Unconscious Bias in Recruitment Training Solution

This innovative workshop uses interactive activities, neuroscience insights, and a focus on creative solutions to help participants understand and overcome unconscious bias in their recruitment processes. The workshop emphasises the importance of diverse perspectives and provides practical strategies for mitigating bias in real-life recruitment situations.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be ready to develop actionable plans for improving their recruitment practices and creating more equitable and inclusive workplaces.

Learning outcomes:

Understand the neuroscience behind unconscious bias and how it affects recruitment.
Learn techniques for challenging assumptions and uncovering biases to make more objective hiring decisions.
Appreciate the importance of diverse perspectives in the recruitment process.

Be equipped with practical, creative solutions for mitigating unconscious bias in recruitment.
Have had the opportunity to apply their new skills and knowledge in true-to-life recruitment scenarios.

Workshop Outline...

(1) Introduction: We start with an icebreaker activity to create a positive, energetic atmosphere and create space for open, authentic communication. We’ll use this starting point to introspect on experiences of bias in the context of recruitment.

(2) The Science of Bias: We will provide an overview of the neuroscience behind unconscious bias and how it affects recruitment. Participants will engage with activities, including “Candle and Matches” that show how our brains can trick us into making biased decisions, to help build awareness and understanding of the science behind unconscious bias.

(3) Challenging Assumptions: Next, participants will be presented with techniques for identifying and challenging assumptions about candidates. An interactive activity called “Think Fast” will be used to help participants uncover their own biases. We’ll step through the recruitment process as it happens in the organisation, rather than how it should happen. In groups, participants will reflect on instances of bias, including affinity and comparison bias. They’ll discuss where bias might influence decision-making, what assumptions come into play, and fairness in recruitment outcomes.

How this looks with actors:
Participants will observe an interview scenario where the interviewer’s behaviour, influenced by potentially unconscious biases, creates evident discomfort for the candidate. Participants will dig deeper by questioning both the interviewer and the interviewee. Their task is to uncover the interviewer’s underlying assumptions and biases, as well as understanding the interviewee’s reactions and feelings.

(4) Diverse Perspectives: Participants will discuss the importance of diverse perspectives in the recruitment process. The facilitator will provide strategies for bringing diverse perspectives into recruitment. Participants will learn practical strategies for mitigating their own unconscious bias and helping others recognise where their bias might come into play.

(5) Putting it into Practice: Participants will have the opportunity to apply their new skills and knowledge in a true-to-life recruitment scenario. Group feedback and discussion will be used to reinforce learnings and address any questions or concerns.

How this looks with actors:
In this immersive recruitment exercise, participants will step into a true-to-life scenario of candidate shortlisting, observing how unconscious bias can subtly sway the decision-making process. Participants will engage with the scenario, challenging the recruiters (portrayed by skilled actors) to unravel their hidden assumptions and biases. This critical examination will enable participants to practise effective strategies to address these biases in real-world settings and understand the broader implications for the organisation when non-inclusive practices go unaddressed.

(6) Conclusion: The workshop will conclude with a recap of key takeaways and action planning to help participants apply their new learnings to future recruitment efforts. The facilitator will also provide closing remarks and collect feedback from participants to improve future iterations of the workshop.

Let's Talk!

We’re advocates of crafting tailormade solutions that ensure you meet objectives and maximise budgets. Contact us to book a meeting to scope the right solution for your organisation, together.

What About Actors?

Through clever script writing, goosebump-inducing delivery and professional facilitation, we love to bring learning to life with actors…

We can select scripts from our library or write them specially for you, based on typical scenarios you see within in your organisation. For larger projects where budgets don’t allow for live acting, we can professionally film bespoke scenarios to create video content which can be used in the training as well as induction, toolkits, and beyond.

Using actors in workshop give delegates the opportunity to:

Test out alternative ways of approaching what can sometimes be difficult situations, without the pressure of role playing themselves!
Explore what is acceptable and what isn’t; intent versus impact; and both the subtle, and not so subtle, behaviours we see play out in the workplace
Be immersed in an interactive learning experience that engages hearts and minds, and sticks in the long-term memory

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Don't Just Take Our Word For It

Nina Darling

UoP SHCP Teaching Fellow, University of Portsmouth

“The course which Paula provided was really engaging and nicely presented. The use of the actors was particularly good and actually bought the whole thing to life and made it really valuable learning. Thank you very much – it was fantastic!”

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Unconscious Bias In Recruitment Training

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