A pix makes all the difference.... and I'm done w/ recruiters here! | ExpatWoman.com
 

A pix makes all the difference.... and I'm done w/ recruiters here!

74
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 15:26

So, there I am almost set up for a couple of job interviews. Company, date and time given. Everything set - seems I fit for the job. Only one more thing... pls send your photo. No photo at home, go to take one, put make-up on (not too much as it is not my style and , for God sake, this is a job interview not a pageant application!). Looking clean and 'normal'. Send the pix.
No news since then. The recruiters never got back to me. Result: Enough smart / qualified / etc but not beautifully matching their standards, I guess!!!! (despite a clean look and having worked as a promoter before!).
Isn't it then when you expect some email at least lying and saying the position has been filled???? We were past the stage of application and had even exchanging emails regarding the interviews!!!

P.S. - The agencies are (were?) reliable and I got placed by one before without any picture! IRONIC!

74
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 January 2011 - 03:00
Ice7 that is the most brilliant idea ever! And with a bit of luck you might end up being paid for your experiment by some Psychologist doing a PHd and have your 'unemployment' problem solved. Reminds me of some experience Tyra Banks or some other show did by disguising herself and see how people would react. Yours would be the big next step, Ice7. Please keep us posted on your experiments. Cigarra: pls register me for the public crying sessions in case I don't get a job meanwhile! Simpleasabc: def agree with you. My experience confirms it (even being also European and same skin tone and despite the exceptions that probably confirm the rule).
103
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 11:03
Yes but with your user name you should be okay ;0) Dont, I could end up working there if I dont find something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
65
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 10:59
Yes but with your user name you should be okay ;0)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 10:58
oh jesus, I just lost my job on sunday, suppose I will be going through all this as well too
65
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 10:51
Ice7 that is a great idea. We need you to do that and then blog about it - lets us know how you get on. Would be a fascinating read!
53
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 10:47
Well since I too am not getting many interviews I have decided to do a little experiment: apply for a job that I am totally unqualified for and attach a models 'photo.... lets see if I get an interview! LoL ;)
74
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 10:33
As an ex-HR person, this is really disheartening to read. In Australia I have never been been asked for a photo nor have I ever asked for a photo. We just recruit to the competency profile. Exactly! And in case they need to assess anything 'physically', isn't that what the interview is (also) for??? Assessing candidate's presentation? Thank God! There still is hope in Australia :) . I'll talk to DH and propose moving to Australia ... soooooooon!
5400
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 10:31
It's my belief that in Switzerland, the request for the photo is to make sure they get someone with the "right" coloured skin, rather than a beauty contest.
74
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 10:29
Thank you all for the support. And FYI the jobs I was applying for were ADMIN ones - PA / executive ecretary, etc. Contacted the agencies and was told - not surprisingly! - that the company never got back to them. I still think the agency should be the one telling me that... not me asking. I just wish recruitment was different. No initial interviews with the agency itself or even a phone call to get to know you better... Just cv-company matching. Really wondering now why companies pay recruiters or how agencies survive since there are now all these websites where they can just pick the CVs (with a photo, that is :) ). No intention to offend recruiters here but really feeling frustrated with the way job search and offer goes here.
687
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EW GURU
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 02:24
As an ex-HR person, this is really disheartening to read. In Australia I have never been been asked for a photo nor have I ever asked for a photo. We just recruit to the competency profile.
37
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 00:50
Actually when I was in London and handing out my CV's they told me to attach a photo. Even at the recruiters they asked me to attach photo. Maybe it's just some places
65
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 00:34
Definitely can't ask for a photo in the UK. The only personal info required nowadays is your name and contact details. No marital status, age, kids etc
2725
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 00:18
See what I dont understand, In construction they are expected to have over 20 years experience, and at least 10 years of this as management on large builds, so when it come to office work, they just look at a pretty face, slim figure, no wonder Dubai's customer servie is useless, hahaha <em>edited by salsB on 18/01/2011</em>
5400
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 00:03
I forgot to say, it is the norm in Switzerland and France to attach a photo to your CV. I think it may be in the UK nowadays, too.
98
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 23:52
I'm a recruiter and that is beyond horrendous. I had a client that asked that of me once a few years back and I refused to do it. Told my boss I would rather lose the client. Thankfully my company completely agreed and we dropped them!
57
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 18:28
wait till you actually get a job! then the fun starts with the HR department
200
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 17:30
good luck with your search but I think this happens a lot here. Employers get away with bad manners that they would never get away with elsewhere, and it's not the UAE employers I'm talking about....(only talking about the interview process though, not the actual job)
141
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 16:25
To be honest, I felt the same way so called the recruiter to find out - they explained honestly and professionally that they do not require the photos but the COMPANY RECRUITING requires the photos. Recruiters are only the middle man and are trying to search for the profile their client is looking for. The recruiter does not make up these requirements, they simply pass the message on to potential candidates. Unfortunately the UAE is the type of market where anything goes so companies have the luxury of asking for photos, stipulating that they want for example a european candidate under the age of 40 etc etc etc! Unfair but reality in such a country. I agree with georgie, I wouldnt tar all recruiters with the 1 brush...
48
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 16:19
Quit to understand the logics here! Just heard this true story. Totally confirmed: a girl (almost 30) was in a company that was getting her salaries late (still getting it though) and she was all teary eyes at the entrance of her building. A guy from another company came up to her, asked why she was crying, she told him and he got her a job! Find it hard to find a job here??? Maybe you are crying too much... AT HOME! :) Make it public. Next thing: recruitment agencies will be closing down and buildings will have crying restrictions in their building policies. Sorry for the irony but just feeling amazed at a few things heard today! SalsB: [i'>[/i'>but she is very slim attractive.... Well, MD might be both as well... or one... or the other!
123
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 16:18
I can see the reason if it's pay related but no salaries are age related here as far as I know.
5400
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 16:09
Im currently looking for work and was shocked to see on one job post one of the key skills required was "good looking". ???????? Also, they seem to have age brackets in this region, whats up with that.....some job post list the max age as 35 others as 32. Please explain this one to me???????? Think its all quite bizaar really......... Age brackets are not just "this region", also Switzerland, often max age 35. Pay-related.
4
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 16:08
The majority of the time the company never tells the recruiter, its not easy..
123
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 16:07
At least the recruiter could get back to say the position is filled.
2222
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 16:04
its not the recruiters its the companies......
4
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 16:02
I wouldnt tar every recruiter with the same brush, I don't know any professional recruiters that ask for pictures..
108
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 15:39
Why don't you send them a polite email to find out what happened. Any employer that would choose to hire someone based purely on their looks is probably not worth working for in the first place.
2725
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 15:39
I know a young lady that went for an interview, she got the job, but she is very slim attractive and fits their criteria. All the other ladies that work in the office are all slim, attractive etc.
54
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 15:36
**** them. You are better off and don't need to work for a company like that. Sometime similar happened to me...everything was fine until they asked me to send a photo (not a passport photo, just any photo) I said what for, they said, managment wants to see what you look like. I never returned their email...my looks have nothing to do with my job or my skills/talent! If I were applying for Miss America, okay that is one thing, but COME ON!! I say keep looking and you will find something better!!!
736
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 15:35
This happened to me once, actually had the interview set up when the called asking for a photo. Interview was cancelled and when I pressed them they said the position had been filled. Found out later it hadn't been filled, their loss.
 
 

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