Diversity and inclusion jobs are on the rise — here’s how you can prepare for the role

Concepts like diversity and inclusion have gained prominence over the last few years, brought on by more open discussions, a greater social consciousness, and global movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter, to name just a few. 

Companies are also under pressure to be more inclusive with their workforce, fuelling a demand for these roles as we move forward in the 21st century.

“In 2020 and beyond, as companies continue to usher in a new era of hiring action-oriented diversity and inclusion teams, we expect to see a wave of hiring for leaders and managers that will help carry forward the mission of building a more diverse and inclusive workforce,” the report said. 

Glassdoor’s research found that most investments in hiring for diversity and inclusion-related roles have come from large companies. Two-thirds of job openings in both those sectors today are at employers with more than 1,000 employees, according to their investigation.

The reason? Large employers are subject to more public — and regulatory — scrutiny than smaller outfits. They also have more specialised workforce, allowing them to invest in dedicated teams for these roles.

In 2020 and beyond, more mid-sized employers are expected to invest in diversity and inclusion staff. This will be bolstered by the need to compete for candidates who increasingly seek out companies with these programmes.

As of August 2019, common roles on Glassdoor included:

• D&I Director
• D&I Programme Manager
• D&I Manager
• D&I Specialist
• D&I Coordinator
• Chief Diversity Officer
• Diversity Recruiter
• D&I Consultant
• Dean of Diversity & Inclusion
• Diversity Sourcer

Glassdoor found that more employers, both in the US and the UK, are stepping up investments in diversity and inclusion roles. For this to be successful, however, the right talent is needed. Interested? Here are some tips for growing your career into this socially-aware field: 

Courses to upskill in

You can find a broad range of postgraduate and certification programmes available that are not specific to HR professionals but for leaders and would-be leaders.

The University of Manchester, England offers MA International Education (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) which provides learners with the opportunity to engage in a structured study that includes the application of educational theories, ideas and concepts to a range of international educational and community-based contexts that they can then take into the workplace.

“The course has been designed for teachers and other education professionals working in a range of national and international settings, and is ideal if you’re looking to develop your career by securing new posts or promotion in the area of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” notes its website. 

It enables students to learn what diversity is and how to use it to maximise team performance, innovation and creativity. Students will also learn how to draw out the collective wisdom of diverse teams, handle conflict and establish common ground rules through real-world cases and peer-to-peer discussions, among others. 

In Australia, the University of Southern Queensland offers a Graduate Certificate of Workforce Diversity and Inclusion that you can study online. The course will help students enhance their career in management or human resources or enable learners to move into more specific roles.

The bottom line is: diversity and inclusion-related roles are growing. With the right skills and knowledge, you’ll stand a better chance of securing a position in the field and can help to play a role in making the workforce a better and more inclusive place.