6 ms·

Is there a reason why a photo should be included?

mfoy_ 7y ago
I mean... other than the obvious ones? (i.e. the same reasons which are why North American companies usually don't or can't request a photo...)
- otterley 7y ago
  I can't think of an obvious reason why anyone -- other than someone being hired specifically for their looks such as a model or an actor -- should include their photo along with their curriculum vitae. What "obvious" reasons are you thinking of? To prove they're not a bot or a house pet?
  - mfoy_ 7y ago
    To quote Drawn Together's Foxxy Love: "This whole test is racially biased! Question one: 'What SPF lotion would you use if your were going down to the polo grounds, fellow Klan member?'"
    - otterley 7y ago
      ... I don't get it. I mean, I get the joke, but not how it supports your argument.
      - mfoy_ 7y ago
        I'm sorry... I mean, really? I thought you were just trolling originally, playing up the "I don't see race" trope. Well, I'll spell it out very plainly for you then: A profile picture facilitates hiring discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, beauty, and possibly other factors as well. You'd get into trouble if you wrote "I am a young, white, normal-looking man" on the top of your resume... but maybe if you just sliiide a little headshot in you'll get the message across.
        wolco 7y ago
        People assume white/male would benefit. But something tells me attractive people and females would receive more interviews requests.
        aspaceman 7y ago
        Perhaps, and who would get picked because they look the most “professional”, “relatable” or “likable”? It doesn’t have to be an active decision to be racial bias. Could just be your gut, “looks like a good person to me” instinct
        wolco 7y ago
        “professional”, “relatable” or “likable” I really do think women would get high marks and probably beat out many males in these categories. Maybe young/old but a resume clearly gives that away.
        otterley 7y ago
        > A profile picture facilitates hiring discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, beauty, and possibly other factors as well. I agree with you. That's why I said I don't see why anyone other than an actor should put their photo on a resume, because it makes it easier for the reviewer to discriminate based on illegitimate reasons. Perhaps there's a misunderstanding? This discussion thread has been about why anyone should include a photo, not why they shouldn't. Unless they want to attempt to benefit from such discrimination by having a favored appearance, which we want to discourage.
        lazyasciiart 7y ago
        The reason people should do it today is because in some places, not including a photo would be like leaving out your name. The likely reason that custom began, which is I think what was being explained, is racism.
        7y ago
  - cortesoft 7y ago
    Because of racism and sexism, so they can hire other people that look like them.
Carioca 7y ago
If you're REALLY naive, so you can put a face to the person. Could also be seen as a form of “authentication” i.e. to stop people from submitting multiple resumes. I personally consider that misuse far outweighs any reasonable use except for actors models and such
usr1106 7y ago
Culture, customs. Things are just like they are in various countries. Asking why makes little sense. Most customs can be useful in some situations and less useful, even disturbing in others. That said if you apply for a qualified job in a foreign country you should have some familiarity with the customs of the target country, at least from reading. Otherwise working there might cause quite some difficulties for both sides. I know what I am talking about. I knew foreign country B from being a trainee there. Later I went to its neighbor country C to work permanently. Given the fact that they are neighbor countries I assumed to know both of them. Well, there were quite some surprises...
- mfoy_ 7y ago
  >Asking why makes little sense. Foucault would like a word.
blackbrokkoli 7y ago
Everybody here is drowning in their conspiracy theories...it's just culture. Why do we shake hands, other than to give the other person our germs so that if I have a deadly disease the other guy will die too? Well maybe because it's just established. To show that you have respect for the other party, even that you are willing to follow customs. Calm down everyone!
- lazyasciiart 7y ago
  "Culture" is just a set of practices and assumptions that have been internalized - talking about where they came from is anthropology/history. You can certainly have conspiracy theories in there, but you seem to have confused those with any explanation at all. (As for shaking hands - it seems to be pretty well established that it is a way of showing that you aren't going for a weapon - https://deepenglish.com/2014/07/handshake-history-listening-fluency-116/ https://deepenglish.com/2014/07/handshake-history-listening-...)
k__ 7y ago
Probably signaling. If you put some effort into looking nice on a photo, people think you care. On the other hand, they will see you sooner or later anyway, so there is not much gain but time.

