It's not good enough.

A friend of mine applied for a new job recently, I knew someone in the hiring team so had a chat with them to see if they had any inside ‘scoop’ on how their application was getting on. “Yeah we’ve got her application, how old is she?” Asked my friend.

As recruiters, we have a moral obligation to combat discrimination, as it’s something we come up against all the time. Don’t believe any recruiter who says they don’t.

Whether it’s a subtle “We want someone young and hungry” or an outright “We won’t hire any foreigners here” – it needs addressing, right then, right there.

So, recruiters, ask yourself;

Would you walk away from a fee to stand up for what’s right?

Would your employer back you for standing up against discrimination?

Would you initiate an uncomfortable conversation with a hiring manager when they discriminate?

It’s no longer good enough to turn a blind eye. It’s no longer good enough to reply diplomatically that you won’t discriminate and then not worry if they do. It’s no longer good enough and actually, never has been.

I pledge that as uncomfortable and as costly to my business as it might be, I WILL NOT work with hiring managers who discriminate. Period.

So please do not ask me if I have any CV’s of English people. Please do not ask me for CV’s of people who are ‘young’ and dynamic.

As recruiters, we are in a unique position to educate, inform and advise – how are you using your powers?