Bells Posted March 25, 2009 Posted March 25, 2009 that's right, I thought I have seen it all Check out this thread on Monster Apparently, employers are now asking for photos or headshots for women (typically admin asst.) for pictures and demanding they be attractive for the job position Has society sunk to a NEW LOW? These companies can be SUED for such things, AND LOSE, right? ======= Smaller concrete-general contractor looking for full time Polish and English speaking individual to assist in the day to day office activities and make a trip here and there to City of Chicago, City Hall. Experience not required will train. Salary based on experience and computer skills. Company vehicle negotiable. Please email recent resume and photo to: [email protected]. ONLY RESUMES WITH ATTACHED PHOTOS WILL BE REVIEWED. Please only send information once and if we find a match, Karolina will be contacting you for an interview. Thank You Location: Lincolnwood,IL Compensation: Excellent-Negotiable Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster. Please, no phone calls about this job! Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
2sure Posted March 25, 2009 Posted March 25, 2009 Its not new. As long as 8 years ago I interviewed for a position and it was video taped.
St. Nick Posted March 25, 2009 Posted March 25, 2009 This is old. Companies hire secretaries, waitresses, bartenders, strippers, pornstars, etc. based on looks all the time.
Author Bells Posted March 25, 2009 Author Posted March 25, 2009 This is old. Companies hire secretaries, waitresses, bartenders, strippers, pornstars, etc. based on looks all the time. Well, if you're talking about porn stars/modeling jobs, that kind of thing...that's acceptable But administrative positions? This is a lawsuit (non-frivolous) waiting to happen.
2sure Posted March 25, 2009 Posted March 25, 2009 My interview was for an executive marketing position. I am still in the field and we require pictures for most positions- and the majority of our work force is male. They arent waitresses or strippers.
Sam Spade Posted March 25, 2009 Posted March 25, 2009 It is a very delicate territory and they would very likely lose, but if positive/pleasant outlook is essential for the position role, I see no problem with that. If I own a company and need a receptionist, I'd make sure that he/she is pleasant to look at. It does not mean that he/she needs to be "hot", but certainly inviting and approachable looking. A secretaty certainly does not need to be hot or pleasant to look at as long as she's on top of everything. Also, it does not necessarily mean that they are discriminating on the basis of looks. You can tell something about a person by just looking at them - personality does show to some extent on the face. Where I work, the secretary is HUGE, but that's irrelevant since she is 1) badass; and 2) has such great attitude that no amount of physical problems can krimp. On the flip side, online dating is *exactly* like finding a job.
Author Bells Posted March 25, 2009 Author Posted March 25, 2009 My interview was for an executive marketing position. I am still in the field and we require pictures for most positions- and the majority of our work force is male. They arent waitresses or strippers. Are you referring to before being interviewed. Now if you're doing it for I.D.'s Otherwise, I'd question the nature of your employer, sounds like not the kind of company I'd work for. You support this?
Author Bells Posted March 25, 2009 Author Posted March 25, 2009 Also, it does not necessarily mean that they are discriminating on the basis of looks. You can tell something about a person by just looking at them - Right, and this can be determined at the interview, right?
shockandawed Posted March 25, 2009 Posted March 25, 2009 I have done both hiring and online dating. I totally disagree that you can get a personality feel strictly off of a picture. I have been wrong several times. I have seen pictures where I thought the girl was attractive with a great personality only to discover she was a wet sack. I have also reluctantly went on dates, only to be blown away. Based on that alone, I would never want to see a photo before I interview someone. Yes, it goes on all the time. Look at pharmaceutical companies. Many of the reps don't know the difference between Tylenol or Viagra, yet they are great eye-candy for the doctors. Even though it goes on, it doesn't make it right, especially with what this position appears. It seems to be a contractors office with a small staff. The position is very vague. I get the impression it might just be Joe and this person working alone in the office. My bet is Joe is looking for more than a capable employee.
2sure Posted March 25, 2009 Posted March 25, 2009 Are you referring to before being interviewed. Now if you're doing it for I.D.'s Otherwise, I'd question the nature of your employer, sounds like not the kind of company I'd work for. You support this? I not only support it, I enforce it. The nature of the business , like many businesses, requires the candidate to work with various people who are not present for the initial interviews. First impressions are HUGE and are based quite a bit on presentation: Appearance, Mannerisms, Speech, Eye Contact, etc. So, the pictures or visually recorded interviews are shared with those involved with selection but not present. These interviews are for positions dealing with the public, and the person must come across well in a visual format. Although this is a priority for my particular field, I can see why it would be important in many different professions. Oh, and they have to sign a waiver so that we can have pictures.