I mean... other than the obvious ones? (i.e. the same reasons which are why North American companies usually don't or can't request a photo...)

otterley 7y ago
I can't think of an obvious reason why anyone -- other than someone being hired specifically for their looks such as a model or an actor -- should include their photo along with their curriculum vitae. What "obvious" reasons are you thinking of? To prove they're not a bot or a house pet?
- mfoy_ 7y ago
  To quote Drawn Together's Foxxy Love: "This whole test is racially biased! Question one: 'What SPF lotion would you use if your were going down to the polo grounds, fellow Klan member?'"
  - otterley 7y ago
    ... I don't get it. I mean, I get the joke, but not how it supports your argument.
    - mfoy_ 7y ago
      I'm sorry... I mean, really? I thought you were just trolling originally, playing up the "I don't see race" trope. Well, I'll spell it out very plainly for you then: A profile picture facilitates hiring discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, beauty, and possibly other factors as well. You'd get into trouble if you wrote "I am a young, white, normal-looking man" on the top of your resume... but maybe if you just sliiide a little headshot in you'll get the message across.
      - wolco 7y ago
        People assume white/male would benefit. But something tells me attractive people and females would receive more interviews requests.
        aspaceman 7y ago
        Perhaps, and who would get picked because they look the most “professional”, “relatable” or “likable”? It doesn’t have to be an active decision to be racial bias. Could just be your gut, “looks like a good person to me” instinct
        wolco 7y ago
        “professional”, “relatable” or “likable” I really do think women would get high marks and probably beat out many males in these categories. Maybe young/old but a resume clearly gives that away.
      - otterley 7y ago
        > A profile picture facilitates hiring discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, beauty, and possibly other factors as well. I agree with you. That's why I said I don't see why anyone other than an actor should put their photo on a resume, because it makes it easier for the reviewer to discriminate based on illegitimate reasons. Perhaps there's a misunderstanding? This discussion thread has been about why anyone should include a photo, not why they shouldn't. Unless they want to attempt to benefit from such discrimination by having a favored appearance, which we want to discourage.
        lazyasciiart 7y ago
        The reason people should do it today is because in some places, not including a photo would be like leaving out your name. The likely reason that custom began, which is I think what was being explained, is racism.
        7y ago
- cortesoft 7y ago
  Because of racism and sexism, so they can hire other people that look like them.

Carioca 7y ago

If you're REALLY naive, so you can put a face to the person. Could also be seen as a form of “authentication” i.e. to stop people from submitting multiple resumes. I personally consider that misuse far outweighs any reasonable use except for actors models and such

usr1106 7y ago

Culture, customs. Things are just like they are in various countries. Asking why makes little sense. Most customs can be useful in some situations and less useful, even disturbing in others. That said if you apply for a qualified job in a foreign country you should have some familiarity with the customs of the target country, at least from reading. Otherwise working there might cause quite some difficulties for both sides. I know what I am talking about. I knew foreign country B from being a trainee there. Later I went to its neighbor country C to work permanently. Given the fact that they are neighbor countries I assumed to know both of them. Well, there were quite some surprises...

mfoy_ 7y ago
>Asking why makes little sense. Foucault would like a word.

blackbrokkoli 7y ago

Everybody here is drowning in their conspiracy theories...it's just culture. Why do we shake hands, other than to give the other person our germs so that if I have a deadly disease the other guy will die too? Well maybe because it's just established. To show that you have respect for the other party, even that you are willing to follow customs. Calm down everyone!

lazyasciiart 7y ago
"Culture" is just a set of practices and assumptions that have been internalized - talking about where they came from is anthropology/history. You can certainly have conspiracy theories in there, but you seem to have confused those with any explanation at all. (As for shaking hands - it seems to be pretty well established that it is a way of showing that you aren't going for a weapon - https://deepenglish.com/2014/07/handshake-history-listening-fluency-116/ https://deepenglish.com/2014/07/handshake-history-listening-...)

k__ 7y ago

Probably signaling. If you put some effort into looking nice on a photo, people think you care. On the other hand, they will see you sooner or later anyway, so there is not much gain but time.