I skip right over those jobs. Why do they need to know what their SM would look like? Never sits right with me.
Ditto. Usually this means they have an issue with "image." They want all their people to look family friendly. Usually this leads to them hiring less-qualified people for the job. Scary. I've been in a situation like this.
Post Merge: Jan 11, 2013, 12:35 pm
I've had a couple of companies I've applied to ask for a headshot- some with the initial application and some once I'd been hired (for the program/lobby board). My avatar is the picture I use for that, as well as for my user pic on LinkedIn, etc. It was taken by a friend who, while by no means a professional photographer, is very good with a camera & had taken headshots for a couple actor-friends of mine.
I've done Job Contact at SETC & UPTA, and a lot of people that I interviewed with at these big conferences would ask if I minded if they took a photo of me- they interview upwards of 100 candidates over a couple of days and then have to go away to make further hiring decisions, and putting a face to the resume is helpful in the process. Maybe these companies asking for photos with the application are doing the same thing- not to judge the candidate by appearance (although I think that subconsciously it's unavoidable...) but just to connect a face to the resume or voice on the phone.
I definitely wouldn't ignore the request- no matter their reason for asking for one, all it says to the potential employer is "I don't follow instructions well."
I agree with this. However, at conferences, they have already seen you when they ask for the picture. This doesn't usually sit well, with me if they ask before they even see you or talk to you. I agree, don't ignore the request, but do a little research on the company to make sure it is a place that will be good for you. Always do research, but maybe do a bit more than what you normally would.
I recently was looking into a company, and the hiring process was basically like applying online for Best Buy. They wanted to know hours I could work, and if I could adhere to a "code," aka, one piercing in each ear, natural colored hair, and even a "fit physique for work." If all of these could not be followed, they asked you stop applying at that point. This screamed to me that they cared more about the appearance of what their techs looked like rather than their quality of work.