What does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean in the workplace?

 

Diversity in the workplace means that an organization employs a diverse team of people that’s reflective of the society in which it exists and operates.

Equity in the workplace means providing fair opportunities for all employees based on their individual needs.

Inclusion in the workplace is all about understanding and respect. Making sure everybody’s voices and opinions are heard and carefully considered is vital in creating a more inclusive work environment where everyone feels respected.

A company truly values Diversity, Equity and Inclusion through the following points:

  • Has made commitments to foster a safe and healthy work environment;

  • Is taking actionable steps to improve representation across all levels and titles;

  • Holds leaders, managers, and employees accountable for actions and behaviors; and

  • Has sought to center equity through all aspects of the employee process—recruitment, training and development, promotions, pay, benefits, and more.

Belonging in the Workplace

Everyone wants to feel like they belong, but how do you know if an organization will welcome your whole authentic self to work? The best way to know if a company or organization supports your WHOLE identity is to first narrow down who you are and what is important to you. This is not to put you in a box, but when you know yourself better, you can get to know others better as well. As you make space for your whole identity in the workplace, you find you will be able to make space for others’ identities as well and therefore you are authentically creating a more equitable workplace for everyone. 

 

Social Identity Wheel

Here is an example of a Social Identity Wheel. It's an exercise to better help you understand yourself.  The inner wheel represents things that are most likely to be fixed about ourselves, the outer wheel represents things that may or may not change over time. 

Identity at Work

Below is an example of how to use the Social Identity Wheel when thinking about the workplace. 

Inner Circle

When looking for a workplace that supports me, I know that I present as a white, cis-gendered, married, able-bodied, middle-class, female person who is outgoing, easily approachable and speaks fluent english.

Outer Circle

I am also a queer-person, I have previously identified as disabled, I am a mother of one and about to be two children and I come from a very poor upbringing and a strong desire for justice. 

Workplace

So even though I may not talk about my outer circle identities with anyone but close friends or perhaps HR, I still want a place that supports those aspects of my person and I want a workplace that supports people who aren’t just cis, white, hetero, able-bodied male humans. 

When starting your job search process take time to look at the wheel and what identities most represent you or that you associate most with.

Assessing a Company’s Commitment to DEI

Research

Like any good job searching candidate, it’s important to research the companies you want to apply to. Researching a company before you submit your application can save you time and energy and can help you identify the company’s values and if they might be a good fit

Scrutinize job descriptions

  • This will help you get a feel for the company culture, tone, and how they think about the value that their employees can bring. 

  • Look for an Equal Employment Opportunity tagline. This is the bare minimum that organizations can do to demonstrate their commitment to DEI.

  • What pronouns are used when describing the ideal candidate? Do they use he when referring to a leadership role, but she when referring to an administrative position?

Look at the company’s website, employees, leadership, and social media profiles. 

  • Do they have a DEI statement and does it align with your values? The “About Us” or “Mission Statement” sections are great places to look for this. 

  • What is the composition of the leadership team? What kind of representation exists at all levels of the organization? 

  • Is there a department dedicated to DEI? Is there DEI leadership? 

  • How involved do they seem in the broader community?

  • How does the company portray itself to the public (social media)?

  • Are they reaching out to a diverse customer base?

Look at company reviews 

  • Use tools like Glassdoor or InHerSight to review the experience of past and current employees. Are there any red flags?

Ask DEI Questions in the Interview

You may think of the interview process as an opportunity for a company to get to know you, but it’s also an opportunity for you to get to know the company and to assess if the company is right for you. Below are some questions you can ask that will help shed a light on the company’s commitments to DEI.

  • What are your company values?

  • What goals does the organization have surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion? 

  • How do you foster an open, communicative environment for your employees?

  • When and how do people like to give feedback?

  • Joining an inclusive team is important to me. How do you promote inclusivity on your teams so that all employees can succeed? 

  • Do you have Employee Resource Groups? 

  • How would you describe your company culture?

  • What measures are you taking to make sure in-office and remote workers are treated without bias?

PRO TIP!

Whenever you’re trying to understand company values and culture, it’s good practice to pick a few questions and ask those same two or three questions to every person that you meet during the interview process. Compare the answers: Is there consistency across the board, or are there conflicting perspectives?

