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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Job application for 16yr old asked for photo

36 replies

BetterCallSaul99 · 11/09/2020 14:59

Is this the norm? It's for a restaurant. She sent her cv and they said to send a photo as it is needed.

OP posts:

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 11/09/2020 15:02

I wouldn't think so. Cant imagine what their reason would be for having to see what someone looks like, intact there was a thread on here recently saying definitely don't put pics on cv. I would phone and ask. Anywhere that was hiring people based on appearance isn't somewhere I would want my dd working.

Original poster

BetterCallSaul99 · 11/09/2020 15:12

That's what I thought! They said it was to put a face to a name but i think it's weird. Having said that its supposed to be a lovely well recommended restaurant and a few of my friends go. I don't because I don't particularly like the type of food.
It's 10mins walk from our house too so perfect location!

OP posts:

QueenofmyPrinces · 11/09/2020 15:22

They definitely shouldn’t ask......but I bet it’s because they don’t want someone working there who aesthetically doesn’t fit the image the restaurant wants to portray and so are saving themselves the bother of interviewing applicants they would never hire.

I don’t know the legalities of asking for photos with CVs but I can’t see why it would be needed unless the appearance of the applicant mattered to them for one reason or another....

Original poster

BetterCallSaul99 · 12/09/2020 09:14

Well she's sent the last photo of her in a school uniform looking happy and smart so we will see what happens, if her face fits!

OP posts:

Lollypop4 · 12/09/2020 09:22

Its not the norm to ask ( my DP has a pub/restaurant)
I wouldve refused to send the photo.

Griselda1 · 12/09/2020 10:10

It's a quick way to catalogue multiple job applicants or part-time employees. You're overthinking the situation.Presumably there's also a gdpr agreement attached stating what the photo is being used for, if not there should be.

MomToTwoBabas · 12/09/2020 11:41

I think that's odd. Judging her based on her appearance. What if shes the wrong colour, too ugly, spotty. It doesn't sit right with me.

lljkk · 12/09/2020 11:43

It opens them up to all sorts of legal discrimination accusations, really surprised they don't realise.

WhoWantsToKnowRae · 12/09/2020 11:49

@lljkk

It opens them up to all sorts of legal discrimination accusations, really surprised they don't realise.

Yes, tbis^^.

I have worked in recruitment and also hospitality at various points in my career. I think this was a seriously dodgy move by this restaurant. I have never been asked to provide a photo. Usually they just ask me to do trial shifts and then offer a job.

ChesterDrawsDoesntExist · 12/09/2020 11:58

I'd love to think it was to put a name to a face with multiple applicants but we all know it's doubtful.

When a new owner took over a restaurant that a friend had worked at forever they found a way to let her go and she was replaced by younger pretty girls who knew nothing. Friend was 40 years in the service industry. She was older, overweight and didn't wear makeup but she knew her job well and. She was really good at it and never was there a complaint against her.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 12/09/2020 12:03

The problem is that if you don't send a photo when requested your CV will automatically go in the bin.

It's totally wrong but at the end of the day employers will do what the hell they like. Employment law is there to pick up the pieces if you can afford it.

Lollyneenah · 12/09/2020 12:14

Why did you send a photo?? I'm face palming here OP. I wouldnt let my dd apply for jobs that judged her on her prettiness. You might have just sent a pic of your lovely dd to some 50 year old letch

EveryPlanetHasAYorkshire · 12/09/2020 12:42

I would say they want to know how attractive the applicants are.

AlwaysCheddar · 12/09/2020 12:45

They want someone pretty and slim .... I’d be furious.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 12/09/2020 12:59

They said it was to put a face to a name

That's a kind of non-justification designed to sound like it's legit but is really just hiding their true intentions in plain sight. It makes perfect sense once you're working there, but none whatsoever at the application stage.

They might be trying to weed out:
People whom they don't consider to be beautiful;
Black or Asian people with neutral/'white' sounding names;
People of one sex who might have a unisex/non-obvious name;
Disabled people;
Religious people wearing a specific kind of clothing that 'marks them out';
People with tattoos and/or 'extreme' hairstyles/piercings etc.

Apart from possibly the last one, all are illegal (except the sex one in very specific circumstances). It's much easier for them to take the lazy way out and just bin applications from people who aren't classically beautiful/who are black/wearing a niquab etc. than to call them in, have them shine at interview and then have to make up an excuse to reject them.

I can't see any way that their reasons for asking this can be honourable or legit.

Pelleas · 12/09/2020 13:02

They want pretty young girls to sleaze over.

Send in two identical CVs, one with a stunning teenager's photo, the other with an overweight 50 year old's photo, and see what happens.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 12/09/2020 13:03

If they are only wanting pretty girls to work there, they're not being very wise about it. You'd think they'd ask you to 'pop in if interested' to speak to the manager to enquire as to any currently available vacancies. Not saying that they should, of course, but that's what you'd think they'd do, to mask illegal recruitment policies.

Galaxycat · 12/09/2020 13:03

This is awful, my company are going to start having nameless CVs for leadership roles so that applicants can’t be judged if they have a non English sounding name.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 12/09/2020 13:09

Well she's sent the last photo of her in a school uniform looking happy and smart so we will see what happens, if her face fits!

I don't want to be alarming, but 'if her face fits' could equate to 'if the manager things she looks like a fit young thing'

Reddog1 · 12/09/2020 13:13

There’s an expensive bistro in my home town that only hires good-looking staff.

In this case, I’d think that they want a certain look. Not necessarily youth (there are fortysomethings at the aforementioned place) but certainly attractiveness, grooming maybe.

It sucks. I can kind of understand it in clothes shops where they might want staff to model the clothes and be in the target demographic. But serving food? No.

ChaChaCha2012 · 12/09/2020 13:16

It's wrong, but unless you can evidence they're discriminating against a protected characteristic, it's not unlawful.

Even where pictures are not asked for, this is common in hospitality. Look around any high end restaurant, or trendy bar, the vast majority of staff will be slim and conventionally attractive.

AdoptAdaptImprove · 12/09/2020 13:18

I think I would have sent them an email asking why they wanted it, given that it would open them up to legal action if they are sifting clients on the basis of protected characteristics, such as sex, race and age. Call their bluff and make them explain (which would be funny) or back down.

EdwardsNewJumper · 12/09/2020 13:18

Your poor daughter, when she's trying to find her way in the world, you are meant to have her back. Wise up OP, or course its not ok. You know that though don't you or why post if you had no qualms?

sashh · 12/09/2020 13:21

to see if she is pretty
to see if she is black

AlCalavicci · 12/09/2020 13:35

That sounds very odd to me , i do a lot of interviewing and would never ask for a photo.
They can put a face to the name if / when she gets a interview or even look for her on FB.
It would be interesting to know if they also asked any male applicants to add a photo.
As PP said you do not have to be pretty ( what ever that is ) to be good at your job no matter what industry you are in.

I hope she gets a interview as imo all interviews are good practice , learning how to act / questions to expect and ask how to deal with rejection etc.

But would I want my young DD ( if I had one) working there hmm not so sure.

Csnnyou go to the restaurant to see if they employ a 'type' rather than a talent

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