Diversity trainers and human resource professionals frequently hear complaints about the “unqualified” women or minorities taking “our” jobs. When this issue comes up in a training session or staff meeting, the following will help engage the group in discussing the concept of “qualified.”

1. Ask “How have people obtained jobs in the past?”

2. Ask “Who gets left out of the informal recruitment process?

3. Ask “How qualified are the people who come into the system through the informal network?”

4. Have the audience compare two recent hires: A White employee’s son, John, who recently graduated from high school, and, Jorge, the friend of one of the Mexican American line workers. Ask them “Which one will MORE LIKELY be questioned about his qualifications?”

5. Ask “Which will be wearing an affirmative action collar around his neck?”

6. Ask them “Which of the two positions would you rather be in?”

7. Ask “When did the question of qualifications surface in our society?

8. Ask “What other purposes can questions about qualifications serve than genuine concern about skills and abilities?”

9. Ask “How might unqualified people who benefit from affirmative action contribute to the assumption that an affirmative action candidate is unskilled.

10. Ask “What are some ways to reduce the probability that people will be concerned about qualifications in a diverse work environment?”

Based in part on: Bogan, Mary. The Diversity Networker, 9:3 (January 1997) 11.