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0 pointsMartinCron12y ago0 comments

The last time I was hiring, I wished I could easily review resumes without seeing the names, email addresses, physical addresses, school names, or even telephone numbers as I felt that I was bringing in my arbitrary bias.

Telephone numbers? I found that I identified a lot more with area code 206 than 425 or 253, just as I identify a lot more with an @gmail.com address than @hotmail.com or @aol.com.

0 comments

marquis12y ago

That's a great idea. Next time we put out a request for resumes we might just make something that allows for this. And put it on github..

MartinCronOP12y ago

If you wind up doing that, let me know. I would be willing to help if at all possible. Contact info is in my profile. Thanks.

dinkumthinkum12y ago

Don't you think, though, if you have such arbitrary biases, it would be better to work on them than hide the problem?

MartinCronOP12y ago

I would like to think that I could do both. I really want to believe that the playing field is level no matter if your first name is Paul or Venkatesh or Bambi or LaTonya, but I don't have absolute trust in that. The "screen" is a tool in helping with that.

wrongc0ntinent12y ago

It wouldn't be hiding biases, it would be making them inconsequential. That's pretty much the best you can hope for, once you admit the possibility that there's no such state as bias-free.

dinkumthinkum12y ago

So what, you're going to get all the way to the job offer without knowing their name?

1 more reply

rmc12y ago

But how would you do that? Hiding biasing factors is a simple, actionable approach. Do you have a better idea?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsMartinCron12y ago0 comments

Telephone numbers? I found that I identified a lot more with area code 206 than 425 or 253, just as I identify a lot more with an @gmail.com address than @hotmail.com or @aol.com.

0 comments

marquis12y ago

That's a great idea. Next time we put out a request for resumes we might just make something that allows for this. And put it on github..

MartinCronOP12y ago

If you wind up doing that, let me know. I would be willing to help if at all possible. Contact info is in my profile. Thanks.

dinkumthinkum12y ago

Don't you think, though, if you have such arbitrary biases, it would be better to work on them than hide the problem?

MartinCronOP12y ago

wrongc0ntinent12y ago

It wouldn't be hiding biases, it would be making them inconsequential. That's pretty much the best you can hope for, once you admit the possibility that there's no such state as bias-free.

dinkumthinkum12y ago

So what, you're going to get all the way to the job offer without knowing their name?

1 more reply

rmc12y ago

But how would you do that? Hiding biasing factors is a simple, actionable approach. Do you have a better idea?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse