To think this is discrimination?

[SchrodingersMew]

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.

But surely, they aren't asking for photos for office work?

Have you tried temping agencies? I know that in my dim and distant past I'd never have got through an interview because of my appearance (bright hair and piercings) so I got in through the 'temping agency' route when they can just roll their eyes and think "here we go". But I was always great

I got offered several long term contracts and a couple of permanent jobs (which didn't interest me) this way. It also gave me a lot of experience of different types of office environments and what sort I wanted to work in.

I really can't believe that you won't be able to get any work because you're not thin or pretty enough. I think you're starting to internalise some of the negative messages you're seeing around you tbh. That sounds like some pretty wide experience you've got!

Most people aren't gorgeous! Most people are just average. If employers are asking for photos because they only want to employ the beautiful ones, they are going to be sorely lacking staff for a very long time!

They might be trying to make sure they don't get me circa 1995 as much as anything!!!

There was some stats a while back saying that when pics were attached to applications there was a higher chance of being selected for interview if you were a man. The theory was that HR is a female dominated profession and the people doing the shortlisting would subconsciously not choose females if they actually saw what they looked like. So the concept of a women was okay (as they would shortlist the same cvs without images) but the 'reality' of what they looked like was not.

OP it sounds pretty shit. I have never ever seen that requested tho so find it very unusual. If you do still want/have to go for those jobs, can you get a decent head shot with you looking professional and smiling to attach? I would defo ignore any job spec which had the word bikini in it tho!

In answer to your post, I don't think from what you've said you are being discrimnated against, it's so hard for everyone to get jobs at the moment, you need to apply for each one with the real determination of getting it, making sure your application is totally personalised too.

At the moment it is easy to be negative and to come across as negative in an application or interview. I think this is a massive thing to work on in order to get a job, work on your positivity, make sure everything you do/say is done in a positive way.

If you are not a naturally positive person then get help on this to find the positive angle to everything regarding matching yourself to that job.

And if you do apply for a job requiring a photo then like someone else has said, make sure it is a good one, get other peoples honest opinion before sending it. It's amazing how many people can't tell an unflattering pic of themselves! Good luck

I am registered with 3 agencies already and nothing yet.

Flo I have already done that and sat and went through the yellow pages phoning places too.

Have just seen that you're applying for college now too. What are you applying to do?

That's brilliant and will hopefully boost your confidence as much as your job prospects .

I take it your disability has now been diagnosed and you have necessary support in place for that?

I agree hecate. I was rejected for night club bar staff job despite having done loads of bar work in the past. Met the owner, a youngish, trendy bloke and could see his eyes glazing over in disinterest as soon as he saw me. Got the impression that he was looking for a personal harem of busty bar wenches! (well actually I'd have fulfilled the busty bit)

Thing is, although I'm a chubster, I still got chatted up loads behind the bar. I'd like to think it was down to my sparkling wit and winning smile, but suspect that beer goggles played a more crucial role. Sigh.

Sorry to hear the agencies aren't much good. I know the feeling. I'm registered with a couple of teaching agencies at the moment and haven't had a jot!

That really is more to do with the state of things at the moment than you though.

You're just going for the wrong type of jobs

When I did graduate recruitment, we used to take photos of the candidates at first interview stage (with their permission of course). We used to have full day sessions with interview, tests etc. Afterwards the managers/HR used to select the candidates for final stage. Having a photo was invaluable because after a while all the candidates used to merge into one and it meant that everyone knew who they were talking about.

I have tied getting a decent professional lookimg phito but I am far from photogenic so feek nervous sending them.

HyperBallad I really do try to make sure my application is good but in all honesty it isn't great anyway. To get a job I am coming off sickness and disability benefits which I really should stay on for the moment as I am in agony constantly and knackered but I need to find work so I guess I am probably coming across as nervous as well.

FolkGirl Social work as I would love to go into child protection. They have just told me I need 120 hours work experience though to enter the course and that's at entry level. :(

I have a diagnosis now but it seems too little to late.

SecretPlace I am just applying to the jobs that I can, hell I even applied to gut fish!

It's normal practice in other European countries to send your resume with a picture.

