WotC WotC is hiring Senior Manager for Diversity, equity and inclusion.

[Umbran]

Mod Note:

This thread is getting argumentative on meaningless trivia. Please stop. Thanks.

 

[Umbran]

That kind of thing is probably what WOTC needs. But I don't think they are getting the best odds of finding that kind of person using this kind of ad.

We have one document. Formulating a critique of their entire approach based only on one document... means a whole lot of speculation and assumption. It may end up being correct, but maybe we should remember exactly how much speculation is underlying it before we stick stakes in the ground.

 

[Mistwell]

I find it slightly ironic that someone who frequents a site for discussion about RPGs would complain about use of specialized jargon.

I cannot speak for FourElements, but I have frequently spoken out against the use of jargon here as well. I really dislike those posts with strings of acronyms for obscure gaming books, and have said it's exclusionary and at best lazy. Usually my complaint falls on deaf ears but I feel I've been pretty consistent on this topic even when it comes to role playing game discussions.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Never seen that card before. That is insane. It looks like, as of last month, Wizards is addressing the issue, at the least. I did find this choice selection in an article about it:

"In a separate Facebook post, the card’s artist also linked the scene to the Inquisition. “The later rather insulting assumptions and accompanying venom were a bit sad to me,” Harold McNeill added.

McNeill, once a regular contributor to Magic, has a personal website filled with drawings of swastikas, Adolf Hitler, crusader knights and highly sexualized depictions of women."

Well, hopefully whoever they hire will be able to catch stuff like this. Not just the card itself, but it's image url online in the database ended in 1488--a clear dog whistle to neo Nazis.

 

[Mistwell]

We have one document. Formulating a critique of their entire approach based only on one document... means a whole lot of speculation and assumption. It may end up being correct, but maybe we should remember exactly how much speculation is underlying it before we stick stakes int he ground.

That's a fair criticism. It is entirely possible they're posting it in this way, and also talking to other companies that have enacted real change, and also seeking out people completely outside the HR field, all simultaneously. I wouldn't be in a position to know that.

 

[dragoner]

But I don't think they are getting the best odds of finding that kind of person using this kind of ad.

It is a boilerplate (meaning they probably cut and pasted it from a legal website) ad for a very very common HR position that has been around for 20+ years. However, in all probability, they already have the person in mind who they want, and the ad fulfills legal requirements.

 

[Deset Gled]

I cannot speak for FourElements, but I have frequently spoken out against the use of jargon here as well. I really dislike those posts with strings of acronyms for obscure gaming books, and have said it's exclusionary and at best lazy. Usually my complaint falls on deaf ears but I feel I've been pretty consistent on this topic even when it comes to role playing game discussions.

Your argument against jargon would be more meaningful here if the ad is question was actually full of jargon. The language is a little business-y, but is far from being jargon laden or incomprehensible. The only acronym used is defined in the ad. There are no examples Six Sigma or Agile terms being thrown around without merit. FourElements even admitted that his complains were that the wording was too vague for him, i.e. the opposite of industry specific jargon.

 

[MGibster]

Wanna bet it doesn't? It will pull candidates with 7 years HR experience who are good at bs'ing that they "enacted change" by spinning some hiring numbers and some corporate project background lecturing about diversity, with no follow-up to see if that meant actual change happened at their prior companies beyond shuffling some deck chairs between a handful of similar companies. I don't think it will pull anyone who is actually good at enacting real change.

Have you ever been involved in recruiting? Because almost every position you post will result in receiving many applications from people who are in no way qualified. And, yes, there will be applicants who try to naughty word their way into the position which is why you pre-screen applicants and go through an interview process. I understand you don't believe this will pull anyone good at enacting real change, but your belief seems rooted in the preposterous notion that knowing the language makes someone a bad candidate. Your position has no merit.

I even think "7 years experience in HR" might be a bad way to go on this. 7 years experience as a professional, yes. But in HR specifically? I am not so sure.

If what they're trying to address is making a fundamental change in their company, then probably the best recruit to do that is outside of the standard human resources field.

Have you even read the job description? Because they're looking for someone with seven years of progressive experience in business, human resources, marketing, or some other people focused functions. That means they're not just interested in looking at HR professionals.

If I were to recruit for this position and intend to really make a fundamental change in the company, the first thing I would do is find out what other company has successfully changed their corporate culture in a similar way, and ask them how they did it.

What makes you think someone at WotC didn't ask someone for advice? They posted a manger of diversity, equity, and inclusion and I can promise you that isn't a term one typically thinks of off the top of their head. There's a better than fair chance that WotC worked with Hasbro's HR department on this.

And here's a little secret: HR is not the driving force behind cultural change at a company. Whomsoever WotC hires for the DEI position, they will fail if upper management isn't driving the changes.

I wouldn't put an ad out through the same channels I've always used, using the same kind of language I've always used, and the same internal sources putting the word out to their friends and on social media like they've always used. I would want to go well outside of all of that language and channels.

This is probably the first thing you've said that I agree with. I don't know if WotC has posted the position elsewhere or what other avenues they're using to source candidates.

That kind of thing is probably what WOTC needs. But I don't think they are getting the best odds of finding that kind of person using this kind of ad. I think this ad is more targeted at getting more of what they've always had at the company. It will likely be a lateral hire from a related field who will feel comfortable to them and not want to shake things up but will instead integrate nicely into what they already have and then make only incremental small surface-level changes to be able to say change might happen but who doesn't really change much of anything.

A lateral move from a related field? How many DEI specialist do you think are available from a related field?

Edit: Posted before red text observed. Apologies.

 

[jasper]

Sure. The multiverse ID was the least of the problems with the card, and all of them (including the multiverse ID) should have been caught and dealt with sooner.

Ok, what was the problem with id number? never mind found the current usage. BUT you would have to prove to me that "1488" was used for evil back then. And prove the usage was well known that the common man knew about without going to google? Oh google started 1998. Magic cards were produce in 1993.

 

[Mistwell]

It is a boilerplate (meaning they probably cut and pasted it from a legal website) ad for a very very common HR position that has been around for 20+ years. However, in all probability, they already have the person in mind who they want, and the ad fulfills legal requirements.

Yes that makes more sense to me. Good thinking.