Picturing Ideal Candidates For a Job is Great – Unless You’re a Minority

By Brian Maynor

 

 

One of the oldest methods of success is visualization, especially picturing yourself in the job of your dreams. While this a great for personal goal setting, it’s a terrible idea for hiring teams.

Aside from being a common practice for employers looking to fill an open position,

imagining an ideal candidate for a position at the beginning slants the entire hiring process. Here are a few reasons researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that picturing an ideal candidate for a job isn’t a good thing:

1.    Racial Bias. When employers think of ideal candidates the natural inclination is to think of Caucasian candidates. The likelihood of picturing an African-American candidate was near zero. This shows that in addition to envisioning a Caucasian candidate as ideal, employers preferentially hire them over equally qualified non-Caucasian candidates. This result was found to be true across the board regardless of explicit prejudice or low-prejudice dispositions.

2.    Stereotyping. Stemming from racial bias, this prejudice towards Caucasian candidates as ideal appeared in reviewing applications and resumes based on names. Ethnic names were consistently ranked less favorably than stereotypically Caucasian names regardless of qualifications.

3.    The solution. Simply changing the imagery from the ideal candidate to a variety of suitable candidates. That one, simple change effectively eliminated the presence of bias. Thinking about a variety of applicants breaks down barriers of stereotyping and opens up the imagination to a host of qualified, potential applicants from all races.

 

 

Who would have thought that imagining an ideal candidate for a job would inadvertently lead to increasing the presence of stereotyping? The failure isn’t necessarily due to an underlying pervasive bias in HR, but limited imagination. Instead of focusing on an ideal candidate, which often leans toward an extreme member of a social group, the best way to increase the chance that the best person is hired for the job is by thinking about a variety of qualified candidates.

 

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

 

I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

 

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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