The Career Development Center is committed to supporting all OSU students in navigating the opportunities, expectations, and challenges of employment pathways. We recognize that students bring many different identities, experiences, and perspectives to their career journeys. For some, including students of color, this may mean navigating additional considerations in the workplace. Our resources are here to help every student embrace their authentic self and move forward with confidence.
Tips for evaluating workplace values in potential employers
If finding an openly inclusive and welcoming workplace environment is important to you, here are some questions for you to consider as you evaluate a new employer. You can look for answers to these in job descriptions, company websites, news about companies, reviews on websites like Glassdoor and from asking people in your network:
- Does the company have any vision statements, philosophies, or values posted online, and if so, do they align with what you are seeking in a workplace?
- Review the organization’s leadership profiles. Look for evidence that leaders bring a variety of professional backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
- Check the company’s website for examples of initiatives or policies that show a commitment to inclusion and employee support.
- In the interview process, consider asking questions about the workplace culture:
- “What employee resource groups, mentorship programs, or networks are available to help people feel connected?”
- “What training or professional development opportunities are available that relate to building an inclusive workplace?”
- “How would you describe the company’s culture in three words?”
Workplace protections for employees
Based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is against the law for U.S. employers to discriminate against potential or current employees on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, gender and age. (Race discrimination includes on the basis of ancestry, and physical/cultural characteristics such as skin color, hair texture or styles, or facial features.) Unfortunately, workplace and hiring biases still exist and you may encounter them in your career, but it may be helpful for you to know what your legal rights and protections are.
Build a network — a community of support
As you begin or continue to grow your career, it can be helpful to connect with other students and alumni who share similar identities, academic backgrounds and experiences. These relationships remind us that we’re not alone and that others just like us have navigated similar challenges and barriers. To connect and be in community with others as a current OSU student, check out the opportunities available with OSU Cultural Centers, OSU Student Clubs & Organizations and the Educational Opportunities Program.
You can also connect with alumni through a variety of online tools. We recommend that you start by exploring the OSU Alumni Association webpage where you can find affiliated alumni groups, such as the OSU Black Alumni and Friends Network, Vamos OSU, łatwa ina and the API Alumni network. You can also find and message alumni on LinkedIn. Look up “Oregon State University” as a school in the search bar. Click on the “Alumni” tab and search by major, keyword, etc.
Find a mentor
If you meet an alumnus/a, professor, or fellow student whom you admire, don’t hesitate to reach out to them and ask to meet up. You may just meet once for coffee or a phone call to talk about any tips for advancing in your career, getting your foot in the door or being a successful student or employee. Or you may consider asking them to be a more regular mentor of yours who you can contact for life advice and friendship from someone who’s walked the road ahead of you.
How to handle interview discrimination
Legally, there are interview questions that may not be asked. If you receive a question that makes you uncomfortable and may be illegal, here are a couple of options for responding:
If you feel comfortable answering, you may choose to respond to the question asked. Consider keeping answers short and related to your skills and experience only.
If you do not feel comfortable answering, you may decide to redirect or decline to answer. For example, ask the interviewer to help you understand why the question is relevant to the position or answer the parts of it you do feel comfortable with. You may be as graceful or direct with any of these approaches depending on your comfort.
For example:
Interviewer: “As a person of color, how do you feel about the civil unrest that’s going on with this country?” (This is an unrelated/inappropriate question.)
- Answering: “There has been a lot of division in our country lately. I personally support the right to peaceful protest and hope we can create reforms that will protect Black communities.”
- Redirecting: “Can you help me understand how the question relates to the qualification of the job? I want to make sure I’m clear before I respond.” (Often an employer will realize they’ve asked something inappropriate and change the subject.)
- Declining: “I’d rather not answer this question at this time. I don’t believe it relates to the position responsibilities.”
For more information on illegal interview questions and employment discrimination, see:
Within common dress categories like “business professional” or “business casual” there is room to show off your personal style.
Dressing in an interview or on the job
One decision you may face in the interview or hiring process is how to express your identity, culture and race through how you dress. This is a highly personal decision. It is also influenced by the norms of your industry, the region and the specific organization.
The Career Development Center encourages people to dress according to their values. You can express your race, religion and cultural background in interview dress (e.g., wearing a head covering, hijab, turbans) and wearing hair naturally (e.g., curly, twists, braids). Under federal law, an employer cannot discriminate in hiring based on an applicant's race, national origin, gender, pregnancy, age, disability or religion. That being said, the decision may give you pause.
A good idea is to seek advice from your community, from mentors and others in the industry. They may have some great tips to help you navigate a new workplace culture. When in doubt, err on the side of dressing a bit more formally for an interview and slowly feel out workplace dress norms in the first week or two on the job. But always be yourself!
Professional organizations and networking
There are many professional organizations and internships that provide opportunities to gain networking and professional work experience. Do a search online with keywords related to your personal background and career interests. Professional organizations and associations may charge membership fees. Review benefits and inquire about discounted or free student membership.
Internships
Professional organizations
There are professional organizations that have students chapters at Oregon State University such as:
- Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Science (MANNRS)
- OSU Society For Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
There are professional organizations that may cater more specifically to employees already
working in a specific industry, but which may be appropriate for a student to join such as:
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- National Black Nurses Association (NBNA)
- Network of Arab-American Professionals
- Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)