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biffinbridge
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 701
Location: Frank's Wild Years
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 Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 4:21 am Post subject: Passport photos |
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| I've noticed that a lot of recruiters in Asia require a passport photo with the cv and covering letter.Handsome *beep* that I am, I wouldn't go near a school/company that practised such discriminatory policies.Is there an admin reason for this or is it to filter out blacks and fatties and people with zits........ etc?( I have never taught in Asia). |
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Wolf
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 1245
Location: Middle Earth
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 5:09 am Post subject: |
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I have often heard that it is customary in East Asain countries. This rings false to me, none of my Japanese friends had to include photos with their CVs to get jobs. I've had a recruiter in China admit to me that, yeah, we are doing it because certain schools ask for a certain look. He mentioned being overweight or old as things that could cost you jobs. Young handsome bloke that I was, they offered me a job, but I walked away.
It's one of those less than rosy facts of life that one puts up with teaching in East Asia. Fortunately it isn't universtal. It's also one of those things that probably won't change in the near future. |
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gerard
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 581
Location: Internet Cafe
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 5:11 am Post subject: |
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| There is some justification. They need to bring the info-page to immigration to secure a work visa. I know an agent and there are some odd people out there. Some are trying to get back to countries they are blacklisted-some lie about their nationality hoping to get a plane ticket etc...But yes they will want a "recent photo" to make sure you are beautiful and in some places-white. |
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johnyarrington
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
Posts: 66
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 10:29 am Post subject: photo on CV |
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| Can anyone give SIMPLE, SPECIIC instructions on how to put my photo on my resume? |
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Alitas
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 187
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Double-sided tape. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Alitas.
John's a colleague of mine here at the IPA. When I saw his post, I phoned him and said, " Well, how about a stapler or some tape ". Of course what he was REALLY asking was - how can I scan my photo onto my resume, which is on a diskette? But, ah, he forgot to mention that. We're all computer illiterates here, not to mention being mostly geezers, to boot.
Regards,
John |
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Alitas
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 187
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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Well, he asked  .
Even "basic" (Microsoft Word being one) programs allow you to import an image from disk and move it around. It helps, if you are on a low budget, to print using a laser printer and put the photo in greyscale. Of course if you are high tech, high budget there's all kinds of programs, nice printers, etc. and you can even erase some of your flaws.
eta: what program are you using and maybe I can help you more specifically. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I've noticed that a lot of recruiters in Asia require a passport photo with the cv and covering letter.Handsome *beep* that I am, I wouldn't go near a school/company that practised such discriminatory policies. |
Well, then, you are going to be sadly disappointed. This is common practice, in Japan anyway. And, over here it is not discriminatory, so you should get used to it. With a heavy sigh, I would like to remind you that places like Japan are not your home country, and you will have to abide by their rules whether you like them or not. This is just one example of such a rule. (Besides, if you are so handsome, who cares about the picture?)
Sometimes pictures are needed to distinguish male from female when the names are hard to determine. Remember, foreign countries have different names, so it's not easy for them to know. Recruiters may have limited international exposure.
Sometimes pictures are needed to see just how professional you are. I've seen a couple of photos that people clipped from bar scenes or such.
Sometimes photos are used to simply determine your race. Yes, this is rather discriminatory, and it shouldn't be allowed, but it is not illegal to ask for the picture.
| Quote: |
| none of my Japanese friends had to include photos with their CVs to get jobs. |
On the flip side of the coin, every place I have heard asks for them.
You are going to have to provide such a photo for immigration purposes anyway, unless you come over on a working holiday visa, so do it.
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| Can anyone give SIMPLE, SPECIIC instructions on how to put my photo on my resume? |
Word or Excel allow you to embed the photo. I presume you have one already scanned. Use the Insert function. In order to allow you to move it around easily and not disturb the line spacing, just before you complete the insert, click on the "float over text" box. If you don't have the ability to do this, and you can't find a photocopy shop that will do it for you, you will have to make (expensive) copies of your photo and physically attach it with tape or paper clip. |
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bnix
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 645
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 11:48 pm Post subject: Desperately Seeking Ken and Barbie..... |
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Probably the MAJOR reason they require photos in those certain countries is to check on the applicant's race(well,let's just say it... COLOR,because that is what they want to know)...and age.And if you are really photogenic...like Leo or Sharon...why you MUST be a good teacher. 
