Building a Diverse Engineering Team: A Structured Interview Approach
BuildCo · Construction Technology · Toronto, Canada
Women in Engineering Hires
from 18%
Underrepresented Candidates
from 12%
Offer Acceptance Rate
from 67%
The Challenge
BuildCo's engineering team was 82% male and lacked representation from underrepresented communities — a gap that increasingly affected product decisions and company culture. Despite stated DEI goals, their interview process relied on unstructured conversations that favored candidates who fit existing team patterns. Qualified candidates from non-traditional backgrounds were routinely screened out early.
The Solution
BuildCo adopted Clapwork's structured AI interview engine with skill-based scoring and anonymized evaluation. Every engineering candidate completes the same standardized assessment — judged on Python, system design, data structures, and communication skills — before any human contact. Hiring managers review ranked shortlists without seeing names, photos, or school affiliations until the final interview stage.
The Results
After two hiring cycles, women in engineering hires rose from 18% to 41%. Underrepresented candidates increased from 12% to 33% of new hires. Offer acceptance rate improved as candidates from all backgrounds reported a fairer, more professional hiring experience. BuildCo's engineering NPS among new hires is now 78.
"The structured process gave us something bias training alone never could — an objective starting point. Our team is stronger and more innovative than it's ever been."
Start Your Own Success Story
Join BuildCo and thousands of other teams using Clapwork to hire better.