Many organizations are prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) these days, but how do you know whether they are prioritizing them in a way that aligns with your needs?

Not all companies identify their DEIB strategies online—though it can only help an organization’s reputation as an employer of choice when they are transparent about their values and activities— so when you see a job posting you can really see yourself in, do your research by either checking their website or asking the human resources professional identified on the job posting. But it’s important to know what you’re researching first.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself to determine if an organization’s DEIB values will align with your own:

What organization values matter to you?

This could include employee resource groups, where you can network; formal diversity mentorship programs for career enhancement; and flexible and alternative work arrangement policies. Know what you expect of the organization and then explore whether they’ll meet your needs.

Does the organization hold itself accountable when it comes to DEIB?

Check to see if they have strategic priorities that align with DEIB and how they measure progress. Assess if these priorities align with what you expect and need from the organization.

Is the organization reflective of the folks they support or conduct business with?

Assess the company organization chart. Does the organization appear to be diverse? Is that reflected in its leadership? If you were hired in this position, would you feel your diversity could potentially be tokenized?

Assessing the internal team dynamics or culture can be tricky, even more so to see if it will align with what you need, expect, or value. In an era where information is at your fingertips, take the time to assess what people are posting about organizational culture and experiences in places like Glassdoor, Fairygodboss, or Indeed. You’ll get the good, bad, and ugly truths about prospective employers there.

Remember, each organization may have a very different focus on DEIB. They may prioritize equity in policies, building an inclusive workplace culture, or creating programs that support the growth of diverse employees, and each will have a very different employee value proposition. It’s important to identify what you value and what you expect from your prospective employer. Knowing this makes your research much easier so you can truly find YOUR employer of choice.

About the Author

Shafana Mitha is a community builder and facilitator with significant public sector and senior executive experience. She is an executive leader and has her own consulting firm that supports diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the workplace. She has her CPA, a master’s in business administration with a focus on strategic diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional designation. With her unique background in business and DEIB, Shafana’s niche focus enables her to bring the business imperative with the humanistic and DEIB approach to help organizations develop tangible tools and strategies to build successful engagement and belonging among people leaders and organizations.