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Unconscious bias: Stereotypical hiring practices. | Gail Tolstoi-Miller | TEDxLincolnSquare


[Music]

[Music] do you know the average time it takes a

do you know the average time it takes a

do you know the average time it takes a recruiter to review your resume six

recruiter to review your resume six

recruiter to review your resume six seconds that’s it we spend 30 times

seconds that’s it we spend 30 times

seconds that’s it we spend 30 times longer microwaving popcorn now I’m sure

longer microwaving popcorn now I’m sure

longer microwaving popcorn now I’m sure most of you have not gotten a job and

most of you have not gotten a job and

most of you have not gotten a job and wondered why well the real reason may

wondered why well the real reason may

wondered why well the real reason may surprise you and it may also surprise

surprise you and it may also surprise

surprise you and it may also surprise the people that are making the decision

the people that are making the decision

the people that are making the decision as well now research has suggested that

as well now research has suggested that

as well now research has suggested that we are actually bombarded with 11

we are actually bombarded with 11

we are actually bombarded with 11 million pieces of information at any

million pieces of information at any

million pieces of information at any given time but we can only handle 40 so

given time but we can only handle 40 so

given time but we can only handle 40 so our brain creates shortcuts so we can

our brain creates shortcuts so we can

our brain creates shortcuts so we can make decisions quickly without overwhelm

make decisions quickly without overwhelm

make decisions quickly without overwhelm but this creates bias that we’re unaware

but this creates bias that we’re unaware

but this creates bias that we’re unaware of known as unconscious bias now I think

of known as unconscious bias now I think

of known as unconscious bias now I think when most of us think about bias we

when most of us think about bias we

when most of us think about bias we think about the typical right race age

think about the typical right race age

think about the typical right race age gender but what about the not-so-obvious

gender but what about the not-so-obvious

gender but what about the not-so-obvious the kind of things we don’t discuss the

the kind of things we don’t discuss the

the kind of things we don’t discuss the kind of thing that maybe will shock you

kind of thing that maybe will shock you

kind of thing that maybe will shock you the kind of thing that will make the

the kind of thing that will make the

the kind of thing that will make the difference between your resume going in

difference between your resume going in

difference between your resume going in the yes or no pile I’m a recruiter and a

the yes or no pile I’m a recruiter and a

the yes or no pile I’m a recruiter and a career coach and a couple years ago I

career coach and a couple years ago I

career coach and a couple years ago I interviewed an amazing candidate an

interviewed an amazing candidate an

interviewed an amazing candidate an absolute star and I thought for sure she

absolute star and I thought for sure she

absolute star and I thought for sure she would get the job but it didn’t happen

would get the job but it didn’t happen

would get the job but it didn’t happen so obviously I asked the hiring manager

so obviously I asked the hiring manager

so obviously I asked the hiring manager you know why didn’t you hire this

you know why didn’t you hire this

you know why didn’t you hire this candidate and this is what she said I

candidate and this is what she said I

candidate and this is what she said I can’t quite put my finger on it it’s

can’t quite put my finger on it it’s

can’t quite put my finger on it it’s just a gut feeling I have oh boy I knew

just a gut feeling I have oh boy I knew

just a gut feeling I have oh boy I knew there was trouble then she said did you

there was trouble then she said did you

there was trouble then she said did you notice her white pumps you don’t wear

notice her white pumps you don’t wear

notice her white pumps you don’t wear white pumps

white pumps

white pumps after Labor Day and then I said oh I

after Labor Day and then I said oh I

after Labor Day and then I said oh I never got the corporate memo on that one

never got the corporate memo on that one

never got the corporate memo on that one sorry but her beliefs and judgments were

