The University-wide Inclusive Hiring (IH) Initiative was a joint collaboration being led by the Talent Acquisition and Outreach (TAO) team with the Inclusive Hiring Working Group and supported by the Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (OEDIB). This initiative aimed to develop sustainable guidelines and trainings on compliant and inclusive hiring practices that align with the University's commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence. These resources have and will continue to support efforts to reaffirm the University's commitment to inclusive hiring, to building an increasingly diverse workforce, and to more fully realize the promise of Harvard as a place where everyone can flourish.
Initiative Goals
- Provide foundational knowledge on compliant and inclusive hiring
- Offer resources and practices that can be implemented into department hiring strategies
- Teach strategies for engaging with diverse talent for open positions
- Instill an understanding of how departments can leverage the selection process to promote a more inclusive hiring process overall
- Facilitate conversations with Subject Matter Experts around best practices
Inclusive Hiring Roadmap
Phase I-a: Data Collection (February - May 2021)
Data collection was conducted by surveying University-wide recruiters and leading focus groups with a sampling of hiring managers. This information provided an increased understanding of our current state and was instrumental in developing relevant topics for the inclusive hiring training and Talent Acquisition and Diversity (TAD) Talks. We also gained a better understanding of unintended barriers in our recruitment processes and workflows.
Phase I-b: Inclusive Hiring Resources Guide (February 2021)
An Inclusive Hiring Resources Guide (IHRG) was developed to provide recruiters and hiring managers with resources to help mitigate biases in our hiring practices and to create a more diverse workforce. This resource guide is currently available and will be continuously revised by members of the Inclusive Hiring Working Group to keep its status current and relevant.