Communicating Your Commitment to DEI

A personal commitment to Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is now highly valued by employers and most employers require job applicants to demonstrate both commitment and contributions to DEI during the interview process.  Below are  some strategies you can implement to successfully establish and provide evidence of your commitment to DEI and how to discuss this with hiring managers during your job search process.

Reflect

A great place to start is by honestly assessing where you are so you can identify your own areas of growth and development related to DEI. 

  • Can you define diversity, equity, inclusion, equality, microaggressions, identity, ally and so on? 

  • Carefully consider the diversity, equity and inclusion issues that you are passionate about. Think about what DEI issues motivate you to take action. These might be issues around race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, economic justice and the like. Contemplate your own lived or personal experiences as well as systemic injustices that resonate with you.

Engage

If you are not familiar with any of the terms above or you have no prior activity related to DEI, then now is the time to start engaging.

  • As an ArtCenter student you can visit artcenterdei.com to learn more, attend DEI panels and workshops, listen to thought leaders, and research DEI related events that various companies host or take part in. 

  • It’s important to note that there are no shortcuts in this process. You cannot demonstrate DEI understanding and commitment by taking a workshop just to check a box on a job application. It’s best to approach this authentically by establishing a true commitment to DEI. 

Prepare

Review the below sample list of diversity related interview questions that an employer could potentially ask you and assess how you would currently answer those questions. How would you ideally like to be able to respond to them in the future? 

  • Describe your understanding of diversity and inclusion and how it’s related to this position.

  • What is your approach to understanding the perspectives of colleagues from different backgrounds?

  • Working with people from different backgrounds or cultures can present unique opportunities for collaboration and creativity. Describe a time where a project or decision you made was enhanced by including diverse perspectives.

  • Describe a time when you needed to work cooperatively with someone that did not share the same ideas as you. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.

  • Describe what you consider an ideal work culture.

  • What action would you take if you witnessed a coworker exhibiting racist, sexist, homophobic or culturally insensitive behavior?

Discuss Authentically

During your interview process it’s important to discuss DEI genuinely. When asked a question about diversity be sure to discuss your direct experiences.

Honor the importance of diversity. An employer who asks you about diversity is telling you how important it is to the organization. Reinforce this by discussing the ways you value diversity in questions that don’t necessarily focus on diversity. This will allow the employer to know you have a commitment to DEI beyond preparing for the common interview questions. 

Speak to the importance of inclusion. A team is only effective if everyone feels included. Employers are looking for team players and are seeking people who work well together and can demonstrate emotional intelligence. Relating the importance of inclusion to the success of teams and the well being of colleagues will show employers you understand DEI holistically. 

Provide Specific Examples

Like all interview questions it’s important to give specific examples in order to provide context and paint a picture of your direct experiences. 

Provide specific examples of how you’ve developed your DEI skills. Be sure to include diversity training, personal experiences, or being a member of a DEI organization. An employer will be impressed with solid evidence showing you understand and have a commitment to DEI.

Deciding if a Company Is Right for You

This is a process that can happen throughout your entire career both when searching for a job and internship and while working at a company. Below are questions and strategies to consider during different phases of your job process.

Prior to accepting an offer:

 

Take some time to self reflect on what you want and what your experience with the company has been so far.  

  • What do you ultimately want from your workplace? 

  • What motivates you?

  • What makes you happy?

  • What impression did you get from the interview? 

  • What has communication with the hiring team felt like? 

  • Have you felt any microaggressions or sensed any red flags?

  • Do you think this company would be a lifestyle fit?

Once you are at the workplace:

 

Authentically Showing Up 

  • Are you able to discuss yours and others  cultural celebrations and holidays?

  • Are you able to discuss your family situation?

  • Do discussions take place outside of the normative workplace culture?

  • Are you able to express yourself in your workplace?

Building Community 

  • Explore the company’s ERGs

  • Connect with your colleagues 

  • Find an internal mentor who can offer support

DEI Workshops

 
 

This presentation covers the following: * An overview of DEI * Strategies for establishing a commitment to DEI * Ways to get involved with DEI at ArtCenter * How to successfully discuss your commitment to DEI in your job search and interview process. * Tips for researching a company’s commitment to DEI * DEI questions students can ask an employer in an interview * Tools for responding to various opportunities while advocating for DEI

Explore how your identities can impact your career and job search. In this program you will learn more about your own identity, how to evaluate if a workplace will be a good fit for you to thrive, and empower you to bring your whole self to work.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For more information and resources related to DEI at ArtCenter please visit www.artcenterdei.org