sorry but her beliefs and judgments were

sorry but her beliefs and judgments were so strong about wearing white pumps

so strong about wearing white pumps

so strong about wearing white pumps after Labor Day that it actually

after Labor Day that it actually

after Labor Day that it actually distracted her believe it or not from

distracted her believe it or not from

distracted her believe it or not from properly assessing the candidate and her

properly assessing the candidate and her

properly assessing the candidate and her accomplishments this wasn’t a conscious

accomplishments this wasn’t a conscious

accomplishments this wasn’t a conscious decision but a conscious one so I’ve

decision but a conscious one so I’ve

decision but a conscious one so I’ve reviewed probably over a million resumes

reviewed probably over a million resumes

reviewed probably over a million resumes in my career and let me tell you every

in my career and let me tell you every

in my career and let me tell you every single detail of your resume not

single detail of your resume not

single detail of your resume not including your skills can be a deciding

including your skills can be a deciding

including your skills can be a deciding factor and whether you go in the yes or

factor and whether you go in the yes or

factor and whether you go in the yes or the no pile okay so a mailing address

the no pile okay so a mailing address

the no pile okay so a mailing address indicates a long commute or undesirable

indicates a long commute or undesirable

indicates a long commute or undesirable location could put you in the know an

location could put you in the know an

location could put you in the know an email address such as crazy mom

email address such as crazy mom

email address such as crazy mom six-six-six can put you in the know I’m

six-six-six can put you in the know I’m

six-six-six can put you in the know I’m not one of those um even a reputable

not one of those um even a reputable

not one of those um even a reputable college such as Indiana University can

college such as Indiana University can

college such as Indiana University can be perceived as not a pedigree school by

be perceived as not a pedigree school by

be perceived as not a pedigree school by some guess what

some guess what

some guess what I just put Mark Cuban in the no pile and

I just put Mark Cuban in the no pile and

I just put Mark Cuban in the no pile and that’s not all recruiters some

that’s not all recruiters some

that’s not all recruiters some recruiters will do a social media

recruiters will do a social media

recruiters will do a social media investigation on you Twitter Facebook

investigation on you Twitter Facebook

investigation on you Twitter Facebook Linkedin you name it the list goes on

Linkedin you name it the list goes on

Linkedin you name it the list goes on and on and nothing is private any

and on and nothing is private any

and on and nothing is private any information that they see can be used

information that they see can be used

information that they see can be used against you and put you in the no pile a

against you and put you in the no pile a

against you and put you in the no pile a facebook picture of you drunk at a party

facebook picture of you drunk at a party

facebook picture of you drunk at a party put you in the know I stay at home dad

put you in the know I stay at home dad

put you in the know I stay at home dad who’s perceived as lazy wanting to

who’s perceived as lazy wanting to

who’s perceived as lazy wanting to return to the workforce or that

return to the workforce or that

return to the workforce or that political tweet that doesn’t quite agree

political tweet that doesn’t quite agree

political tweet that doesn’t quite agree with the recruiter can easily put you in

with the recruiter can easily put you in

with the recruiter can easily put you in the know then we’ve got the next step oh

the know then we’ve got the next step oh

the know then we’ve got the next step oh this is my favorite the phone interview

this is my favorite the phone interview

this is my favorite the phone interview there can’t be any judgment with the

there can’t be any judgment with the

there can’t be any judgment with the phone interview

phone interview

phone interview it’s like the show The Voice for hiring

it’s like the show The Voice for hiring

it’s like the show The Voice for hiring there can’t be any judgment because they

there can’t be any judgment because they

there can’t be any judgment because they can’t see your body language or your

can’t see your body language or your

can’t see your body language or your appearance wrong there can be

appearance wrong there can be

appearance wrong there can be unconscious bias based on your tone

unconscious bias based on your tone

unconscious bias based on your tone pitch and accent all of that can put you

pitch and accent all of that can put you

pitch and accent all of that can put you in the no pile based on the recruiters

in the no pile based on the recruiters

in the no pile based on the recruiters perception and then we’re at the final

perception and then we’re at the final

perception and then we’re at the final step the in-person interview appearances

step the in-person interview appearances

step the in-person interview appearances count tattoos would have put FDR and

count tattoos would have put FDR and

count tattoos would have put FDR and Thomas Edison in the know crazy hair

Thomas Edison in the know crazy hair

Thomas Edison in the know crazy hair puts Albert Einstein in the know she’s

puts Albert Einstein in the know she’s

puts Albert Einstein in the know she’s blonde bimbo sorry Marissa Mayer you go

blonde bimbo sorry Marissa Mayer you go

blonde bimbo sorry Marissa Mayer you go in the know and then we’ve got two great

in the know and then we’ve got two great

in the know and then we’ve got two great candidates bill and Chang both going for

