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- Help promote and advocate for equality in organisations and in public life
- You'll need a passion for equality and the ability to influence others
- Opportunities to progress into management, or to become a self-employed consultant
As an Equalities officer your day-to-day work could include identifying equality issues, introducing new policies and reviewing existing practices, working with employers to help them develop a diverse workforce, supporting community-based projects and groups, promoting equality initiatives and events, like International Women's Week, making sure adverts and promotional materials don't discriminate, working with children from diverse backgrounds in schools, and preparing and delivering training, presentations and workshops.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Identify equality issues
- Introduce new policies and review existing practices
- Work with employers to help them develop a diverse workforce
- Support community-based projects and groups
- Promote equality initiatives and events, like International Women's Week
- Make sure adverts and promotional materials don't discriminate
- Work with children from diverse backgrounds in schools, and prepare and deliver training, presentations and workshops
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll usually work 9-5 hours, and might sometimes have to work during evenings or weekends.
You'll need
This role is ideal for someone with the ability to relate to a wide variety of people, excellent listening and communication skills, negotiation skills, the ability to deliver presentations and influence others, and research and analytical skills.
You'll usually need knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities issues and legislation, and sometimes a degree in a relevant subject, like law, psychology, sociology, community studies or youth studies or human resources.
If you have an unrelated degree, a postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject like disability studies, race and ethnic relations, or equality and diversity studies will be helpful.
You could also get an introduction to this type of work from a relevant college course, like a Level 2 Certificate in Equality and Diversity.
Paid or unpaid work experience of dealing with equality and diversity issues from community volunteering, work shadowing, a university committee, or a student or trade union is really useful, so get involved to build your experience.
You could apply directly for jobs if you have relevant work experience as well as knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities issues and legislation. Experience in human resources, youth and community work or social work may give you an advantage.
If you want to work as an equality and diversity officer in schools you may need to qualify as a teacher first.
Some employers will prefer you to be a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could become a senior officer and work towards accreditation with the Institute of Equality and Diversity Professionals. You could also work as a consultant or move into general management.