Token Diversity Training

volume 2 • number 6

A prospective client recently considered our Interviewing Today's Workforce for her managers. After reviewing our material, the training manager asked if we could condense the ninety minutes of "diversity content" in our program into a fifteen-minute module for use in their current interviewing seminar.

Since we couldn't – and wouldn't – do that, they decided to create their own fifteen-minute module and include it in their day-long program. Now, with one quick shot, they can claim they've "covered diversity" in their training.

Some other interviewing skills programs, unchanged since the 1980's, now provide a few admonitions to "avoid bias" and revised artwork to include minority representation.

Ever wonder why companies with a "check-off" mentality don't see much change in behavior around the diversity issues?