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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is discrimination?

84 replies

SchrodingersMew · 05/07/2012 08:43

I seems every job advert I look at just now is requesting you send a picture with your C.V and if you don't you wont be considered.

Surely this is discrimination as they will just choose who they think looks best?

I am also seeing lots of adverts saying they are looking for people who are "good looking" etc.

No wonder it's so hard to find a job and now I'm telling myself I am still unemployed because the employer thinks I am not pretty enough and fat. :( I'm actually getting quite upset thinking about it.

OP posts:
Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 05/07/2012 08:45

It*

OP posts:
ecclesvet · 05/07/2012 08:45

What jobs are you applying for? Haven't seen this myself, but it could certainly allow discrimination to creep in.

lisaro · 05/07/2012 08:46

What adverts ask for people that are good looking?

GrimmaTheNome · 05/07/2012 08:46

I'm suprised they are allowed to do this. What sort of jobs are these?

Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 05/07/2012 08:48

It was for bar/waiting staff and sales and marketing...

Have also seen it for some office jobs.

OP posts:
KateSpade · 05/07/2012 08:48

I heard at Pandora you have to send in a picture, however the staff at my local pandora are hardly Supermodels. So I'm not sure what they have achieved by doing that.

Sorry, i don't offer any genuine advice, other than make sure your picture is really good.

Feel better soon!

LaurieFairyCake · 05/07/2012 08:49

No one in HR is going to choose 'someone who looks best'.

I've never seen an advert for a job that requires people to be good looking apart from models/strippers/hooters employees/abercrombie and fitch - and they're not jobs the majority are interested in.

Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 05/07/2012 08:49

Thanks. :) It just worries me that my experience is being over looked because I don't look the best.

OP posts:
paradisechick · 05/07/2012 08:50

Are you in the UK?

I remember when in Dubai the job adverts were hilariously discriminatory.

TeapotsInJune · 05/07/2012 08:50

Hollister ask for young and good looking people. I can see how it's annoying but please don't get upset about it! When I was in my early 20s I was no oil painting and didn't know how to make the best of myself. I'm pretty fit now though! Grin

MegumiEto · 05/07/2012 08:51

I think they do this so that when they are discussing interviewees afterwards, they can put a face to the application form.

I hope so anyway! Had this a few times.

Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 05/07/2012 08:52

I'm in Scotland!

TeaPots I know I shouldn't worry about it but I'm desperate for a job and can't help thinking this is the reason I haven't got one yet!

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TubbyDuffs · 05/07/2012 08:54

They still are paradisechick, especially the ones asking for "personal assistants"

squeakytoy · 05/07/2012 08:55

If the role is customer facing, then the company are surely within their rights to want people who look right for the role.

Hyperballad · 05/07/2012 08:58

The word young is not allowed to be in adverts as it is discriminatory and any company doing that is breaking the employment regs (Uk).

OP posts:
TiggyD · 05/07/2012 08:59

They keep the monitoring form separate from the application so they can't discriminate on grounds of age, sex, race, etc, then they ask for a photo which shows age, sex, race, etc... Shock

diddl · 05/07/2012 09:00

Standard here (Germany) to include a photo.

Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 05/07/2012 09:00

http://m.gumtree.com/bar-staff-urgent/v?adId=105960710 try that again sorry Have also seen ads today looking for "young and outgoing".

OP posts:
Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 05/07/2012 09:01

m.gumtree.com/bar-staff-urgent/v?adId=105960710

OP posts:
allmouthnotrousers · 05/07/2012 09:04

That job sounds fucking dreadful and the place is clearly being run by a sexist pig.

I cannot BELIEVE it is legal for him to ask for photos 'in a belly top' as part of the application Shock

He'd be the type to tell you it was all part of the service if you complained about being felt up while working Angry

Original poster
SchrodingersMew · 05/07/2012 09:06

It also states it can be in a bikini... Also, he can't spell for shit. Hmm

Unfortunately this is the crap I am having to wade through.

OP posts:
Hyperballad · 05/07/2012 09:08

In terms of looks, a company isn't breaking any rules to advertise good looking as long as there is no discrimination involved, if they chose people from the photo based on age, sex or race then this would be against the rules. Many companies are advised against asking for photos. So they don't themselves open to accusations of discrimination.

HmmThinkingAboutIt · 05/07/2012 09:09

I was told that a certain retailer with a rather large store at the Trafford Centre, only employed good looking people as it was part of their image. I do not know if this is true or not, but when I've been in I have no reason to doubt this based on observation.

TroublesomeEx · 05/07/2012 09:09

I haven't come across this, but then I only look at teaching vacancies Grin

That advert is talking about a Coyote Ugly theme. I haven't seen the film, but do seem to remember a trailer with scantily clad girls standing on a bar. And the owner has a bar in Magaluf by the same name (classy).

It might be 'discriminatory' but then all job vacancies are discriminatory. Teaching jobs require you to have a degree and QTS so discriminates against people who don't; lots of jobs require people to have a clean criminal record and discriminates against people who don't; a bar that is all about a 'party' atmosphere expects it's staff to be easy on the eye.

I doubt that Wetherspoons has the same requirements.