Resumes (CVs): a picture, or not?

[Jerrek]

These days all our job applications through the university's system is done in HTML. This does allow one to start creating resumes (CVs) that were impossible before. Now I am wondering... Should I put a picture of my mug in the resume?

In Canada, it is illegal to discriminate based on appearances, but whether you like it or not, initial impressions are important. I am white, and I am male, and I *will* be playing on people's feelings if I put a passport type picture, taken professionally, with me wearing a suit and tie, in the resume. The school tells us NOT to attach pictures because you "might be discriminated against unknowingly." That may be true, but, I know full well that I am very, very unlikely to be the target of discrimination except if they apply affirmative action.

Knowing this, and knowing that I will most likely get an advantage by adding a "pretty" picture of a white guy to my resume, would anyone object? Any thoughts?

As far as I'm concerned, it is giving me a bit of leverage and it is unlikely it will hurt me (and if it does it is unlikely I'd want to work there anyways), I see no problem with doing it.



EDIT: Please move to lifestyle forum.

[dilligaf1701]

Who specifically told you not to (I know you said 'the school') what I mean is is this were you are actually applying for a job?

The reason I ask is because If I was told not to attach a picture and did anwyay then they may reject the application because it shows the applicant can't/won't follow instructions.

As for rejecting based on appearence - I don't know about canada - but it sure happens here. I've been rejected on appearance AND health issues - of course they don't come right out and say it - but you can tell.

[abailey152]

Depends what the job is that you are applying for. If you need to meet people, like a salesman or a representative, then your look is important so perhaps a picture might help.


If you are just going to deal with people over the phone, then it wouldn't matter if you look like Plug from the Beano as long as you have a good voice, were communicative over the telephone, and in the case of phone support, that you had a good technical knowledge. In this case, a photo would be pretty much irrelevant.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

As for rejecting based on appearence - I don't know about canada - but it sure happens here. I've been rejected on appearance AND health issues - of course they don't come right out and say it - but you can tell.

It sure as hell does, I missed out on a job at Norwich Union because in a telephone interview I admitted that a member of my family (my mum) had had a large insurance claim (100 k +) in the past 10 years. I know it was because of this as when I went for the face to face interview before the telephone interview the manager that I dealt with couldn't wait for me to start. Never mind, I'm glad I didn't get the job in the end, but it just shows you what can stop you getting a job these days.

As for the photo, as long it's of YOU (a picture of someone else is going to do you no good at all! )and your presented properly then I can't see an issue.

Strange how you specifically mentioned the word "white" though, prejudice on the basis of colour is frowned on over here quite strongly, is it not as big an issue over there?

You'll have to post a copy of your C.V. when its done J so we can read all about you. I find other peoples C.V.s fascinating.

[paulyoung666]

if they ask for on ethen send one , if they specifically dont want one then dont send oone , if they dont specify then i cant see a problem in sending one , simple i reckon

Originally Posted by Jerrek

I am white, and I am male, and I *will* be playing on people's feelings if I put a passport type picture, taken professionally, with me wearing a suit and tie, in the resume. The school tells us NOT to attach pictures because you "might be discriminated against unknowingly." That may be true, but, I know full well that I am very, very unlikely to be the target of discrimination except if they apply affirmative action.

The fact that you make a big point of you being a white, male and using those two, irrelevant points to try to manipulate your chances of getting a job quite frankly disgusts me.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

I am white, and I am male, and I *will* be playing on people's feelings if I put a passport type picture, taken professionally, with me wearing a suit and tie, in the resume.

Not everyone has the same attitude as you regarding who is the perfect person for a position. The person who receives your resume may have a preference for coloured applicants for several reasons and may prefer women to men. Athough your mirror and your mother think you are beautiful, don't forget that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that won't be either your mirror or your mother.

[Damien]

Originally Posted by dr wadd

The fact that you make a big point of you being a white, male and using those two, irrelevant points to try to manipulate your chances of getting a job quite frankly disgusts me.

Those two point are not irrelevant, although I dont like it people do have that view in the back of their head even if they dont notice it there is a chance it will increase his chance of getting a job. Anyway he was talking about the fact that he wont be discriminated against and that is true that white males are much less likely to be discriminated against.

Originally Posted by Damien

Those two point are not irrelevant, although I dont like it people do have that view in the back of their head even if they dont notice it there is a chance it will increase his chance of getting a job. Anyway he was talking about the fact that he wont be discriminated against and that is true that white males are much less likely to be discriminated against.

It's the fact that he is making such a big deal about the "benefits" of being a white male, if he is suitable for the job he should be pushing for it on his abilities alone, they are irrelevant as far as his suitability for any position offered are concerned. If I was in the position of employing someone, and found out that they were attempting to improve their chances of gaining employment using such tactics they would not get employed. He freely admits that he is willing to use and manipulate people's predjudices in order to gain employment, I think that speaks volumes about his as a person. He is, at the end of the day, playing the race and gender cards for personal gain.

It is also the fact that he has no concerns about the morals of a company that could be swayed in such a manner and whether he would be happy working for them or not.

