To think they’re discriminating my photo?

[Panicking40609]

I am on the Care website as a provider of childcare. When I signed up and set up my profile it required a photo of myself. A brief description of me, I look young (could pass for late teens, very early 20s) and have bleach blonde hair.

AIBU to think they’re discriminating because of the photo as this is my experience?

7 years experience in education and childcare settings
Worked with ages 0-11, particularly early years even new borns
Training in SIDS, first aid, behavioural problems
Experience working 1-1 with SEN children including attachment disorder and ASD.

My experience and skills are solid and I firmly believe this, however I’m getting no interest or being rejected from 30+ jobs now. Not even a reply to any applications.

[AcornAutumn]

@bobbojobbo

OP can you borrow some glasses to do a new pic?Not joking

Cos glasses are unattractive?

Not at all

Because unfortunately, I have had a couple of friends with long blonde hair learn that they get taken more seriously if they tie back their hair and wear glasses.

It is utterly batshit but I think people link glasses with intelligence and - my friends tell me - blonde hair with a "dumb blonde" stereotype.

[Gingerbreadchoc]

Hi op. If you’d like anyone to look over what you’ve written on the website, I am happy to read it and advise.

[ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown]

I have seen some babysitter photos on websites that look (to my ageing eyes) like glamour models. I realise this is the Instagram way but I don't like it. I wouldn't mind the youth or blonde hair at all.

[lottiegarbanzo]

Ask someone whose opinions you trust to look over your profile for you.

Ask someone who is really competent at writing to proof read for you.

Many people who work in childcare have really poor standards of written English. Which is fine, in as much as it doesn't prevent them from being excellent at their jobs. It is not fine for a job application or a marketing site.

[TatianaBis]

@AcornAutumn

OP can you borrow some glasses to do a new pic?

Not joking.

Was going to suggest the same thing. May make you look older and more serious.

[category12]

If you think it's your picture, change it. Style your hair differently, wear something formal, change your make-up. See what happens.

[Mamanyt]

No, you can't help looking young, but your hairstyle and dress could be the issue. Take a long, objective look at both.

[Cyberattack]

Change your photo for goodness sake if this is what you believe.

[Lavanderrose]

Maybe rephrase some of your training, e.g. instead of writing “training in SIDS”, you could write that you’ve completed training in safe sleeping for babies etr. I highly doubt it’s because you look young and have blonde hair. Maybe try signing up to a childcare agency.

[ivfbeenbusy]

First impressions do count but as someone who has had to trawl childcare sites for hours in search of childcare for my children the profile photo doesn't really bother me....unless i was looking for a live in au pair and you looked like a supermodel - I might swipe past in a "I'm fat and frumpy having just given birth to twins" moment of low esteem 🤣

Maybe take your profile photo odd and see what happens?

[NotMeNoNo]

There's a website where you can get feedback on photos both for dating type ones and business. I was surprised at the feedback.

[bobbojobbo]

OP can you borrow some glasses to do a new pic?Not joking

Cos glasses are unattractive?

[AcornAutumn]

OP can you borrow some glasses to do a new pic?

Not joking.

[Panicking40609]

My profile is written as such. I just was rushing to write everything on here

[user184628462]

Someone mentioned “Pouty smile” which made me laugh.. But unlikely you will have a flirty pic on an agency site,

You say that - and I wasn't asking seriously myself - but I've just had a look at one of these sites to see what kind of photos people have used and there is some questionable judgement going on in the photo selection department.

[x2boys]

I'm a parent with a child with autism and severe learning disabilities and if I was looking for someone to work with my child I would want someone who was friendly and capable ,I wouldn't care about how old you were or your clothes style but maybe some people do .

[EggyPegg]

@DumplingsAndStew

Do you mention working with SEN children?
I wouldn't like that at all; it is "children with SEN".

Or just SEN. The children part is implied anyway.

[Siepie]

@Panicking40609

Nothing to do with pandemic as these are new job postings.

Even if these are new job postings, if there are less postings due to the pandemic or just more people out of work due to the pandemic, they could be getting a lot more applicants than normal.

Take a look at other profiles on the site. I don't know what kind of childcare work you're looking for, but when I was looking at childminders on a local site, most profiles seemed to have more friendly photos (rather than professional headshots) and focus on chatty descriptions, with qualifications/experience listed further down.

[DumplingsAndStew]

Do you mention working with SEN children?
I wouldn't like that at all; it is "children with SEN".

[oakleaffy]

@Viviennemary

If I wanted child minder I'd look for a motherly type person.if I wanted a babysitter for evenings then a younger person would be fine. Don't ask me why. It isn't very logical.

I had a couple of teenaged boys for Young DS do a sterling job.
DS is friends with one of them still.
Responsibility is the key.

[EggyPegg]

You've listed your experience but not your qualifications. Do you have any?

I say this as someone who had years of experience, similar to you, but never got round to completing my qualification (I was lazy when it came to academia when I was younger). I was regularly passed over for jobs that I would have excelled at, because I didn't have any formal qualifications.

[oakleaffy]

Any Care work involves trust, it is odd you mention looking young, as at 16 I lived in and cared for a four year old for three weeks.
As long as the child/ren are safe and happily occupied, looking young shouldn’t be an issue.

Someone mentioned “Pouty smile” which made me laugh.. But unlikely you will have a flirty pic on an agency site,
More likely to be Market Forces and people WFH.

[Viviennemary]

If I wanted child minder I'd look for a motherly type person.if I wanted a babysitter for evenings then a younger person would be fine. Don't ask me why. It isn't very logical.

[Apples6544]

I’ve just been searching for childcare recently, looking young does put me off initially but they would be able to work out you’re not a teenager by your experience if they read your page. Have you got a logo you could use in place of a picture of you? Lots of people do that.
Also I found the care website a bit odd and left pretty much immediately, try childcare.co.uk.

[Panicking40609]

Nothing to do with pandemic as these are new job postings.