Top Strategies to Help You Get Job Interviews If You’re Facing Discrimination
Is hiring discrimination still an issue? Unfortunately, yes. Job seekers are still judged (often unconsciously) based on factors like nationality, skin color, religion, disability, sexual orientation or age. And the most frustrating part is that you might never learn the real reason behind a rejection.
Despite growing awareness around diversity and inclusion, bias and discrimination are still present in today’s job market – often in subtle, unconscious ways. Consequently, many qualified candidates are screened out before they even have a chance to prove themselves.
Even well-meaning recruiters can be influenced by unconscious bias. In fact, studies show that over 85% of hiring managers rely on intuition, which can lead to unfair and inconsistent decisions.
So, what can you do when the odds seem stacked against you?
Step 1: Understanding the Job Search Challenge – How Can Bias And Discrimination Still Occur?
Looking for a job is a lot like dating. Imagine a dating app: some people might swipe left just because you have five kids or are recovering from health issues. That’s their right. But unlike dating where you can choose to stay single, you can’t afford to stay unemployed because of someone’s biased reaction.
And here’s the key insight:
- The person reviewing your CV often doesn’t represent the whole company.
- Bias can be unconscious and implicit.
- Your application might be filtered out before you’re even considered.
Step 2: Adapting Your CV to Minimize Unconscious Bias And Discrimination
The purpose of a CV is to get you to the interview stage, not to tell your whole life story. You definitely can’t lie, but you can rephrase or skip certain details that might create a biased first impression. Here’s how:
Localize Your CV to Avoid Bias And Discrimination
When hiring managers see an international profile, they might wonder:
“Why should I call a candidate four time zones away when I can easily reach someone local?”
Remove any doubts by:
- Getting a local phone number.
- Using a local email domain (like .co.uk or .de).
- Adding a local address (even if it’s temporary) or “in relocation”.
- Removing your photo (especially if not standard in that country).
- Adapting your name format to local conventions (e.g. last names in ALL CAPS in France).
- Unifying the transliteration of your name (important if you use non-Latin alphabets).
- Ensuring consistency across your CV, LinkedIn and email.
Show Your Connection to the Target Market
Give recruiters a reason to see you as familiar. Highlight any past or current experience related to their country:
- Worked with teams or clients based there?
- Attended events or courses from local organizations?
- Sourced suppliers or conducted interviews in that region?
No existing connections? Create one. Attend free webinars or local networking events, take (free) courses offered by local companies, and include them on your CV.
Step 3: Intensifying and Diversifying Your Job Search Strategy
If you belong to a group facing discrimination, you may need to put in more effort. Here’s how to make it effective:
- Use all four job search channels: job ads, headhunters, networking, direct contact
- Contact people from your network who’ve already worked some years in your target market
- Join local groups like Internations.org
Tip: If you’re applying to multiple countries, create a separate CV for each market.
Don’t Forget to Adjust Your LinkedIn Profile
“Move” your LinkedIn profile to the country you’re targeting. That means:
- Updating your location.
- Rewriting your summary to reflect local terminology.
- Following local companies and thought leaders.
You want to look like a local candidate at first glance.
Why This Works – How These Strategies Help You Avoid Unconscious Bias and Discrimination
By using these strategies, you:
- Reduce the risk of unconscious bias filtering you out.
- Position yourself as an accessible, local candidate.
- Get the chance to be seen as a person, not a stereotype.
- Increase your chances of landing interviews.
We Know These Strategies Work – Because We’ve Seen Them Work
At Career Angels, we’ve supported over 4,326 professionals in the last five years, many of whom faced bias or discrimination.
We helped them:
- Localize their CVs without hiding their identity.
- Develop tailored job search strategies.
- Position themselves strategically in unfamiliar job markets.
Over 80% of our clients recommend us to others.
Take Control of Your Job Search Today
Every month you wait to adapt your strategy is a missed opportunity:
- Recruiters may ignore your application without realizing it.
- Interviews may go to candidates who simply “look local”.
- You may feel stuck despite being qualified.
This type of job search may require 150% effort, or even 200%. But it can (and does!) work. Your goal? To get someone to say: “Let’s talk to this person – they look like a great fit.”
Ready To Maximize Your Job Search Results?
If you’re looking for a job and suspect that bias might be holding you back, we’re here to help. Book a free 20-30 minute Career Consultation by sending an email to Contact@CareerAngels.eu or book it directly via our online form.
Bonus: Help Your Company Reduce Hiring Bias
We also support companies looking to embrace diversity and inclusion.
Want your team to make better hiring decisions? Ask us about our tailored training programs for HR and leadership teams.
