copy of photo ID with resume

[broadway]

I have been applying for administrative assistant / clerical jobs on Craigslist and Indeed.

I received a call from the recruiter this morning telling me that the client company a pharmaceutical company is requiring a copy of my photo ID along with the resume.

I have worked in jobs that require a security clearance, and nobody did this.

What is the point of this?

From my point of view, I am concerned about identity theft primarily but it has crossed my mind that the photo ID can be used for discriminatory purposes, i.e. race and approximate age of the individual.

Thoughts?

 

[W2R]

I wouldn't do it, until you meet them in person and have a job offer in hand. Sounds like identity theft to me, too.

 

[Meadbh]

It might even be illegal depending on where you live.

Can job ads ask for your photo? - The San Diego Union-Tribune

 

[gretah]

I think you are right to be careful about ID theft, especially when responding to an ad on CraigsList or other online listing.

 

[braumeister]

What is the point of this?

That's exactly what you should be asking them.

I wouldn't comply.

 

[l8_apex]

In all likelihood, they want somebody who appears businesslike and professional. They don't want to spend time having to meet candidates in-person only to find that their appearance doesn't meet those business-dress/appearance expectations.

Whether or not it's legal, I don't know.

 

[cathy63]

Ask them why they need it and make your decision based on the answer. Perhaps a pharmaceutical company is required to do some type of background check for all employees in order to avoid hiring people who have been convicted of drug related crimes (I'm speculating here, no inside knowledge), and they are trying to streamline that process by collecting the info in advance so they could do the check just before making the offer.

It's not very likely that the company or the recruiter is deliberately planning to engage in identity theft or discrimination. Probably someone just didn't think this through and if you ask about the reason behind it and then point out the concerns that it raised for you, they may realize that it's a problematic policy that should be changed.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

i remember when going before the promotion board in the army, they needed a full length picture of the candidate, but this was almost 38 years ago so times/laws have changed. im sure if you do not send the photo u will never get called. and applying for a job on craigslist? id be more worried that id get kidnapped when i showed up for the interview , more than the identity theft part

 

[Gotadimple]

In Washington state, this is discriminatory. Washington state also has a Fair Labor Standards Act that goes beyond the federal one. The national version written in 1938 prohibits age discrimination in hiring. A driver's license would give them your age.

If the employer wants to have id on hand to begin the background check process, say you will provide it at the interview, but not before. And tell the recruiter to check with the employer about federal laws regarding age, gender, and race discrimination (just my $.02). This isn't about identity theft, it is about discriminating against candidates based on some criteria that isn't fair.

 

[euro]

I wouldn't do it either although I realize that when you are not the one needing a job, then it's easy to say that....
This DOES have the scent of profiling and is probably outside of standard practice, if not illegal, in most places. That said, as someone else pointed out, you take the risk of simply not getting called back if you question their process. You'll have to decide yourself whether you can afford to take that chance or whether you even WANT to work for a company like that.

 

[Dash man]

Typically this kind of information is collected later in the hiring process after interviews have taken place.

 

[Yarnstormer]

No way. Let them stalk you on indeed like everyone else

 

[broadway]

I called up Ajulia and talked to the woman who called.

She was very understanding and said that apparently in Asian and European countries including a photograph with the resume is standard practice.
My guess is that this is an Indian-owned pharmaceutical company. There is a couple in the area.

I told her that these companies need to be told that it is illegal in this country to ask for such a photo.

 

[braumeister]

I called up Ajilon Staffing and talked to the woman who called.
She was very understanding and said that apparently in Asian and European countries including a photograph with the resume is standard practice.
I told her that these companies need to be told that it is illegal in this country to ask for such a photo.

As you pointed out, illegal to even ASK for quite a list of things. IMHO if this recruiter was unaware of that, they are not legitimate.

 

[kcowan]

and don't ask about religion or race either. I think age is OK because of employee benefits plans but for no other reason.