[aliferste]

Ive seen your photo. Trust me.... dont put it in!

[Jerrek]

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

Who specifically told you not to (I know you said 'the school') what I mean is is this were you are actually applying for a job?

Co-op Education and Career Services... They "strongly recommended" against it. They can't actually make you do anything. They are just there to help facilitate the process.

As for rejecting based on appearence - I don't know about canada - but it sure happens here. I've been rejected on appearance AND health issues - of course they don't come right out and say it - but you can tell.

Yep. It happens, I know it, everyone knows it, and everyone also likes to pretend it doesn't happen. So I'm thinking, why not utilize it to my benefit?

Originally Posted by abailey152

Depends what the job is that you are applying for. If you need to meet people, like a salesman or a representative, then your look is important so perhaps a picture might help.


If you are just going to deal with people over the phone, then it wouldn't matter if you look like Plug from the Beano as long as you have a good voice, were communicative over the telephone, and in the case of phone support, that you had a good technical knowledge. In this case, a photo would be pretty much irrelevant.

Well, I don't apply for salesman type jobs. I apply to either IT type jobs (programming), or financial type jobs (banking, capital markets, investment companies, etc.).

Originally Posted by dellwear

Strange how you specifically mentioned the word "white" though, prejudice on the basis of colour is frowned on over here quite strongly, is it not as big an issue over there?

Yes it is frowned upon, but like someone else said, it happens. It just so happens that in most cases such a prejudice is in my favor.

You'll have to post a copy of your C.V. when its done J so we can read all about you. I find other peoples C.V.s fascinating.

I'll PM you.

Originally Posted by dr wadd

The fact that you make a big point of you being a white, male and using those two, irrelevant points to try to manipulate your chances of getting a job quite frankly disgusts me.

Excellent. I'd be scared if a neo-commie such as yourself like me.

It's the fact that he is making such a big deal about the "benefits" of being a white male, if he is suitable for the job he should be pushing for it on his abilities alone, they are irrelevant as far as his suitability for any position offered are concerned.

Absolutely not. At least, not in every case. I will definitely pick a pretty young blonde girl over a 50+ year old hairy old man when it comes to a sales job.

There is nothing wrong with utilizing eveything you have at your disposal. Your knowledge, education; your abilities and skillset; your national origin, color, race; languages you speak; travel experience, etc.

If I was in the position of employing someone, and found out that they were attempting to improve their chances of gaining employment using such tactics they would not get employed.

I doubt you'll ever get there, and very luckily (for me) the vast majority of people are NOT like you.

He freely admits that he is willing to use and manipulate people's predjudices in order to gain employment, I think that speaks volumes about his as a person. He is, at the end of the day, playing the race and gender cards for personal gain.

Absolutely! Nothing wrong with that.

[greencreeper]

If a Careers Service or Advisor tells you something, it's usually best to follow the advice. I wouldn't put my face pic on my CV - wouldn't want to put people off Plus it makes for problems converting the CV to other formats and printing it out will leave your photo looking awful (grainy B&W). That said, my CV is on my homepage along with a link to a profile that does include my face pic, so any smart-ish person can see me

For those who don't know - a "School" (capital S) isn't a school; it's a University department.

Originally Posted by Jerrek

Excellent. I'd be scared if a neo-commie such as yourself like me.

Typical Jerrek, actively invites opinions, and when he doesn`t like a particular one starts to throw around childish insults.

Originally Posted by Jerrek

There is nothing wrong with utilizing eveything you have at your disposal. Your knowledge, education; your abilities and skillset; your national origin, color, race; languages you speak; travel experience, etc.

Again you play the race and national origin card. My god man, you really don`t get it do you. Do you really need to submit a full CV with a photo to flip burgers?

Originally Posted by Jerrek

I doubt you'll ever get there, and very luckily (for me) the vast majority of people are NOT like you.

You're welcome to doubt all you like, but since you don`t have the facts on which to base your opinion, your opinion ends up being entirely worthless.

You might want to take this little hint on board, do not ask for people's opinions if you are going to throw a childish tantrum when people don`t agree with you.

Absolutely! Nothing wrong with that.

I seem to recall someone else who manipulated people's predjudices to get his own way. What was that name again? Got it, it was Hitler.

Originally Posted by aliferste

Ive seen your photo. Trust me.... dont put it in!

Depends, he might be going for pest control. In that case it his face might be handy at scaring off cockroaches, which would be a shame as he would be driving away his peers.

[Jerrek]

Originally Posted by greencreeper

If a Careers Service or Advisor tells you something, it's usually best to follow the advice. I wouldn't put my face pic on my CV - wouldn't want to put people off Plus it makes for problems converting the CV to other formats and printing it out will leave your photo looking awful (grainy B&W). That said, my CV is on my homepage along with a link to a profile that does include my face pic, so any smart-ish person can see me

For those who don't know - a "School" (capital S) isn't a school; it's a University department.

Well no, this is strictly for online resumes. For the traditional paper resume I won't add a picture.

Capital "s?"