Think landing a job is hard? Try having 'DEI' on your resume

Job ads reflect the changed landscape, as new postings for diversity roles have approximately halved this year to about 1,500 from 2019 levels. Photo by Drazen Zigic/Getty Images/Postmedia files

After seven rounds of gruelling interviews , an offer for a recruiting job seemed within reach for David Daniels IV. Until a reference check that Daniels learned had involved wary discussions of his background in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The offer never came.

Having DEI experience on a resume can feel like a scarlet letter in an already difficult job market , said Daniels, who lives in New York and held roles at companies including yoga wear retailer Lululemon Athletica Inc. “There’s this sense of, if you did DEI, we don’t want to hire you,” he said. For Daniels and others