Transparent Commitment to D&I: Inclusion Statements in Job Ads

Photo by JOSHUA COLEMAN on Unsplash.

In the tech industry, applicants have a lot of offers to choose from, especially engineers. More than ever, applicants are judging companies to see how they match their values. This includes the company’s diversity, inclusion and belonging values. Applicants typically read what the company shares to see if there’s a value match. This is an important opportunity to make an ambitious and transparent statement.

Having an inclusion statement in your job ad is a great way to make a clear stance on your values and inform potential applicants. Below are three examples of these statements and some best practices to write your own.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud is for everyone. Diversity and open expression are fundamental to our organization; they help us build a social platform and global community where anyone can create, discover, and share sounds. We acknowledge the challenges in our industry, and strive to develop an inclusive culture where everyone can contribute.

ThoughtWorks

“Free to make your mark. Free to be yourself.”

You are always welcome here. Inclusivity is in our DNA. Far above any tech skills, we value respect, empathy, and open-mindedness. We have zero tolerance for intolerance.

Etsy

At Etsy, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace makes us a more relevant, more competitive, and more resilient company. We welcome people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. Etsy is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

While Etsy supports visa sponsorship, sponsorship opportunities may be limited to certain roles and skill sets.

Guidance on writing your own statement:

Now it’s time to write your own statement. Here’s what to keep in mind as you put pen to paper.

1. Be bold and speak the truth, but don’t write anything you cannot stand behind. Ask for your Employee Resource Groups to review the statement for authenticity.
2. Link to other statements or reports you’ve published that back up your claims.
3. Be inclusive beyond gender, think aspirationally about the potential of diversity within your workforce. Beyond who you currently employ, consider, for example, how you can create a disability-friendly working environment or supporting flexible schedules for parents.
4. Set clear expectations by committing to the support you offer and what you can’t. For example, sponsorship of working permits for foreign workers, remote working or flexible scheduling.

Here’s a bold and ambitious statement to get you started. The statement purposefully covers a lot of topics and angles, so feel free to adapt for your needs!

We don’t look for culture fit, but culture add. We value all the perspectives our team brings to the table and we want to hear from YOU. We encourage you to apply even if you do not fit 100% of the technical requirements.

We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in the industry: people of color, LGBTQI+ folks, women, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We understand the value that diversity brings to our company and we strive to create a working environment that is inclusive, psychologically and physically safe and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions. We know that diversity makes us stronger and more successful and we also know it takes an inclusive workplace with a strong sense of belonging to fully empower us. We are committed to making a consistent, top down effort to be role models on what diversity, inclusion and belonging means in society. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

What inclusion statements in job ads do you find inspiring? Leave them in the comments!