Conquering the Bias Cycle: A Fairer Path to Equitable Hiring

Have you ever questioned the fairness of a hiring decision? Wondered if unconscious biases may have subtly influenced your assessment of candidates? If so, you're not alone. Biases, both for and against individuals based on their identities, can insidiously seep into even the most well-intentioned hiring processes. Recently, a client shared a concern about potential racial bias in a recent hiring decision, sparking a discussion that shed light on the dual-sided nature of bias.

The final selection came down to two candidates: a white woman and a Black woman. Both hiring team members believed the white woman was more qualified, so they extended an offer to her. My client wondered, however, if bias was at play. He shared that he had a previous experience believing a white candidate was more qualified than a Black candidate. Still, they hired a Black candidate who was incredibly successful in the role.

Sitting across the virtual table facing the Black woman, he returned to that experience. He began to feel nervous, wondering if his assessment of this Black woman would be informed by unconscious bias and lead him to make the wrong choice.

When he shared this with me, I asked, “Did you have the same feeling when you interviewed the white man?”

“No,” he responded.

Why not? It’s easy to forget the dual-sided nature of the bias cycle—it’s not just biased against people based on their identities (Black, in this case); it’s also about examining our biases in favor of people based on their dominant or shared identities (white, in this case).

He was concerned with avoiding bias against the Black woman but never considered the possibility of bias in favor of the white woman. It’s only by addressing both sides of this cycle that we will put an end to inequitable outcomes.

Here are some tips for checking your biases - in favor and against - during the interview process:

1. Consistency in questions across candidates. When it comes to the final decision, you don’t want to compare apples to oranges. Asking consistent questions mitigates the potential for likeability bias.
2. Rate candidates based on what they’ve told you, not what you wanted to hear. Biases in favor of people with dominant identities or those who share the interviewers’ identities often show up when an interviewer “fills in the blanks” or attributes a stronger answer to the candidate than they gave.
3. Distinguish between experience and skills. Recognize the many paths to gaining the skills needed to succeed in any given role. Similarly, recognize the limitations of experience: just because someone held a position doesn’t mean they were good at it.
4. Use behavior-based questions, including specific scenarios that will come up in the role. This will help you understand how someone approaches their work, rather than allowing them to frame a historical example in a way that makes them look like the hero. This also helps avoid the prove-it-again effect, where candidates from nondominant groups are more likely to be rated on their prior experience. In contrast, candidates from dominant groups are given the benefit of the doubt, focusing more on their potential than their experience.
5. ‍Use a bias-aware approach. When evaluating a diverse array of candidates, build in a check step for yourself: Have I evaluated each person based on what they have presented and their skill level, and have I used the same criteria across all candidates? Are my assessments aligned with common biases about a candidate's identities, whether against or in favor? If so, what is the actual evidence?

Prioritizing equitable hiring isn't about disregarding identities or hiring solely based on them. Equitable hiring is about fairness. It's about ensuring that your hiring process allows you to identify the most qualified individual for the role accurately. By consciously addressing both sides of the bias cycle, employing consistent questioning, focusing on presented skills and behaviors, and adopting a bias-aware approach, you can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable workplace. Remember, equitable hiring is not just fair; it's also the key to unlocking the full potential of a diverse workforce. By embracing these strategies, you'll not only make better hiring decisions but also contribute to a more just and equitable future for all.