Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring DEI Managers
Entry-level DEI roles vary by company, but opportunities include "DEI program Specialist," "ERG specialist," or even "recruiting coordinator" roles, which can serve as a pathway to DEI recruiting. Other entry points include general HR roles, such as "HR coordinator" or positions on "culture teams," allowing a transition into DEI work by focusing on "Thrive[ing] the culture."
Entry-Level Positions, HR and Recruiting, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Career Transition, Corporate Culture
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Tamura Davis
DEI Manager
SoundCloud Inc
Loyola Marymount University
N/A
Business Management & Admin
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Technology
Human Resources (HR)
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level DEI roles include DEI Program Specialist or ERG Specialist.
2. Recruiting coordinator roles can be an entry point, transitioning to DEI recruiting.
3. Starting in general HR, culture, or people team roles can be a pathway to DEI, focusing on DEI-related initiatives within those roles.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
It really depends on the company. Some companies may have roles like a DEI program specialist or an ERG specialist.
Honestly, even recruiting has DEI-related roles, like DEI recruiting coordinator. I think that's a very accessible entry-level role.
You could start as a recruiting coordinator and then move into DEI recruiting. Or, you could start in any entry-level HR, people team, or culture team role and then transition into DEI.
For example, consider an HR coordinator or HR generalist role, with an emphasis on DEI. Or, if there's a culture team or people team, you could join that.
If you're on the culture team, you're helping to thrive the culture and the people at your company. I think those are easier, quote-unquote, ways of transitioning into DEI.
But again, it really varies in terms of titles per company. I would look into some of those roles.