Client wants a photo...

[JohnSaunders]

Hi

This is the first time I have come across this in over 20 years of contracting, and a quick search here hasn't found a similar thread here...

Agent has sent my cv to the client, and the client is requesting a photo. This is for a senior role working with end clients for the hiring client, which is a consultancy.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, it may be that they want to be assured that I have a presentable appearance prior to setting up an interview.

Still seems a pretty odd/controversial request, and could be used to discriminate on basis of age or race.

Any thoughts?

[cojak]

Hi

This is the first time I have come across this in over 20 years of contracting, and a quick search here hasn't found a similar thread here...

Agent has sent my cv to the client, and the client is requesting a photo. This is for a senior role working with end clients for the hiring client, which is a consultancy.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, it may be that they want to be assured that I have a presentable appearance prior to setting up an interview.

Still seems a pretty odd/controversial request, and could be used to discriminate on basis of age or race.

Any thoughts?

If you already have a photo on LinkedIn give them that one.

[SueEllen]

Still seems a pretty odd/controversial request, and could be used to discriminate on basis of age or race.

Any thoughts?

If you really want the role comply.

If you don't care and the company are UK based tell them that their photo request breaks equality laws. If they are based abroad then their request is OK simply because in some European countries it's customary to add a photo to a CV.

In regards to age - most people (except agents) can calculate the age group you are in by things you put on you CV. However there are quite a few people around who don't look their age due to their lifestyle they lead so photos aren't really any good.

[centurian]

Assuming their reasons are genuinely as stated (and not in order to discriminate), it's an utterly pointless exercise - because - if you are going to send them a photo, you won't send them a crap one - you'll send one looking half decent, so they can't really make an informed judgement anyway.

It's Hawthorne effect in action. By telling you what they are looking for - you modify your behaviour to present to them what they are telling you they want to observe.

So, again, assuming they are not using it to discriminate, it sounds like they are generally a right bunch of a-holes, who are so far up themselves - they think they have some godly ability to divine meaningful information for a single photograph.

I declined an interview once for a gig - mostly because of the very weird rules they were setting down for the interview. On their own, none of them were particularly extreme, but the way they laid them down just spoke volumes about what their personality was like. I told they to go and find someone else - and was very blunt about it.

And if I were them, I would be very concerned about claims for discrimination from asking for a photo... people have been known to sue for considerably less.

Send them this photo w Ww.flickr.com/photos/30177685@N02/8298899576 with a caveat that you are "still transitioning" - then watch the silence as they realise the discrimination can-of-worms they have prised wide open - you'd probably get an interview just so they could "tick the box"

[jmo21]

I declined an interview once for a gig - mostly because of the very weird rules they were setting down for the interview. On their own, none of them were particularly extreme, but the way they laid them down just spoke volumes about what their personality was like. I told they to go and find someone else - and was very blunt about it.

what type of things?

[TykeMerc]

Hi

This is the first time I have come across this in over 20 years of contracting, and a quick search here hasn't found a similar thread here...

Agent has sent my cv to the client, and the client is requesting a photo. This is for a senior role working with end clients for the hiring client, which is a consultancy.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, it may be that they want to be assured that I have a presentable appearance prior to setting up an interview.

Still seems a pretty odd/controversial request, and could be used to discriminate on basis of age or race.

Any thoughts?

It's a bit unusual, but not totally absurd as requests go.

It's possible the client or at least the hiring manager is from one of the bits of Europe where people routinely include a photo on their CV. It's common in Portugal for instance.

[SueEllen]

It's a bit unusual, but not totally absurd as requests go.

It's possible the client or at least the hiring manager is from one of the bits of Europe where people routinely include a photo on their CV. It's common in Portugal for instance.

I remember I was at a company where we got a CV from someone in Europe with a passport photo. The photo was passed around the company as the guy looked like a criminal. This is when it was explained to me it's common in some European countries to put photos on CVs. And no he wasn't given an interview....

[BolshieBastard]

Hi

This is the first time I have come across this in over 20 years of contracting, and a quick search here hasn't found a similar thread here...

Agent has sent my cv to the client, and the client is requesting a photo. This is for a senior role working with end clients for the hiring client, which is a consultancy.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, it may be that they want to be assured that I have a presentable appearance prior to setting up an interview.

Still seems a pretty odd/controversial request, and could be used to discriminate on basis of age or race.

Any thoughts?

Yes, what do you think?

I cant believe someone is actually asking this question on here! Personally, Id tell them to **** off. I dont put my DoB on my cv for a reason so, Im not sending them a photo either.

[sal]

If you already have a photo on LinkedIn give them that one.

^This

People seem to overreact, ready to sue for discrimination etc. without details. If they are not going to like you picture, due to whatever reasons, where is the point in wasting your and the client time with an interview? If they want to drop you on grounds of appearance they can always do it after the interview, or do people plan do go on a face to face wearing a balaclava?

[MattZani]

Send the photo and sue them only if you don't get the gig