Author Bells Posted March 25, 2009 Author Posted March 25, 2009 I not only support it, I enforce it. The nature of the business , like many businesses, requires the candidate to work with various people who are not present for the initial interviews. First impressions are HUGE and are based quite a bit on presentation: Appearance, Mannerisms, Speech, Eye Contact, etc. So, the pictures or visually recorded interviews are shared with those involved with selection but not present. These interviews are for positions dealing with the public, and the person must come across well in a visual format. Although this is a priority for my particular field, I can see why it would be important in many different professions. Oh, and they have to sign a waiver so that we can have pictures. Okay , this might be the end all question here. If they were too short or a little hefty or even overweight? Would you interview/ hire them? Well groomed is one thing.......but if you wont hire someone the same reason that men and women reject people for mates That's different.
shockandawed Posted March 25, 2009 Posted March 25, 2009 I not only support it, I enforce it. The nature of the business , like many businesses, requires the candidate to work with various people who are not present for the initial interviews. First impressions are HUGE and are based quite a bit on presentation: Appearance, Mannerisms, Speech, Eye Contact, etc. So, the pictures or visually recorded interviews are shared with those involved with selection but not present. Not sure what kind of business you are in, but it seems strange that people are involved in the selection process without actually meeting them. I can understand the use of a taped interview, but a picture for the initial interview? These interviews are for positions dealing with the public, and the person must come across well in a visual format. Although this is a priority for my particular field, I can see why it would be important in many different professions. Again, I understand coming across professionally and well in a visual format, but do you think a photograph alone will do that? And do you think it's all that important for a clerical type position working for a concrete contractor? I seriously doubt it.
IrishCarBomb Posted March 25, 2009 Posted March 25, 2009 These companies can be SUED for such things, AND LOSE, right? I most states, no. The federal discrimination laws only apply to race, religion, sex, or national origin; they do not come into play if a person is discriminated against based on being (un)attractive. Some states have laws against discrimination based on appearance, but as far as I know, they are a small minority.
yongyong Posted March 26, 2009 Posted March 26, 2009 Ok let's say you are fat and unattractive. you run a coffee shop. would you hire fat and ugly people cuz you feel bad for them??? If a job is about dealing with people, good looking DEFINITELY helps. If you want to complain about 'why the rest of the world except me, is so shallow', that's fine.
missdependant Posted March 26, 2009 Posted March 26, 2009 You can sue for anything these days. And if you have a really good lawyer, then yes. You can win just about any lawsuit. Pretty lame though.. I don't think they need to be asking for a picture to be an office admin. They should stop being so lazy and just schedule interviews. If they're looking to hire someone based on their looks, they should decide who's ugly at the interview. Personally, I'd rather have someone who is just MODERATELY attractive AND smart than someone who is super-model gorgeous and dumber than a rock. Also, if it is an admin job involving a lot of time on the phone or someone bi-lingual, I'd want someone with a professional voice. You can't determine that by looking at a picture. Unless of course, I was involved with the entertainment business.. and this guy clearly is not.
missdependant Posted March 26, 2009 Posted March 26, 2009 You can sue for anything these days. And if you have a really good lawyer, then yes. You can win just about any lawsuit. Pretty lame though.. I don't think they need to be asking for a picture to be an office admin. They should stop being so lazy and just schedule interviews. If they're looking to hire someone based on their looks, they should decide who's ugly at the interview. Personally, I'd rather have someone who is just MODERATELY attractive AND smart than someone who is super-model gorgeous and dumber than a rock. Also, if it is an admin job involving a lot of time on the phone or someone bi-lingual, I'd want someone with a professional voice. You can't determine that by looking at a picture. Unless of course, I was involved with the entertainment business (like if I had a music-production office or something).. and this guy clearly is not. It's a CONTRACTOR... pretty high standards for them to have.
boxing123 Posted March 26, 2009 Posted March 26, 2009 Asking for pictures is a good idea..You have no idea how many really strange/ creepy people are looking for a job. And of course good looking women rise much quicker/get hired quicker in the corporate world.
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