Diversity and Inclusion is a phrase that has been used very often throughout the past decade.  As defined, diversity is “the acceptance and celebration of people's differences”. This can  include race, gender, language, ethnicity, disability, and more. Inclusion is “welcoming and  accepting people from all different backgrounds and cultures” (Unboxed Staff). Together, these  two aspects can create a more inclusive and therefore productive work environment. 

So why should this matter to you? Almost any job you apply for at a major corporation will  present you with their “commitment to diversity and inclusion” during the application or interview  process. Having a background in diversity and inclusion training can not only make you a better  candidate to get a job, but it can also make you a better coworker and person in and out of your  job. 

Most people suffer from implicit biases. These are biases that individuals are unaware of. They  may stem from your family, geographical location, or general societal views. No matter where  they come from, it is important that you are made aware of these biases so that you can work  on eliminating them as you plan on entering the workforce. Diversity and Inclusion training aims  at making you aware of these biases so that you are more open with coworkers of all  backgrounds. 

Diversity and Inclusion training can also teach people about different cultural values. It is very  important to understand others' values in order to build a relationship built on trust and respect.  This can create more productivity in the workplace when employees work more cooperatively. It  is also important to learn cultural values. If you are working in a job that interacts directly with  the public, you do not want to release any culturally insensitive products or messages that could  offend people. Diversity and Inclusion training can help prevent any mishaps that could  potentially happen because of lack of education. 

Because of the importance of Diversity and Inclusion, it is becoming more common for large  corporations to hire a Chief Diversity Officer or a similar position. As of 2020, 20% of all Fortune  500 companies have a Chief Diversity Officer (Indeed Editorial Team). Many people think that  the chief diversity officer is just looking to hire diverse people, but this is not always the case. It  is also the job of the chief diversity officer to address discrimination in the workplace, create an  inclusive environment and culture, and lead trainings and events to promote inclusivity. The  chief diversity officer will likely be more inclined to hire an applicant who has a background in  diversity and inclusion training since they are more likely to fit into an inclusive work  environment. Having this training on your resume will look very appealing to companies that  back diversity and inclusion efforts. 

In the end, it’s not what’s on your resume that matters. What matters is that you not only attend  diversity and inclusion training but that you apply what you learn into your everyday life and  work environment. Hopefully, you can become more open to building new relationships or even  just be more respectful to people that you meet on a daily basis. 

‍

Sources:

Indeed Editorial Team. (2021, April 29). What is a chief diversity officer? Indeed Career  Guide. Retrieved November 30, 2021, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding a-job/what-is-chief-diversity-officer.

Unboxed Staff. (2021, March 29). The benefits of diversity training for employees. Unboxed.  Retrieved November 30, 2021, from https://www.unboxedtechnology.com/blog/benefits-of diversity-training-for-employees/.