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Posted on: 16/05/2012 11:05.
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Ethnicity


Overview (Introduction):

  • Does the colour of your skin affect your ability to do a job well or give an indication of your level of intelligence or motivation?

No, of course it doesn't. So why are ethnic minority students and graduates statistically more likely to be unemployed than their white counterparts? Does the colour of your skin really influence your employability prospects and, if that really is the case, how can you redress the balance?

This section provides information and advice on these issues and will help you understand your rights, as well as look at ways to deal with possible discrimination.

Marketing yourself

The importance of marketing yourself cannot be overstated. First impressions do count. Not only does effective personal marketing enhance your chances of getting to the next stage of selection, it can also challenge my negative stereotypes that may exist. The principles of self-marketing remain the same regardless of your ethnic background; you have to demonstrate your range of skills and qualifications to their maximum potential. Having said that, some ethnic minority applicants may find themselves concerned about how to market their skills and, moreover, how to ensure that these skills are viewed without discrimination.

Pay a visit to your university careers service for help with creating an effective self-marketing strategy. Come along to We hold workshops available on job searching, application procedures and interviews. Black and Asian Grad has a useful section on CVs and covering letters.

Understanding the law:

Over 25 years have passed since the Race Relations Act 1976 made it illegal to treat a person less favourably than others on racial grounds. Yet there are still significant discrepancies for ethnic groups in the workplace.

According to Home Office research, ethnic minority workers receive less pay than their white counterparts, are less likely to have roles in the higher ranks of management and are more likely to be unemployed.

The act protects people from discrimination in the fields of employment, education, training, housing and the provision of goods, facilities and services. There have been two subsequent amendments to the act, intended to strengthen the existing version: the 2000 amendment prohibits racial discrimination in the carrying out of public functions; the 2003 amendment sets out regulations relating to discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic/national origins.

It is the 2000 amendment that gives you the right to be able to make a complaint if you feel you have been discriminated against on racial grounds. However, proving you have been discriminated against can be problematic. Discrimination is not the same as prejudice; you need to demonstrate that you were treated less favourably as a result of the other party's actions.

In order to bring a case under the Race Relations Act you need to demonstrate (though evidence) that you have been discriminated against in one or more ways. The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) identifies four main types of racial discrimination: direct; indirect; victimisation; and harassment (further information on these definitions can be found in the legal section of the CRE website).

Cases involving racial discrimination within employment are heard in employment tribunals (once formal internal complaint procedures have proved insufficient). Other racial discrimination cases are heard in county courts, or in sheriff courts in Scotland. There are varying but strict time limits for lodging complaints. A deadline for a tribunal relating to employment is normally three months, beginning with the day employment ended. However, you should check the Department of Trade and Industry's Employment Relations website for the latest news concerning time limits for resolving disputes as part of the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations.

How can Career Development Services help?

Our services are open to any student or graduate of the University of Bradford, and you may be eligible to use us even if you're a graduate of another university - see our advice page for more information. We can arrange for you to speak confidentially to a Career Development Adviser about your own individual circumstances and the best way to positively market yourself to employers, as well as anything else careers-related that you need guidance with.

You can also use our Information Room, to access information on specific occupations and employers, travelling and working abroad, labour market information, volunteering, placements, jobseeking skills - anything 'careers-related' really! We also have a state of the art computer cluster (if you are a graduate you will need to bring photo ID in order for us to make you a password). There will always be a member of staff on hand to help you find the information you want.

In term-time we're open 9-5 Monday to Thursday and 9-4 on Fridays, and we're open 9-4 Monday to Friday during vacations. Our contact details are:

We also offer the Impact Project, an enhanced programme designed to boost employment skills and increase employment opportunities. If you're interested, have a look at their website, or contact us with the details above.

Top tips:

Prospects.ac.uk logo linking to the Handling Discrimination pagesProspects.ac.uk offers the following 'top tips' from the 'Handling Discrimination' section of their website:

  • Show your enthusiasm and passion for the job and company you are applying to. You need to be able to demonstrate why you have selected this company and role in particular.
  • Establish the core competencies that the company is looking or and then relate your education, work experience, and hobbies/interests to these.
  • Target employers who are actively targeting you as an ethnic minority applicant and take advantage of any initiatives that may be available to assist you in your job search.
  • Research and prepare each application thoroughly to ensure that you maximise your qualifications and skills and that each application is relevant to the position you are applying for. Visit your careers service to seek an objective, professional opinion.
  • Believe in yourself! If you don't think you are good enough for the job, why should an employer think differently? Go in with a positive attitude about your ethnic background. If you are still concerned that this may affect your chances of success, speak to a careers adviser.

Sources of further information:


Contacts:

Websites:

Acts/Regulations



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