Empower candidates with the new Personal Pronouns feature in Greenhouse

2 mins, 57 secs read time

We’re excited to share that we’ve launched the new Personal Pronouns feature in Greenhouse. Find out how this new diversity software can help you demonstrate inclusion and empower candidates.

Let’s talk about identity. It represents who we fundamentally are and guides our sense of belonging. We are identified by a variety of external factors – most notably our names and, next to that, our personal pronouns.

The importance of pronouns

Our personal pronouns carry the weight of our sense of self. They are a way for us to identify ourselves, and they can change and shift throughout our lives. They are incredibly personal and should not be assumed, as they are not always tied to a person’s gender expression (external manifestations of gender, expressed through a person's name, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice and/or body characteristics).

While many people’s gender expression may reflect their gender identity, it is important to remember that this is a privilege that not everyone has. This leaves people who may have been misgendered feeling alienated or erased.

Using a person’s correct pronouns is a way to signify respect. In a recent NPR article, Alex Schmider, Associate Director of Transgender Representation at GLAAD, compares using someone's correct pronouns to pronouncing their name correctly – "a way of respecting them and referring to them in a way that's consistent and true to who they are."

Introducing the Personal Pronouns feature in Greenhouse

Greenhouse was built on the knowledge that diverse teams build stronger businesses. As a mission-driven organization, we’re always looking for ways to help companies build more inclusive hiring cultures.

We recently launched the Candidate Name Pronunciation feature in Greenhouse, which gives candidates the ability to pre-record their names before meeting with a hiring team. It makes it clear to interviewers how candidates should be addressed and ensures every candidate feels seen, acknowledged and welcomed.

Now, we’re excited to share that you can also give your candidates the option of sharing their correct personal pronouns (she/her, he/him, they/them, she/them, etc.) before they interview.

Demonstrate inclusion

Using inclusive hiring practices and tools like the Personal Pronoun feature helps build a culture of belonging, not only for the LGBTQ+ community, but also for anyone (candidates, employees and customers alike) who may not fit a traditional structure of gender identity.

By enabling candidates to communicate their pronouns, you are showcasing your commitment to being an inclusive employer, helping differentiate the interviewing experience at your company and ensuring your hiring team is proactively supporting every candidate’s most authentic self throughout the interview process.

And aside from being the right thing to do, it’s also a smart business imperative, as research consistently demonstrates that LGBTQ+ inclusive workplaces result in improved retention, performance, productivity and overall happiness.

Empower candidates

A number of studies have linked pronoun affirmation to self worth. For example, one 2016 study found that affirming a person’s pronouns and gender lowers depression and raises self-esteem.

Additionally, a 2020 study from The Trevor Project revealed that transgender and nonbinary youth who reported having their pronouns respected by all or most people in their lives attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected. That impact cannot and should not be ignored.

The new Personal Pronouns feature helps make individual affirmation possible, creates a respectful, more comfortable interviewing experience and provides the essential visibility and validation that everyone deserves.

Ready to set up the Personal Pronouns feature in Greenhouse? Get started.

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