Hi everyone, remember a few years ago when most organizations didn’t list salary numbers in job postings, often instead putting meaningless stuff like “competitive salary,” and many of us fought against it? Our rabble-rousing worked, and now, I’m surprised when I see any job posting that DOESN’T disclose the salary, and ones that require salary history are very rare (and thoroughly embarrassing). Let’s all pat ourselves on the back and take a short nap to celebrate more organizations compensating candidates for job interviews.

When you get up, let’s tackle another equity practice that should become standard in hiring: Paying job candidates for the time they spend interviewing and doing special assignments. I wrote about this earlier: “It’s time we pay interview-stage job applicants for their time.”

Compensating candidates for job interviews when they reach the interview stage is equitable for several reasons, including:

  • There are tons of costs that job candidates must absorb, including taking time off from work and paying for childcare, transportation, professional clothing, hair care, and other expenses.
  • People who are doing the hiring work are compensated, while job candidates are expected to provide free labor
  • Like everything else, the issue disproportionately negatively affects people of color, women, disabled people, and other people from marginalized communities.

It’s been five years since I wrote that article, and, prompted by a friend who’s been trying to convince a board to compensate candidates for job interviews, I asked colleagues for updates on who has been adopting this practice. The responses gave me hope. Lots of organizations are compensating candidates for job interviews! Here’s a sample of things colleagues said:

  • “My organization, Grow Food Northampton, pays candidates for their time interviewing (second interview after a brief screening interview)”
  • “Funders for LGBTQ Issues paid me (fairly, even generously!) for my 3rd interview work assignment/presentation several years ago.”
  • “My agency Alimentando al Pueblo paid $250 for the 2nd interview which required a presentation.”

Read the full article about compensating candidates for job interviews by Vu Le at Nonprofit AF.