A matter of appearance

"Sandra" is returning to the workforce after 10 years and asked if it was standard practice to include a photo with a resume. In Australia it's not the norm to include a photo with a resume.

Personally, I am very uncomfortable with people having to produce photos in order to get a job. Sadly, according to other readers, there are organisation out there using sneaky methods to obtain photos. One reader was asked to send a photo copy of her driver's licence with her job application for a receptionist's job. The strange thing was that there was no driving involved in the job so why did they need her driver's licence? In another case, a candidate said he was asked for a headshot so a consultant "could remember what he looked like".

"Trent" was asked to bring his passport or driver's licence to a job interview for a finance role to "prove his identity". Apparently the organisation had encountered candidates impersonating other candidates. How bizarre? "Trent" wrote: "A recruiter/employer can surmise much from a photograph including an applicant's age and ethnicity.

My view is that the applicant opens himself or herself up to possible discrimination by furnishing such documents and photos." After checking with a lawyer, it appears the legal system is more "reactive" than proactive on this topic.

You pretty much have to go through the experience and be rejected for a job to bring a discrimination complaint. In such a case, an employer would need to prove it passed over the candidate for some other reason outside appearance or age. I would imagine this would be pretty easy to do. The result? A bigger blow to the self-esteem of the candidate.

By Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au.

For more useful tips read the other stories in the Job Hunting Advice section and Ask Kate Column.