Thanks to the résumé, the first things employers learn about job applicants are their names and where they live. Résumés attach a place to a person, and addresses indirectly tell employers something about the applicant’s neighbors, commute, income level, and preferences for neighborhood amenities. This bit of information may influence who employers pick. Can this perception of place perpetuate bias and inequity?
Research: Hiring Managers Are Biased Against People with Longer Commutes
And this can exacerbate inequality.
December 10, 2018
Summary.
Thanks to the résumé, the first things employers learn about job applicants are their names and where they live. Résumés attach a place to a person, and addresses indirectly tell employers something about the applicant’s neighbors, commute, income level, and preferences for neighborhood amenities. This bit of information may influence who employers pick. After a researcher sent over 2,000 résumés from fictional people to low-wage job openings, those ”living” in distant neighborhoods received positive responses from employers less frequently than those living near the workplace. In cases where companies are further away from communities with different socioeconomic or racial makeups, this can exacerbate inequality.
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Attracting and Cultivating Talent. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
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