Voluntary Self-Identification Survey for External Candidates - Green Communities Canada

Voluntary Self-Identification Survey for External Candidates

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Increasing diversity

Through our hiring and employment practices, Green Communities Canada is committed to actively increasing diversity within our organization.

Frequently Asked Questions
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About the voluntary survey and review process

We encourage all candidates to participate in our voluntary Self-Identification Survey. With your consent, information gathered through the survey will be used to determine Equity Group Experience, which is a category that is positively scored in our application review process.

The Self-Identification Survey includes questions related to persons who experience underrepresentation in the workplace, including Indigenous persons, Black and racialized persons, persons with disability, women, and persons from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
This survey is designed to support the priorities outlined in the Green Communities Canada Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy and will be used to address the systemic barriers that deny fair employment opportunities.

Responses are Confidential

All responses will remain confidential and will only be used to inform the hiring process for which they were submitted. Once the hiring process has been completed, all identifying information in the surveys will be deleted.

We know providing information about how you identify is personal and may be sensitive. We acknowledge that considerations including a fear of disclosure, personal privacy, and concerns about the survey resulting in a negative impact on employment opportunities may be on your mind. 
To mitigate against potential bias, Equity Group Experience scores will be integrated after members of the hiring committee have scored all other categories. One staff person within Green Communities Canada’s HR Team, who is not a member of the Hiring Committee, will be responsible for reviewing Self-Identification Surveys and inputting scores for this final category.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Self-Identification Survey?

The Self-Identification Survey is a voluntary survey designed to collect demographic and identity-based information about prospective candidates (job applicants) as part of our ongoing commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. The questions are intended to help us identify applicants who reflect groups that are marginalized and underrepresented in the workforce (Employment Equity Groups).

What is an Employment Equity Group?

Designated Employment Equity Groups include members who are: 

  • persons from the 2SLGBTQIA+community
  • women and gender diverse
  • persons with disabilities (these can be apparent or non-apparent disabilities)
  • Indigenous persons 
  • Black and racialized persons

Why are you asking this information?

People who are part of an Employment Equity Group have likely faced more barriers than others who are not part of an equity group. A voluntary self-identifying survey allows us to recognize members of one or more equity group and to increase their chance at being selected for an interview.

How will you use the information collected?

Applications are evaluated using scored categories that reflect the qualifications, attributes, and experiences outlined in the job posting. Top scoring candidates are invited to an interview.

To act on employment equity and increase diversity within our organization, we include an Equity Group Experience category in our application review process. If consent is given, persons who are members of a priority equity group(s) will receive a positive score in this category, increasing the chance that they will be selected for an interview.

Who will see my responses?

One staff person within Green Communities Canada’s HR Team will be responsible for reviewing Self-Identification Surveys and inputting scores for the Equity Group Experience category.  Following this review, all identifying information in the survey responses will be deleted.

Do I have to self-identify?

No, this is a voluntary survey. If you do not complete the self-identification survey, you will not be given a score in the Equity Group Experience category. You will still be scored on all other categories related to qualifications, attributes, and experience. 

Should I complete the survey if I’m not a member of an Equity Group?

Yes, we ask all applicants to voluntarily complete the survey and provide responses for as many questions as you feel comfortable; this helps to provide a more complete picture of the diversity of our applicant pool. 

Is asking me to self-identify discriminatory?

No, the survey is a tool that aims to support quantitative measures to make hiring more equitable and inclusive for all applicants. It aims to include, rather than exclude, and helps to ensure all individuals have equal access to employment opportunities in the recruitment and hiring process.