Vault: Do You Really Need a Headshot to Get Hired?

Summary

---

The Bert Show: Vault – Do You Really Need a Headshot to Get Hired?

Date: July 17, 2026
Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, Intern Reshma, plus multiple callers
Topic: The ethics and practicality of employers requesting headshots during the job application process

---

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the question: Is it appropriate (or necessary) for employers to request headshots as part of the job application process, especially for non-performance roles? Intern Reshma, who is applying for jobs and internships as she nears graduation, shares her firsthand experience being asked for a headshot—even for administrative and event planning positions. The Bert Show team, joined by listeners from HR and event planning backgrounds, debate whether such a request is ethical, legal, or simply pragmatic.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reshma’s Dilemma: The Headshot Request (01:20–03:10)

• Intern Reshma is preparing to graduate and actively applying for jobs and internships.
• Surprised to find three different positions requesting a headshot as part of the application.
  • Two requests are from talent/entertainment agencies (which she finds somewhat understandable).
  • One request is from an event planning company, which seems more questionable—especially since one had already seen her during a Skype interview.

Memorable Quote:

“The only picture I ever worry about is my Facebook picture. Like, what do I send them?”
—Reshma (02:38)

---

2. Speculating the Motive: Diversity or Disguised Discrimination? (03:10–04:52)

• The team wonders why employers need a headshot, especially before interviews.
  • Is it to pick a “look” for branding or customer-facing roles?
  • Team questions if it's a way around Equal Opportunity Employment (EOE) regulations to consider looks or race.
  • Some suggest it might serve to match candidates to company image or clientele expectations, rather than skill.

Notable Exchange:

“If you scratch the surface here, is this the way that you get around the EOE stuff?... Is it looks or is it race?... Or is it both?”
—Radio Host & Commentators (03:10–03:33)

---

3. Industry Perspective: Event Planning Rationales (04:55–06:46)

• Amy, an event planner caller, provides insight:
  • For event roles, the event runner is very visible; certain appearances (like non-traditional hair, piercings) might not suit all events (e.g., weddings).
  • Argues small companies can’t afford someone suitable only for some contexts.
  • Others counter: If appearance is truly relevant, shouldn't it be handled via dress code after hiring?
  • Concerns about fairness and practicality (e.g., tattoos can be covered).

Memorable Quote:

“You want to make sure ... there’s no weird piercings, there’s no crazy hair. Not that that’s bad, but at a wedding, may not be appropriate.”
—Amy, Event Planner (05:00)

• The group jokes about how extreme the requirements could get, with offbeat examples of potentially inappropriate appearances or visible tattoos.

---

4. HR’s View: It’s About Memory, Not Prejudice (07:09–07:53)

• Janet, a caller working in HR for a large Atlanta company:
  • Explains headshots help HR staff remember candidates: faces are easier to recall than names after numerous interviews.
  • Acknowledges photos are usually taken during interviews, not as a pre-screening tool.

Notable Exchange:

“When you’re interviewing thousands ... it’s easier to put a face with the application ... After a while, people just start to blend in together.”
—Janet, HR Professional (07:09)

• Host and team point out discomfort with asking for headshots before any contact, suggesting it raises fairness and bias concerns.

---

5. Legal and Best Practices: EEOC Protocols (08:14–08:35)

• Lauren (another caller with staffing/EEOC experience) emphasizes:
  • Headshots are NOT appropriate or compliant hiring practice under Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines.
  • Proper process is to address specific appearance requirements (like piercings, tattoos) during interviews, not pre-screening.

Notable Quote:

“Definitely a headshot: not appropriate protocol for hiring.”
—Lauren, Staffing/EEOC Specialist (08:14)

---

6. What Should Applicants Submit? (08:43–09:16)

• Reshma expresses confusion on what kind of headshot to send (professional photo or something casual).
• The show devolves into playful banter—posing in sailor outfits, in front of nautical wheels, photo booth images, or sending multiple varying "looks" to highlight "diversity."
  • Everyone jokes, highlighting the absurdity and lack of standardized guidance.