In fact French colleagues I've worked with think it's "odd" that the UK have CVs without pictures..

Right it's not too little too late. It's never too late!

How old are you?

What examples of experience did they give you? What sort of experience are they looking for?

I am 21 and I assume in Social work, they didn't say. Just said that I needed that. So dreams are quashed right there.

It seems I actually have a better chance getting into "entry to Medicine" than that social work course.

Schrodinger - re a professional photo are there any colleges doing photography near you? Could you see if they want a model to take portraits of?

Ok, that makes it so much harder for you then many other people going for the same jobs. I still think though you need to get your head into that really positive place and think 'do you know what, why shouldn't I get the fucking job?!' and you know what ' I'm not gonna let those bastards get me down!!'

(not suggesting you swear your head off at interview though!)

I employed a person who was in a similar position to you, had no use of her left arm due to an accident, trying to get out of the benefits system, was a mum of three so had the typical 'mumsy' body shape.

She walked into the interview with her head held high and really gave it too me! She made me smile, she came across as very capable and a real 'nothings gonna get me down' kind of person.

The role was customer care and reception in a very image conscious business, we discussed her disability and how it could be managed within the work place from all angles and I offered her the job the next day.

She worked for me for three years.

Her positivity and confidence shone through, was she that positive and confident for every minute of everyday, no! Of course not! But get yourself into that head place for an interview and I'm sure you will get a job offer in the not too distant future.

Social work entry details

A friend of mine had a part-time job at a local Sense centre. That's what made her want to become a SW and it counted for her experience.

Ok, you need some SMART targets.

So

Specific - e.g. "find out what experience I need to get onto a SW course". Rather than "become a social worker"

Measurable - e.g. you will know when you have achieved it - e.g. ok so I need to find out about volunteering with Homestart.

Achievable - you could do it today by making a phone call to the college.

Realistic - Yep, phoning the college and asking them what experience they are looking for is realistic.

Time limited - You can say when you will have achieved it by - e.g. the end of today/lunchtime/by next Tuesday/within the next Month.

So contact the college again. Say that you are interested in applying for the SW course but that you understand that you need 120 hours experience. They won't remember speaking to you, but you will look like you've done some research (which you have) and they will know that you are serious. If they can't help you, ask to speak to the Course Leader or someone who can. They will know what they are looking for.

So ask them what sort of experience they are looking for.

Then when you have that information, you can start to plan your next SMART targets. And work towards those. It's really daunting to be faced with just

"I want to become a CP SW" because it is something that is going to involve lots of little steps to get you to where you want to be.

What they want is to know that you understand what is involved in SW - that you understand that sometimes it isn't pretty, that it's hard work, that not all parents are aware that they are having difficulties and that they are not all receptive to input. They want to know that you aren't going into it because you can't think of anything better to do.

21 is not too old to do anything.

I went to university at 26 and graduated at 29.

I retrained as a teacher in my early 30s.

It's never too late.

Well if that is you on your profile OP, there is nothing wrong with either of those photos of you.

Okay, I have phoned them and it needs to be in a care setting with a maximum of 50 hours of informal care.

Mamma I have had my friends sister take them who is studying photography and thanj you for the link. :)

Hyper I had an interview recently where I thought I came across as confident and able but they didn't call me back. :( I will try harder to seem more confident, thanks. :)

Squeaky Yes, that is me but it was before I had DS, at the start of my pg, hair colour is different now and I am definitey fatter.

Maybe I should work on losing the baby weight to build my confidence up a bit.

I thought that Squeaky!

In that case, you could volunteer in an old people's home, in a nursery for children with SN, Homestart.

Your experience won't need to be in children and families because you don't specialise in the first year anyway.

Get an understanding of the issues and policies and procedures that affect people. The gaining experience is only their way of determining who is really keen versus those who will be easily put off.

That's a good point and I will have a look at homestart opportunities, I think I can do up ton16 hours while still on ESA so it means I wint completeky lose everything in the meantime and I will be able to test if I am actually capable of working at the moment.

This thread has actually been really helpful, thank you. I came on just wondering about the discrimination side of the jobs I have been applying for but this has really helped me feel better about applying.

Thanks. :)