“Half of African Professional Network in Ireland (APNI) Members Advocate for Anonymous Job Applications to Promote Workplace Diversity”
Half of the members in the African Professional Network of Ireland (APNI) advocate for anonymizing job applicants’ names in the recruitment process to enhance diversity in Irish workplaces. While African professionals in Ireland view their backgrounds as an asset, 38% believe that their ethnicity has positively influenced their career progression.
A significant 70% of APNI members propose that including professionals from diverse backgrounds on interview panels is the most effective approach to combat inherent bias in hiring. Respondents also suggest evaluating candidates based on their skill set rather than their tertiary institution’s degree (53%), and creating focused internship programmes for candidates from diverse backgrounds (46%).
Furthermore, half of the participants express a desire for staff to undergo unconscious bias training. A substantial 67% of APNI members agree that unconscious bias, or the tendency to hire individuals who resemble existing employees, is the most significant obstacle they face professionally. Additionally, 37% are concerned about the lack of ethnically diverse role models in the Irish business community and believe that companies can address this by designating ambassadors from diverse backgrounds within their ranks who can endorse an organisation’s diversity and inclusion policies.
Sewagodimo Matiapeng, Career Lead at APNI, highlights the need for evolving hiring practices to ensure equal consideration for all applicants, regardless of their names or university affiliations.
This survey was conducted in conjunction with APNI Career Day 2023, one of the largest events for Black History Month in Ireland. Hosted in partnership with LinkedIn at their EMEA and LATAM HQ in Dublin, the event featured 19 companies showcasing job opportunities, drawing over 700 attendees.
Sue Duke, Country Manager for LinkedIn Ireland, emphasises the responsibility of all employers to create welcoming and inclusive environments for staff, irrespective of their race or gender. Encouraging inclusivity and diversity not only fosters innovation but also ensures that no candidate is overlooked based on their educational background.
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