Looking back over February, LGBTQ+ History Month, it has been great to see a range of events taking place across London aimed at supporting students and graduates to find employment where they feel comfortable and successful at work while being themselves, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Here, we summarise our top 10 questions that we encourage you to consider for identifying inclusive employers.
These questions draw from three events which took place during LGBTQ+ History Month 2023. Two of these events formed part of the ‘Spotlight on Inclusion’ series introduced by the London Russell Group universities (both hosted by Imperial College London, one in partnership with Imperial’s LGBTQ+ student society). These events gave students the opportunity to hear from LGBTQ+ professionals from a range of inclusive employers, and to gain hints and tips on finding inclusive graduate employers. Additionally, National Student Pride’s LGBTQ+ Student Recruitment Fair took place at the University of Westminster, providing valuable opportunities for students to ask questions to industry leaders about authentic, fulfilled careers.
To find out more about upcoming LGBTQ+ student events, both internal to LSE and across London, check out our events on CareerHub.
Top 10 questions to help you identify inclusive employers:
- Do they have a comprehensive EDI statement and related policies?
Many employers have dedicated EDI sections on their websites, outlining what they do to ensure they are both diverse and inclusive. How easy is it to locate this information, and how accessible is the content?
- What language do they use in their job advertisements?
For example, can you identify gender-specific terminology or statements which indicate commitment to diversity?
- What does your further research around the employer uncover?
Glassdoor and LinkedIn are a good start.
Questions to consider: Do they have an LGBTQ+ network and community page? Do they run LGBTQ+ inclusive events and initiatives? What relevant awards or LGBTQ+ recognition have they received? Who do they sponsor and accept money from?
- What resources do they use to assess their LGBTQ+ inclusion strategies?
How does the employer decide on the most appropriate approach for evaluating their actions? Additionally, do they set specific, measurable targets for diversity and inclusion?
- What does their LGBTQ+ social media presence look like?
Search across platforms to get a feel for their presence, e.g., can you find an LGBTQ+ champion / role model on LinkedIn and, if so, how active are they?
- What do they do outside of LGBTQ+ months?
Many employers host campaigns and engagements during LGBTQ+ History Month and LGBTQ+ Pride Month – what does their engagement look like across the entire calendar year?
- What do current employees say?
Reach out to current employees to help you better understand how the employer works with LGBTQ+ staff based on first-hand experience. Is there an internal culture where inclusion is spoken about openly? Who drives their LGBTQ+ initiatives? (i.e., employees, allies, management)?
- How does this compare to the employer’s ‘on-paper’ commitments to EDI?
Does the employer go beyond their online EDI statements? Are there any notable gaps between this written information and their LGBTQ+ employees’ experiences?
- Do they actively provide opportunities for prospective LGBTQ+ employees (including students and graduates) to ask questions?
Is the employer proactive in encouraging interactions with current staff as part of their recruitment and selection processes (e.g., tours, lunch with staff) and onboarding?
- How do they respond to your inclusivity-related questions during the interview?
You may wish to prepare a question or two around how the employer recognises and supports their LGBTQ+ employees (particularly new employees). Are they able to provide informed and reassuring answers?
In summary…
We encourage you to make use of as many of these questions as possible in your search for inclusive employers – utilising multiple sources ranging from early research right through to interview questions can help you to reach an informed decision.
Book an appointment via CareerHub to speak with a Careers Consultant about any questions you might have around identifying inclusive employers.
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