3 Reasons College Students Should Read Company Diversity Statements Before Applying to a Job

Entering the workforce often comes with a new set of challenges for students. Applying to jobs, learning how to ace an interview, and adjusting to the work environment are all things they must overcome. However, examining a workplace’s diversity is often an afterthought. Failing to read up on an organization’s inclusion efforts can lead to job dissatisfaction.

Before signing that offer letter, students should read a company’s diversity statement. Doing so will help them understand whether or not they are entering a dream workplace and what lies ahead.

A diversity statement — also known as a diversity and inclusion statement — is a company’s public promise to promote diversity, often internally and externally. Though that may sound similar to a mission statement (which expresses an organization’s overall goals), a diversity statement is created with explicit regard to the company’s diversity portfolio.

According to Natalie Fell, an human resources and operations expert, “reading a diversity statement can tell you a great deal about what’s important to a particular organization. It’s also a great way to see if your personal values align with those of the company and if it’s worth your application.”

You can find this statement on a company’s website (sometimes on the career or job opportunity page) and within the employee handbook. It usually includes the company’s commitment to diversity via its goals to increase inclusion within the employee population and its internal initiatives to improve diversity education.

Before joining a team, it is imperative that candidates know what to expect from their employers. Not only is this true for work expectations, salary and time commitments, and other parts of a job’s day-to-day functions, but it’s also true for diversity. Students may have certain expectations for how they interact with their coworkers, how religion plays into their workday, or how efficiently they can do their work. Familiarizing themselves with a company’s diversity policy can aid them in understanding how all of these things fit into their new workplace.

Getting an idea of a company’s diversity profile is crucial. Within their goals, companies often use statistics that help applicants understand the range of the company’s ethnicities, genders, abilities, religions, and other demographics, alongside projected growth percentages within a few years.

Using this information, students can decide how comfortable they will be in the workplace. While making this decision, it is essential to consider how well they feel their identities are represented within the company. “Take a look at the leadership level of the company; do all executives look the same or have the exact same academic/geographic background?” asks Theresa Balsiger. “The company diversity statement is a great starting point for candidates who are assessing new opportunities.”

The tone of a diversity statement can help candidates better understand if a company values diversity. In a LinkedIn study, companies that had statements with more empathetic language were viewed as more sincere about their inclusion beliefs.

It is also likely that companies who understand how to better frame diversity statements may have a more comprehensive understanding of how impactful diversity is, resulting in a more empathetic tone.

It benefits candidates to ensure that their values align with those of their workplace. Balancing home and work and consistently finding issues with managers, coworkers, and other facets of employment are taxing. If students must make concessions for their job, they need to make sure that the compromises they make will be sustainable in the long run.

Though it may be tempting to accept a position immediately, candidates should be sure to consider how inclusive the environment of their potential workplace is. These reasons can make or break a student’s decision to accept a job offer. Therefore, don’t be afraid to dig deeper during the interview process.

Prioritizing diversity and inclusion can benefit students as they enter the workforce and navigate the job search process. It is increasingly important for candidates to ensure they understand a company’s inner workings as best as they can instead of venturing into a new career without careful consideration.

Balsiger says “by asking direct questions about not just initiatives for DEI, but actual results, you’ll be able to ensure it’s not just fancy DEI marketing, but that they actually have guidelines and plans in place to drive diversity, equity, and inclusion into their day-to-day decisions.”

In doing so, students can make their lives much easier down the road. Understanding how workplaces value inclusion can help you make a decision about a job offer. Advocating for yourself and the necessity of strong diversity and inclusion policies at work is an essential skill.