*Mods, I was going to place this in IMHO but realized it may go down in a way that makes it better for GD but please move it if appropriate.
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I am currently looking to move to the next stage in my career and thus have been spending lots of time on linkedin, applying and networking. I made the couscous choice to not have a profile picture because of concerns about implicit bias or even explicit bias against protected groups and/or just general attractiveness influencing recruiters. As I am a slightly above average white male this is not particularly an issue that I consider a risk for me but I do feel it is important to avoid having a profile picture in order to support those who would be wrongly filtered.
I briefly considered adding a picture that called out my stance as an ally, mostly to get rid of this annoying message but decided I like to be employed more than I wanted to take it one step farther.
The nag message in question:
And a link to an article that demonstrates that it what recruiters look at and thus at a minimum would cause people to be passed by irrespective of their qualifications purely do to implicit bias.
If this was brought to trial would it be viewed as providing a way for individuals to discriminate against protected classes and/or against qualified applicants based on appearances.
If I decide to put my own future at risk by uploading a protest picture what would be the most effective yet least offensive way to express solidarity and support for those who do experience unfair bias based on appearance, sex, disability, race, or other features that are irrelevant to ones ability to perform a job.
Linked-In has done nothing for me in my career, and I suspect it never will. Your resume doesn’t have a picture, I presume? If you’re against this sort of thing, why participate at all? You can more easily get a job by networking in person at job fairs and the like, anyway, and when you submit resumes online there are usually no pictures involved.
As to your specific legal question, sorry, can’t help you there. But if you want to protest Linked-In, just delete your account like I did. I got a whole lot of calls from people who saw my resume (not picture) on Monster or Careerbuilder or Glassdoor, but zilch from Linked-In. So I trashed it with no regrets.
You’re overthinking this. Whoever is going to hire you is going to see you in person beforehand.
However, what does it mean to be “a slightly above average white male”. Above average in what way. And I read this part 3 times, but still can’t figure out what it’s supposed to mean: “I briefly considered adding a picture that called out my stance as an ally”. You were in WWII on the side of the Allies? Or something else?
Well, yes, but by the time you get to the interview stage they are a little more likely to be taking a serious, holistic look at you. Flipping through photos, it’s easy to pass on someone that doesn’t “look the part” without even looking at the credentials.
Three or four times, I’ve seen people hired that I am convinced got the job because they looked like the highly-successful person they replaced. Management had an image in their mind of the sort that “fit” in there, and took longer looks at those applicants. I’m not just talking about race or sex, though those play a role.
I think he means “As a reasonably attractive white man, I feel posting a picture would only help me, but I don’t want to participate in such an unjust institution. I’d like to post something that makes it clear why I don’t post a picture, to show it’s a deliberate choice in support of a principle, but I worry that makes me look like a dick and will cost me jobs.” Which it probably would.
Post your best picture and try to get a job. Work really hard at it until you are in a position to hire people. Hire people who you feel would otherwise NOT get hired due to preconceived biases based on discriminatory factors. Be happy about the fact that you make a positive difference in someone’s life.
Or, post some “protest” picture, don’t get hired and die poor and jobless, without helping anybody.
Wonderful typo! Those tiny grains just don’t get the love conferred on other staples like rice, so choosing to omit the picture on the package helps level the playing field.
false dichotomy I will get hired, I may just miss better opportunities.
But based on the responses I get the feeling that people have a gross misunderstanding of how the hiring process works in several industries today.
Often there is no “place” to send a resume.
Many jobs, which have a massive cultural and gender gap issues are filled primarily through recruiters.
While “get a job” may but a popular theme, I also value an inclusive and diverse work place and I do have a “I got mine, sucks to be you” attitude.
But for those who commented, why are you not bothered by younger males, or older women being filtered despite their qualifications. This is what happens and it is purely due to the inclusions of pictures increasing engagement and thus income for linkedin.
You’re not going far enough in support for the oppressed. You should broadcast your shameful whiteness, get jobs (easy because you’re a white guy), and then intentionally do a bad job to punish the evil corporation who hired a white male.
I am not ashamed of anything except for maybe my fellow “white” people’s fear of actually needing to compete with their fellow Americans on a level play ground.
Crazy how concerned people are with possibility of having to compete on their merits.
I think the OP is making a critical cognitive error.
He somehow thinks that his individual action - an unorganized, individual protest against the system - is going to have any effect. He should be able to realize that the amount of effect he will have against unjust practices is zero.
Play the game the best you can. Use whatever cards you are dealt. It may not be fair that you get preferred for being an “above average white male”, but don’t screw yourself out of protest. I mean, it’s not fair that you have a job at all in the United States, but I bet you aren’t sending all your money to people in poorer countries out of protest. The system isn’t fair, but all you can do is use it to your advantage to the maximum extent that won’t get you in trouble.
Maybe some day we will reach the predicted singularity* and all the rules will change, but until then, the world will be grotesquely unfair and has always been such.
*it’s entirely possible that the singularity would instead elevate a few AIs to supremacy and kill everyone else, or otherwise give the first movers an advantage that will last for all time.
I work in HR and although I’m not a recruiter I do assist them and interview candidates from time to time. We’re in an industry where we typically don’t have to go looking for promising candidates for most of our positions. We do make efforts to recruit but we won’t pore through lists on LinkedIn or Monster looking for someone specific. (That might change for some of our IT positions.)
I don’t want to see anyone’s photo when I’m looking at a candidate online. It opens us up to accusations of discriminating against individuals because of race, age, marital status, national origin, etc., etc. And, yes, I’m aware of studies showing that applications with “black” sounding names are often tossed while “white” sounding names with similar qualifications are kept.
And we don’t actually accept resumes from anyone who hasn’t applied for a position. Once in a while we get someone who sends us their resume and 90% of the time we just toss it. If it looks like the candidate is really good we’ll encourage them to apply for a position but that’s rarely the case.
Exactly. Look, if you feel so terrible about it, move to a third world country and do something useful there. Not something that makes you look good on Instagram, but where the skills you’ve got would really make a difference to the locals and help them improve their lives.
Also, bear in mind that marking yourself as an “Ally” (I assume in this context, super-extra-double pro-LGBTIQ/Social Justice/Woke As Fuck) could potentially cost you jobs. Again, it’s not fair, but even if the HR person or company is broadly supportive of whatever you’re an ally of, they may decide they’re not comfortable with someone who so openly and loudly proclaims their affiliation with it.
I guess it depends what sort of industry you’re in - if you’re in a creative industry, it might help. If you want a job at a traditional investment bank, it might not be such a boon.
rat avatar, I understand the desire to subvert the system. But I think you’d have more success doing that once you’re in the system–once you already get the job.
I got my current position before LinkedIn was really a “thing” (although I’m sure it existed). But while applying for the position, I suspected I was going to be at a disadvantage since I didn’t have an online presence. So I created a website where I should showcase my portofolio (in my case, maps). And I also included my picture–dressed in a business suit and looking professional. I guess my logic at the time was that a picture would “humanize” my application.
It could have easily worked against me. But it could have easily worked for me, too. And I did get the job. I don’t know if I would make the same decision now, but I probably would. For the same reason I do all kinds of things I don’t feel 100% comfortable with when my income is on the line.
But if you read the OP, he does look the part. He’s trying to avoid the advantage of looking the part. But all he can do is pick the time at which that “advantage” comes into play. It’s going to be there regardless, unless he chooses to deliberately alter his appearance.