To create inclusive job descriptions, use gender-neutral language and avoid biased terms. Highlight diversity commitment, essential qualifications, clear language, and work-life balance. Emphasize career growth, inclusive benefits, and a welcoming tone. Review for bias with diverse input before publishing.
What Are the Best Practices for Writing Inclusive Job Descriptions on the WomenTech Job Board?
AdminTo create inclusive job descriptions, use gender-neutral language and avoid biased terms. Highlight diversity commitment, essential qualifications, clear language, and work-life balance. Emphasize career growth, inclusive benefits, and a welcoming tone. Review for bias with diverse input before publishing.
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Use Gender-Neutral Language
Ensure your job descriptions avoid gendered terms that may discourage applicants. Replace words like "he" or "she" with neutral alternatives such as "they" or rephrase sentences to eliminate pronouns altogether. Additionally, avoid gender-coded words like "aggressive" or "nurturing" which might skew perceptions and preferences.
Highlight Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Explicitly state your company’s dedication to creating an inclusive work environment. Mention policies or initiatives supporting gender diversity, equal opportunities, and supportive workplace cultures. This signals to women and underrepresented groups that your organization values diverse perspectives.
Focus on Essential Qualifications
List only the necessary skills and experience truly required for the position. Overly stringent or inflated requirements can deter qualified candidates, especially women, from applying. Emphasize transferable skills and willingness to learn to create a more welcoming description.
Use Clear and Accessible Language
Avoid jargon, acronyms, and overly technical terms that might alienate applicants unfamiliar with niche language. Write in straightforward, easy-to-understand language to ensure your description is accessible to a broad range of candidates, including those re-entering the workforce or switching careers.
Emphasize Work-Life Balance and Flexibility
Include information about flexible work hours, remote work options, parental leave, and other benefits promoting work-life balance. These details are especially important to many women applicants and demonstrate your organization's understanding of diverse needs.
Showcase Career Development Opportunities
Clearly state opportunities for growth, mentorship programs, training, and pathways to advancement. Women often value clear trajectories and support for professional development, so highlighting these can enhance appeal.
Avoid Biased Requirement Phrasing like Must Have or Expert
Use encouraging language such as "desired," "preferred," or "opportunities to develop." Phrases like "must have 5+ years experience" can unintentionally discourage applicants who feel they do not meet every criterion but have potential.
Include Inclusive Benefits and Policies
Showcase benefits that support diverse employees, such as parental leave, healthcare that covers family planning or gender-affirming care, employee resource groups, and anti-discrimination policies. This can reassure candidates that your workplace is welcoming and supportive.
Provide a Supportive and Welcoming Tone
Use language that invites applications from women and other underrepresented groups explicitly, such as stating "We encourage women, non-binary, and gender-diverse people to apply." This conveys inclusivity and breaks down psychological barriers to application.
Review and Test Your Job Description for Bias
Use gender-decoder tools or bias detectors to identify and eliminate unconscious biases in your job posting. Have diverse colleagues review the description to ensure it resonates across different backgrounds and identities before publishing.
What else to take into account
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