candidates bill and Chang both going for

candidates bill and Chang both going for the same IT job but we know Asians are

the same IT job but we know Asians are

the same IT job but we know Asians are better with technology we just put a

better with technology we just put a

better with technology we just put a young Bill Gates in the no pile twenty

young Bill Gates in the no pile twenty

young Bill Gates in the no pile twenty years twenty years of this unconscious

years twenty years of this unconscious

years twenty years of this unconscious bias really drained bang it really made

bias really drained bang it really made

bias really drained bang it really made me feel that maybe I didn’t belong in

me feel that maybe I didn’t belong in

me feel that maybe I didn’t belong in recruiting anymore so when I was twenty

recruiting anymore so when I was twenty

recruiting anymore so when I was twenty years old I was believe it or not a got

years old I was believe it or not a got

years old I was believe it or not a got out NYU student wrongly perceived and

out NYU student wrongly perceived and

out NYU student wrongly perceived and judged by my appearance and my so what

judged by my appearance and my so what

judged by my appearance and my so what attitude I knew what it felt like to be

attitude I knew what it felt like to be

attitude I knew what it felt like to be misunderstood maybe I didn’t need to

misunderstood maybe I didn’t need to

misunderstood maybe I didn’t need to leave recruiting and get out but that

leave recruiting and get out but that

leave recruiting and get out but that was not the answer so I needed to dig

was not the answer so I needed to dig

was not the answer so I needed to dig deep and do some self-awareness so I did

deep and do some self-awareness so I did

deep and do some self-awareness so I did a recruiting audit on myself and it did

a recruiting audit on myself and it did

a recruiting audit on myself and it did take a couple of months did I in fact

take a couple of months did I in fact

take a couple of months did I in fact have unconscious bias and the brutal

have unconscious bias and the brutal

have unconscious bias and the brutal discovery I did have unconscious bias we

discovery I did have unconscious bias we

discovery I did have unconscious bias we all have unconscious bias all the time

all have unconscious bias all the time

all have unconscious bias all the time it’s not just in corporate America it’s

it’s not just in corporate America it’s

it’s not just in corporate America it’s everywhere

everywhere

everywhere it’s in our schools dating Paula

it’s in our schools dating Paula

it’s in our schools dating Paula Media judicial system why because our

Media judicial system why because our

Media judicial system why because our fears help shape our decisions fear of

fears help shape our decisions fear of

fears help shape our decisions fear of making a mistake of not belonging of

making a mistake of not belonging of

making a mistake of not belonging of losing our job or of change itself so we

losing our job or of change itself so we

losing our job or of change itself so we make decisions that make us feel safe

make decisions that make us feel safe

make decisions that make us feel safe but every single day we’re making hiring

but every single day we’re making hiring

but every single day we’re making hiring mistakes because we don’t see things as

mistakes because we don’t see things as

mistakes because we don’t see things as they are but is who we are I knew there

they are but is who we are I knew there

they are but is who we are I knew there was no way out of this no way out but I

was no way out of this no way out but I

was no way out of this no way out but I needed to stay in a profession that I

needed to stay in a profession that I

needed to stay in a profession that I loved and that’s what I did so I needed

loved and that’s what I did so I needed

loved and that’s what I did so I needed to research the heck out of unconscious

to research the heck out of unconscious

to research the heck out of unconscious bias and do everything possible to

bias and do everything possible to

bias and do everything possible to prevent it so I dug deep in

prevent it so I dug deep in

prevent it so I dug deep in self-awareness and let me tell you

self-awareness and let me tell you

self-awareness and let me tell you that’s a little scary I wrote down my

that’s a little scary I wrote down my

that’s a little scary I wrote down my assumptions judgements perceptions and I

assumptions judgements perceptions and I

assumptions judgements perceptions and I had a huge discovery

had a huge discovery

had a huge discovery I don’t like bright red polka dot

I don’t like bright red polka dot

I don’t like bright red polka dot dresses I unconsciously put a candidate

dresses I unconsciously put a candidate

dresses I unconsciously put a candidate in the no pile for wearing it and that’s