Maybe sometimes for the reasons Gerard mentions...security,etc...but the priority is to check on looks.And Gerard says there are"some odd people out there!"Well,Gerard...I agree...and that is an understatement. |
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ESL Guru
Joined: 18 May 2003
Posts: 462
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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People - People - People
PPPLLLLEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
A picture is required for a very basic reason. If you are obviously of the wrong ethnic origins, the picture tells what a name might hide. There is a great deal of racial prejudice in the recruiting and hiring process in many parts of China, more than you would want to believe.
If anyone would like to borrow my picture, just copy it and paste it onto your resume. My picture is very popular you know! |
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bnix
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 645
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 12:08 am Post subject: And China Isn't the Only Place Either.... |
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Other countries in Asia also want that photo for the same reason you mention.As for YOUR photo...well,you aren't blonde,obviously...so that might be held against you in some quarters.On the other hand,some schools are SO desperate,and after seeing that photo...they might tell you "Please get on the plane tonight.We need you to begin teaching at 7:15 a.m. tomorrow."  |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 3:43 am Post subject: Picture this |
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Dear Alitas,
Thanks for the info - it's the weekend here, and John Y doesn't do the Net on weekends. But I'll tell him about your post ( and the offer of further help, if necessary ) on Saturday. I gather that he'll have to scan the photo onto a disc, then import it into Word. Sounds pretty easy - so much so that maybe even we can handle it.
Regards,
John |
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Wolf
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 1245
Location: Middle Earth
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 5:58 am Post subject: |
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[quote="Glenski"][quote]
Sometimes photos are used to simply determine your race. Yes, this is rather discriminatory, and it shouldn't be allowed, but it is not illegal to ask for the picture.
| Quote: |
| none of my Japanese friends had to include photos with their CVs to get jobs. |
On the flip side of the coin, every place I have heard asks for them.
You are going to have to provide such a photo for immigration purposes anyway, unless you come over on a working holiday visa, so do it.
quote]
Okay, I stand corrected. There must be places that ask Japanese nationals for photos while recruiting.  At least it's never too late to learn. 
Yes, you have to provide a photo to immigration. But maybe someone should point out that's a wee bit different. Immigration asks for a photo for information purposes. It's for their records. It doesn't matter to them (as a giant department of the government anyway) if you look like Lt. Worf, or Data. They just need the photo (and tons of other stuff depending on the laws of the country) to process your id (the fingerprinting that went on until recently in Japan, well that would be another thread for the Japan forum). Immigration doesn't hire you. Some employers, especially in China but also in Japan, will refuse to offer you work based on skin pigmentaion, X - Y chromosome configuration, distance from birth date, etc. I had my ex - recruiting officer TELL ME it was because some schools in China had racist hiring practices. Immigration asking for a photo is, in my opinion, normal. But I doubt that the immigration office will just up and show your records to every Tom, Dock, and Harry English school thinking of hiring you. (Although I cannot say for certain.) Employers asking for a photo is a bit more grey. They could be separating the chaff from the wheat. Or it could be for their records.
I just thought we should bear in mind that immigration and your potential employer are two different monsters, with (possibly) two different reasons for asking for photos.
I agree with Glenski that if you want to swim in their pool, so to speak, that you're going to have to play by their rules. But I have to respectfully disagree - there are some employers who do refuse to hire an otherwise EFL candidate from abroad because of their ethnic background or age (maybe not a lot - I don't know. I only say some). I think it would be safe to call that discrimination. Whinging about it won't chanage anything, but on this forum (as in many other places in our lives) I'm sure it's okay to whinge from time to time about that which cannot be changed. Just because we don't feel it's perfect doesn't necessarily mean we don't want to (or ought not to) swim in the pool. |
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