The Path to Inclusive Hiring: Steps for Ensuring Fairness in Recruitment

In today’s competitive job market, attracting diverse talent is more important than ever. This session will explore proven strategies for equitable recruiting and interviewing, including how to remove bias from job ads, streamline candidate evaluation, and ensure fairness at every stage of the hiring process. Learn how to design interviews that focus on skills and performance, rather than perceptions, and create a more inclusive environment for all candidates. Whatever your role in your organization’s hiring process, this webinar will provide practical tools to build a more diverse and high-performing workforce.

Anne-Marie Lake came to the field of Supported Employment in 2012 with a varied background in fundraising, marketing/communications, vocal performance, teaching and direct support/management. Anne-Marie holds a B.A. in Interpersonal Communication from Seattle Pacific University and is a Certified Employment Specialist through Highline College. Working in one of Washington state’s top providers of customized, integrated employment and transition services, she learned job development and job coaching, positive behavior support and person-centered approaches. Working successively as an Employment Consultant, Program Manager, Recruiter and finally Training Manager, she gained in-depth knowledge of the systems and processes that contribute to agency-wide success in the field.  Her passion lies in training and developing staff so they can achieve best outcomes, promoting the career opportunities this field offers and bringing different groups together to work on joint projects that benefit those we serve.

Anne-Marie joined the Wise staff in 2023, and is using her experiences in direct service, management, and training as part of the WOA 100 training team, in county Technical Assistance systems support, creating and managing learning content, and helping agencies of all sizes develop training programs that will enable their staff and managers to incorporate best practices into their daily efforts.