I know we used to do it as a memory jogger back when it was legal in the 70s.

 

[broadway]

As you pointed out, illegal to even ASK for quite a list of things. IMHO if this recruiter was unaware of that, they are not legitimate.

The underling I talked to is aware, but it isn't her "call" whether to continue to ask for this photo or not.

It is her manager's job to make the company aware of the laws in this country.

 

[bmcgonig]

I called up Ajulia and talked to the woman who called.

She was very understanding and said that apparently in Asian and European countries including a photograph with the resume is standard practice.
My guess is that this is an Indian-owned pharmaceutical company. There is a couple in the area.

I told her that these companies need to be told that it is illegal in this country to ask for such a photo.

Very common in Europe to enclose a photo as part of your CV. At least it used to be.

 

[broadway]

Very common in Europe to enclose a photo as part of your CV. At least it used to be.

I am not doubting that.

It is that they are doing business in this country, and they need to follow the laws here. I am very surprised that their HR department is not up-to-date on this.

 

[Meadbh]

I think the OP responded appropriately. I would have concerns about working for a company which is either unaware of, or wants to circumvent, the laws in your home jurisdiction.

 

[CardsFan]

Very common in Europe to enclose a photo as part of your CV. At least it used to be.

But a photo is different than photo ID (driver's license?). I don't agree with either one being required to apply, but the ID has a LOT more info! After an offer, then things are different.

 

[broadway]

But a photo is different than photo ID (driver's license?). I don't agree with either one being required to apply, but the ID has a LOT more info! After an offer, then things are different.

To be fair, I cannot be certain whether the recruiting firm said "photo" or "photo ID".

Even if it was a photo, I certainly don't have a recent one that looked "professional". I doubt many people have one of these around either.

 

[growing_older]

A request for a photo before an interview is clearly discriminatory and illegal in the US.

A photo ID for a legitimate security check is legal, but it is customary to provide this AFTER a contingent offer of employment is made. I have worked in several companies that required various credit and security checks. They NEVER asked for IDs until after an offer was made, which could be rescinded if the check wasn't satisfactory. Real security checks are expensive and no company wants to do them for applicants to whom they don't offer jobs.

However, seemingly legit recruiters are being used as id theft data collection tools. Requests for photo ID as part of the application process is a known technique for ID thieves.

 

[CardsFan]

To be fair, I cannot be certain whether the recruiting firm said "photo" or "photo ID".

Even if it was a photo, I certainly don't have a recent one that looked "professional". I doubt many people have one of these around either.

Thanks for the clarification. In any event, independent on the applicable employment laws, it sure sounds like an attempt to profile you in or out. Legal or not, it does not sound like someone I would want to have for an employer.

Sure, they can do that at an interview, but at least then you have a chance to read the tea leaves and advocate for yourself.

Just my 2 cents. And easy for me to say since I have to intention of going back to work.

 

[Ready]

It sounds like this company is both sloppy and lazy. If based on your resume they have any interest, they can do a telephone screen first to see if you are a fit. Then they can invite you in for a personal interview, at which point they can see what you look like. Requesting a photo before going through this process is just unprofessional, and most likely illegal.

If they wish to hire you, at that point they can request a copy of your ID to do a background check before extending an offer.

 

[broadway]

It sounds like this company is both sloppy and lazy. If based on your resume they have any interest, they can do a telephone screen first to see if you are a fit. Then they can invite you in for a personal interview, at which point they can see what you look like. Requesting a photo before going through this process is just unprofessional, and most likely illegal.

If they wish to hire you, at that point they can request a copy of your ID to do a background check before extending an offer.

The company hired a recruiting company to do the "screening".
And apparently, any resume submitted to the company required a photo or photo ID. The recruiting company's flunky sounded a bit apologetic about it.

I said no. And in the follow-up phone call I made to her, I told her she better tell the higher-ups that this is illegal and they can get into trouble over it.