Many people are offended by an employer's request that applicants send a photograph of themselves, and several states have made this practice illegal. Some contend that employers use photographs as a subtle form of racial or ethnic discrimination. After all, what use is there in prohibiting employers from requesting an applicant's race or ethnic background if they can clearly see it in a photograph?

Although discrimination is not unknown in the tourism and hospitality industries, after discussions of this problem with hundreds of employers, I am convinced that it is very rare. In fact, many employers seek diversity in their staffs.

Most employers simply want a photograph to help them associate
faces with the hundreds of resumes they receive. if they can attach a face with your resume, they are much more likely to remember your application when the next job opening rolls around.  Perhaps the main reason employers request photographs is that almost all tourism and hospitality employers want clean-cut, wholesome-looking employees. Since interviews are often impossible for applicants who live hundreds of miles from a job site, a photograph reassures an employer that the person they are considering is clean-cut and knows how to dress properly.

The bottom line is that if you live too far away from the employer to interview in person, you should always send a photograph with your application or resume. Regardless of whether or not the employer specifically requests a photograph in their listing, you should send one. While many employers are willing to interview applicants by phone, they at least like to be able to see who they are talking to. Note that while some states make it illegal for employers to request a photo, it is never unlawful to voluntarily submit one.

Your photograph can be either a regular glossy print, a 5" X 7",
or an 8" X 10". While face only or waist-up photographs are the
most commonly accepted, cruise lines often request full body shots.  When having your picture taken, either use a professional studio photographer or have a friend with a good camera take an entire roll so you can choose the best shot. When considering what to wear in the photograph, remember that most employers are looking for that "all-American boy or girl next door image."

Richard Ramsey of Disneyland's employment office advises applicants to "dress like the people at the company you are applying to." While that doesn't mean that Disneyland applicants should necessarily walk into the casting office (Disney's term for the employment office) dressed as Mickey Mouse, they should wear something casual yet conservative. When Vince Redman applied for a job as a shore excursion manager on a cruise ship, he dressed in a blue blazer and beige slacks, similar to basic outfit that the company's shipboard staff wears. "I wanted them to look at me and picture me as an NCL employee. By wearing something close to the NCL uniform, I helped the employer picture me working for him," explains Vince. A woman could create this same image by wearing a beige skirt with a blue blouse or sweater.

While a photograph alone will never land you a job, it can greatly
help your application.