Video: The Problem of Unconscious Bias – Part I – Info HR

When a resume for an open position lands on an employers desk, do the cultural, ethnic or socioeconomic implications of a candidate’s name or neighborhood factor into the decision to call them in for an interview? Maybe not consciously, but below the surface, something different might be going on.

Prominent studies have shown that the resumes of candidates with foreign-sounding names or addresses from working class neighborhoods might be getting quickly dismissed because those attributes don’t fit our subconscious preconceptions of an acceptable candidate.

It’s a very delicate subject that often makes people defensive, but avoiding it could mean businesses are passing over candidates who have fresh and valuable perspectives that they might never have considered.

What’s in a name?

At this year’s Indeed Interactive, Indeed’s SVP of Marketing, Paul D’Arcy, explored the challenge this unconscious bias presents and why the first impressions of a resume may have employers missing out on a candidate who can bring something new and valuable to their businesses.

To learn more about how unconscious bias could be affecting our hiring decisions, watch the video of Paul’s Interactive address here.