cr eate a negative impression.In order to keep your focus on the purpose of the resume, you should read the guidelines of the employer and also ask for the applicant's level of experience and education. Depending on the situation, you may need to put a little more effort to ensure that the information on the resume is correct.After following the fresher resume writing tips, you'll be well on your way to a successful application. It's very important to remember that you must put yourself in a situation that you're qualified for and not trying to fit yourself into the shoes of a desperate applicant.

4 essential tips for securing a job thats not related to your degree

4 essential tips for securing a job thats not related to your degree Unless youre one of those blessed with a set career path at the age of 12, the chances are you might have only decided what you want to do with your life while at university. Or you might graduate still not having a clue what career you want to pursue. Either way, if you decide you want a career in something that isnt strictly related to your degree, dont stress. A degree provides you with a foundation of skills and knowledge that will set you up for the working world and open doors in countless different industries, regardless whether youve studied the subject or not. So if youre looking to get started in an industry, but youre not quite sure where to start, here are some top tips to get you off the ground. Decide which career you are actually pursuing Every year countless graduates leave university with no idea what to do. Some may have a vague interest in a particular industry, but often no clear vision of what job they want within that industry. For example, you might have always wanted to work in film but never known whether you want to be the next Brad Pitt or Quentin Tarantino. You enjoy writing but have never known whether journalism or publishing is right for you.  So, first things first, decide which specific career it is you are pursuing before you start doing anything else! Of course, if you don’t know yet, dont panic. Try doing some work experience in various areas that interest you, and that should help you find something that you love. Research, research, research It is possible to turn whatever you’re passionate about into a career. Whether it’s writing, designing, cooking, fitness or even playing video games there is a job out there that will allow you to do just that. The key to finding out how to break into your chosen industry is, of course, to research it. What are the key skills you need to succeed in the job? Do you need a postgraduate qualification? Do you need to be able to speak any other languages? Trawl the Internet. Talk to friends and family. Attend networking events. Speak to as many people as possible, even if this means putting in some hours alongside your studies or job. Plus, all the time you spend chatting will undoubtedly help you build your professional network. That can only be a good thing! Work experience and internships Now you’ve built up a stellar professional network, it’s time to get some real-world experience. There are hundreds of internship opportunities out there; just fire up the Debut app to see which ones we have available right now. You could secure an internship with top employers including Siemens, Dyson, Deloitte, Barclays or Virgin in just a couple of taps. However, not all internships are so easy to come by, and others may take a bit of hard graft. Look for opportunities online and social media, or get in touch with one of your  professional contacts to see if you can shadow any of them for a bit. Don’t be disheartened if the whole process takes a while â€" it took me at least 30 emails before I landed an internship with Lonely Planet magazine. If you can’t find any experience, create your own! Just remember to make sure no companies are exploiting your free labour before you sign up to work for them. Keeping in touch with the contacts you make on your internship could even land you a full time position in the future! Apply, apply, apply You’ve researched what job you want and done everything in your power to put yourself in the best position to get it. Once you’ve racked up some solid work experience in your chosen industry, it’s time to apply for one of those 9 â€" 5 job things. Don’t be put off by the fact you don’t feel as experienced as someone who has a degree related to the industry. You may have even gained more real-world experience and contacts than they have, from the all the placements and internships youve completed. When it comes to applying for jobs, try not to be too fussy. Ok, it’s probably not a good idea to apply for engineering jobs if you’re trying to be a filmmaker, but if you see something that’s related to the industry you want to get into, it’s worth applying â€" no matter what the job role is. You may end up working in accounts for 6 months within a TV production company, but at least you’ll have your foot in the door! Just know that although it might take you a bit longer to get there, if you set your mind on something, theres nothing stopping you from achieving it with some solid work experience and strong networking. Good luck!  Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

How to scare a stewardess - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

How to scare a stewardess - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog When I give speeches about happiness at work, I often mention Southwest Airlines and how their cabin attendants make sure to have fun at work. One story I often share is how theyll sometimes hide a shorter crew member in the overhead compartment and give one lucky passenger a little surprise Well, I guess turnabout is fair play: Id say she was surprised :o) Heres an example with the flight attendant hidden in the overhead compartment: Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Tough (Question) Tuesday Whats haunting you, why is it a blessing

Tough (Question) Tuesday Whats haunting you, why is it a blessing I Saw a Ghost by Stacy Kathryn Holst (I dont mean to boast! Lets head over to the coast!) I really hesitated putting up this question, because I know that it can be a bit too much into therapy-land for this life coach this happy lil blog. But I still felt like its an important one, and belonged here, too. So, I took the original question (Whats haunting you?) added a second part to happify it: Whats haunting you, why is it a blessing? Ill understand if the comments are light this week. If you dont wanna answer this here, publicly, then thats OK. But I encourage you to answer it privately, safely, in a place thatll hold you tight. But do me a favorDont put yourself back in that place. Dont expand on it, or go deep inside the haunting. Limit that piece to 3 sentences, tops, and move it right along. Here, Ill go right now, OK?: Whats haunting me is my failed entrepreneurial endeavors acting and real estate. I keep thinking of the high highs I experienced, following by the periods of crashing and burning. It follows me sometimes through my current life, saying Be careful, it might be beginners luck, it might be lovely amazing then it might all be gone, for no discernible reason. And while I have recently become an optimist (as opposed to a pessimistic optimist/optimistic pessimist) and have stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop, I think this Caution thats haunting me isnt so terrible. It allows me to be, well, cautious (not to be confused with safe), to not take anything for granted, and to enjoy things as they come. Thats absolutely a blessing. OK, your turn! PS If youre here to find out if you won the Great Giveaway of Stacys original Tough (Question) Tuesday art, youve come to the right place! And if your name is Meggy Wang, youve won! Ill be in touch soon, Meggy, with the details!