in the no pile for wearing it and that’s

in the no pile for wearing it and that’s embarrassing I also took Harvard’s

embarrassing I also took Harvard’s

embarrassing I also took Harvard’s online implicit association test tool

online implicit association test tool

online implicit association test tool ever to measure my level of bias but I

ever to measure my level of bias but I

ever to measure my level of bias but I had an amazing discovery I started to

had an amazing discovery I started to

had an amazing discovery I started to challenge myself and the hiring managers

challenge myself and the hiring managers

challenge myself and the hiring managers with two simple words two words that

with two simple words two words that

with two simple words two words that have the most impact on unraveling

have the most impact on unraveling

have the most impact on unraveling unconscious bias two words that I used a

unconscious bias two words that I used a

unconscious bias two words that I used a lot as a goth chick from Jersey so what

lot as a goth chick from Jersey so what

lot as a goth chick from Jersey so what so what so what if the candidate has an

so what so what if the candidate has an

so what so what if the candidate has an hour commute and is more than willing to

hour commute and is more than willing to

hour commute and is more than willing to do so

do so

do so just because the former employee quit

just because the former employee quit

just because the former employee quit doesn’t mean the next candidate will so

doesn’t mean the next candidate will so

doesn’t mean the next candidate will so what if the candidate was drunk at a

what if the candidate was drunk at a

what if the candidate was drunk at a party one Facebook picture doesn’t mean

party one Facebook picture doesn’t mean

party one Facebook picture doesn’t mean they’re going to be drinking on the

they’re going to be drinking on the

they’re going to be drinking on the and so what if they’ve been at a work

and so what if they’ve been at a work

and so what if they’ve been at a work for six months there could be a really

for six months there could be a really

for six months there could be a really good reason for it asking yourself so

good reason for it asking yourself so

good reason for it asking yourself so what it’s a pause it’s a self check it

what it’s a pause it’s a self check it

what it’s a pause it’s a self check it helps you remove your emotional clutter

helps you remove your emotional clutter

helps you remove your emotional clutter it helps you return to the conscious it

it helps you return to the conscious it

it helps you return to the conscious it also helps you focus on what is

also helps you focus on what is

also helps you focus on what is important by questioning the facts and

important by questioning the facts and

important by questioning the facts and judgments that you use to make decisions

judgments that you use to make decisions

judgments that you use to make decisions look it’s inevitable it’s inevitable

look it’s inevitable it’s inevitable

look it’s inevitable it’s inevitable that we will all be wrongly judged and

that we will all be wrongly judged and

that we will all be wrongly judged and perceived by someone else’s unconscious

perceived by someone else’s unconscious

perceived by someone else’s unconscious bias and at times it’s worth defending

bias and at times it’s worth defending

bias and at times it’s worth defending and in other times it’s a big so what

and in other times it’s a big so what

and in other times it’s a big so what likewise we will wrongly judge and

likewise we will wrongly judge and

likewise we will wrongly judge and perceive others by our own unconscious

perceive others by our own unconscious

perceive others by our own unconscious bias and now we know how to keep it in

bias and now we know how to keep it in

bias and now we know how to keep it in check by asking ourselves so what after

check by asking ourselves so what after

check by asking ourselves so what after all our individual differences and

all our individual differences and

all our individual differences and similarities help build our collective

similarities help build our collective

similarities help build our collective strength okay so now imagine when I

strength okay so now imagine when I

strength okay so now imagine when I first walked on stage I’m now wearing a

first walked on stage I’m now wearing a

first walked on stage I’m now wearing a bright red white polka dot dress purple

bright red white polka dot dress purple

bright red white polka dot dress purple hair I’m wearing those white lovely

hair I’m wearing those white lovely

hair I’m wearing those white lovely pumps and tattoos so what thank you

pumps and tattoos so what thank you

pumps and tattoos so what thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] you

”

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