Diversity and Inclusion: Why Every Young Professional Should Take a Course on this Topic

Diversity and inclusion is a phrase that has been used very often throughout the past decade. As defined by the Unboxed Staff, 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.” 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 trainings aim 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 other people’s 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 can potentially happen due to 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. 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 only 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.

Written by Hope Barrist