Architecture Social

Stephen Drew, Tara Cull and Jackie Handy discuss how candidates can ask about diversity, inclusion, company culture and long-term support during interviews without feeling awkward, tokenistic or unsure.

Show Notes

Asking about diversity and inclusion in an interview is reasonable, but the wording matters because candidates are often balancing curiosity, caution and lived experience.

Stephen Drew, Tara Cull and Jackie Handy discuss how candidates can ask about diversity, inclusion, company culture and long-term support during interviews without feeling awkward, tokenistic or unsure.

The conversation covers:

  • Whether it is appropriate to ask about equality and diversity during an interview
  • How to phrase questions about inclusion and company culture
  • What candidates can look for in employer answers
  • How much personal experience to share
  • Why long-term support matters after the interview

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▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fMd8--eSdM

📝 Read the full write-up, with the key takeaways:
https://architecturesocial.com/podcast/diversity-inclusion-interview-questions/

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Chapters

  • 00:00 Asking about diversity during interviews
  • 04:09 Why equality and inclusion questions matter
  • 11:09 Finding appropriate ways to ask
  • 19:09 Jackie Handy, Tara Cull and Stephen Drew discuss culture
  • 27:09 Sharing personal experiences and boundaries
  • 35:09 Reading company signals and long-term support
  • 43:09 Courage, confidence and careful wording
  • 51:09 Practical questions candidates can use
  • 56:09 Final reflections on inclusive interviews

Creators and Guests

Host
Stephen Drew
Hello! I’m Stephen Drew, Founder of the Architecture Social—an online community and resource hub dedicated to helping professionals in Architecture, Design, Development, and Real Estate advance their careers. I’m here to connect you with insights, tools, and opportunities that lead to meaningful growth, whether you’re just starting out or ready to take that next big step.

What is Architecture Social?

Architecture has always been social. Careers should be too.

Hosted by Stephen Drew, the Architecture Social podcast brings you honest conversations from across the UK built environment. Architects, practice leaders and the people shaping the profession talk openly about their careers, their work and how practice really runs.

Expect straight talk on salaries, portfolios, hiring, progression and running a practice, from Part 1 students looking for their first role to directors building their teams.

Architecture Social is more than jobs and hiring. It's a place to share work, discover opportunities, hear honest conversations and build connections across the industry.

This is Architecture Social. Come and be part of it.