Does My Face Tell You I’m Qualified for the Job?

I just had a freelance writing portfolio rejected… because I didn’t put my face on the application.

The freelance hub’s answer for this was that a face ‘improves the quality of our writers and ensures that you are who you say you are’.

So, I uploaded a stock image. Ten minutes later, my profile was accepted and I could start scouting the job boards.

They assumed the face I uploaded was mine.

In no way does uploading an image ‘improve the quality’ of your writing. This is not only a vanity practice, but it could prove to be dangerous.

Disclaimer: I am not on the lam or in witness protection. I just don’t like my face being online ever since it was stolen for a porn site. Talk about instant reputation killer.

If a client wants to get to know me, they can Skype me. I’m not hiding who I am, I’m just protecting my identity online.

In recent years, I’ve witnessed a growing assumption from companies that everyone is entirely OK with uploading their personal details alongside their physical identity online. Those who want to protect themselves are suddenly deemed the shady ones — not the companies who are collecting all of this data on us.

“Nothing to Hide, Nothing to Fear”

Those who want to protect their online identity are told that if they have nothing to hide, then there is nothing to fear.

Just because you want to hide something doesn’t mean that thing you’re hiding is wrong.

Forcing someone to upload a portrait under the guise of security is a dangerous online practice. There are many reasons someone might not want their face online:

They are on the run from a stalker or domestic situation

They want to avoid discrimination

They are old-school and don’t like their identity splashed everywhere online

They don’t like their selfie-face

The last two may seem flippant, but are no less relevant to the individual.

Somebody wanting to protect their identity online has many reasons for doing so. It is not up to commercial companies to demand that a face is revealed. In a world when our physical identity is becoming our password, submitting this information becomes even more dangerous for those who want to avoid being identified online because they fear for their personal security.

Why doesn’t everyone do what I did, and use a stock image? Well, many companies are now insisting that you upload some form of photo ID such as a driving license as well as taking a photo of yourself.

I had this problem when I managed a company’s Facebook page. They wouldn’t give me access via the account I had at the time, but instead insisted on using the existing admin account and changing the name.

There was an internal bru-ha-ha over getting this done. Facebook wanted proof of the name change, the admin name, the admin’s driver’s license, and a photo of the admin with the driver’s license.

I should note at this point that, a) I no longer have a Facebook account, and b) my account at the time was faceless. I was already protecting my identity at this point.

After some back-and-forthing trying to explain to my client why I didn’t want to do it, they understood. Some other poor lamb volunteered to be the name and face of the account I was using.

This in itself is evidence that you can still be anyone online, even if you have to go through rigorous checks.

Does My Face Tell You I’m Qualified for the Job?

Asking for a photograph is especially laughable when it is related to employment.

Saying it’s for ‘added security’ is a blatant lie. If you want to know who someone is then have the courtesy to meet or video call them.

The successful use of a stock image proves that employers aren’t really interested in security. They want to provide themselves an opportunity to discriminate, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Does this person look too young for the job? Are they too old? Does their skin colour reflect my personal culture? Can I see any religious attire that conflicts with my own views? Do they not look like their gender? Are they too ugly to deserve work? Is this person so attractive I want to hire them anyway?

An employer hiring for an in-person job is going to have to meet the applicant anyway for their interview, so there’s no need to request a photo. Someone hiring a remote worker can arrange a Skype call for the interview: again, no need to request a photo.

TL;DR

I like my face. It’s my face. It belongs to me. If you want to meet it, you have to meet the rest of me with it. Even though we’re so digitally-driven these days, I’m not ready to accept total disembodiment just to earn a few bucks, thanks.