Implicit Bias In Recruiting & Talent Acquisition

Saying that the past few months have felt “unsettled” is the ultimate understatement. Historians, who evaluate a society’s condition by examining economic, political, and social characteristics, will have a lot to consider when they  evaluate  the year 2020. Pandemic: Check. Economic Contraction:  Check. Political Polarization: Check. Social Upheaval (tied to racial inequality and injustice concerns):  Check. Clearly, as a society, we have numerous problems to address.

While I don’t have all the answers to our current challenges, I do believe that we all have the same basic aspirations. This  sentiment is brilliantly captured in the preamble to the U.S. Declaration of Independence, which reads: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; these embody our shared desires. 

 As a result, in challenging times like these, we all benefit by being introspective.  It is useful to consider our own views, as well as those of our fellow citizens. This is how we grow as individuals, and how we broaden our perspective and world view.

 A few years ago, I received an inquiry from a large company asking if my firm had training content on “Implicit Bias” in recruiting. While I was familiar with the term “implicit bias,” my knowledge on this topic wasn’t comprehensive. So, I decided to educate myself. In the course of my research, I discovered Harvard University’s “Project Implicit.” This resource provides short assessments that measure a person’s potential bias towards different types of people. I also discovered the Kirwan Institute, which is located at Ohio State University. The Kirwan Institute has developed a series of training programs that address the issue of implicit bias.

Following my research, I put together a short, 6 minute video that addresses implicit bias in recruiting. In reviewing this video recently, I was struck by how relevant the content is to our world today. So, if you are looking for a quick primer on implicit bias, check out the video below. You will find some useful concepts and ideas regarding how bias can infiltrate the hiring process. Also, in addition to providing a solid foundation on the issue of implicit bias, the video also contains a short talent selection exercise. The exercise will allow you to contemplate your own biases.

I’ll close with this observation: When addressing complex social issues our progress as a nation isn’t always linear. Despite this, I have every belief that we will demonstrate our collective ability to emerge from our current challenges a more enlightened and engaged country.

Wishing you ongoing success.  Paul

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