Memorable Moment:

“Send them four pictures and say, ‘I can be anything you want. We’re totally different people.’”
—Radio Host (09:18)

---

Notable Quotes and Exchanges (with Timestamps)

• Reshma on her confusion and frustration:
  “The only picture I ever worry about is my Facebook picture. Like, what do I send them?” (02:38)
• Host raising the EOE question:
  “Is this the way that you get around the EOE stuff?... Or is it both?” (03:10–03:33)
• Amy, Event Planner on visible employees:
  “You want to make sure ... there’s no weird piercings, there’s no crazy hair.” (05:00)
• Janet, HR Professional:
  “When you’re interviewing thousands ... faces are easier to remember.” (07:09)
• Lauren, Staffing/EEOC:
  “Headshot: not appropriate protocol for hiring.” (08:14)
• Comic relief suggestion:
  “Send them four pictures and say, ‘I can be anything you want.’” (09:18)

---

Important Timestamps

• 01:20 — Reshma introduces the topic and her job hunt dilemma.
• 03:10 — Team explores EOE implications and speculative motives.
• 04:55 — Amy, the event planner, offers her industry insight.
• 07:09 — Janet, HR, calls in to explain practical memory benefits.
• 08:14 — Lauren clarifies EEOC protocols and best practices.
• 08:43 — Reshma asks what kind of photo is even appropriate.

---

Tone and Takeaways

• The Bert Show’s tone remains humorous and candid, but they're also thoughtful about the legal and ethical ramifications.
• While some industries (especially entertainment) might have image requirements, the consensus—especially from HR professionals—is that requesting headshots for general positions (especially pre-interview) is questionable and potentially opens companies up to bias or legal trouble.
• Applicants are left unclear on practical steps if asked for a headshot, reflecting the larger lack of standardization and awkwardness of such requests.

---

Final Thoughts

This episode highlights the increased anxiety and ambiguity faced by new grads and job seekers in a market where even seemingly innocuous requests (like a headshot) have deeper implications for fairness, bias, and professionalism. The conversation balances real-world experience, HR best practices, and plenty of humor to question whether a headshot will help—or hurt—your chances of getting hired outside traditional modeling or acting roles.

Transcript

[Kalshi Advertiser]

The World Cup Championship will be crowned this week and you can trade the tourney through the finals on kalshi, America's number one prediction market platform. Right now, Spain is trading at 58% to beat Argentina. Meaning 100 trade pays out 166 if they win. On Cauchy, you're trading against other people in a live market. No house, no odds makers. For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code defend to get $10 when you trade $10. Kal Shi Kalshi trade the beautiful game 18 only restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information, see kalshi.com regulatory My

[Moto Casino Advertiser]

fellow Americans, this July we're celebrating America's birthday at Moto Casino by giving away 1,776,000. And one lucky winner is going to take home 1,000,000 SC. Happy 250th birthday, America. You're welcome. Download Motocasino today.

[Kalshi Advertiser]

Download the Motocasino app today. Motoccasino is a social casino, but we're prohibited.

[Radio Host]

No purchase necessary. Visit Moto Us for more details.

[Moto Casino Advertiser]

Moto Casino America's social casino the Bird

[Radio Host]

Show Intern Reshma is at Mike, look, reshma just turned 21 years old. So I mean you can only take this internship so far. It's a great internship, but it's not going to pay the bills.

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

I know. So I'm graduating this year so I have to be in the market now looking for a job. So I've been sending emails and like with my resume and cover letters, getting responses like going through the whole process.

[Radio Host]

Just as a side note here, I think there was an article in the AJC a couple days ago about college graduates in the state of employment and trying to get a job. It basically said, you're screwed. College graduates are so screwed right now.

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

This is a really supportive environment.

[Commentator 1]

Take on more debt and go to grad school.

[Radio Host]

Yeah, pretty much. Right?

[Commentator 2]

Yeah.

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

And I'm graduating in December so I'm still starting now to try and get a jump start. So I'm applying to thousands, I mean like thousands of internships and jobs and I'll get some emails back from some of them requesting more information and they'll ask for more information. They'll be like, we'd like to consider you. If you would please send us a paragraph about why you would like the internship as well as a couple of references And a headshot. And I sat there and I was like, a headshot. Three internships have now asked me for a headshot in order to be considered for the position.

[Commentator 3]

What type of position is it?

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

Yeah, two of them are with talent and entertainment agencies.

[Commentator 2]

Well, that's wild.

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

Okay, that makes sense for those ones. I mean, that's understandable. One of them is a event planning company. I mean, I know how to. They're kind of like one of those new. Trying to make a market out of something, but they pretty much just do events. My confusion is one of them I had an interview with, and it was a Skype interview. So they saw what I looked like, had the interview, and then requested more information. So that confused me. And then the other ones, I was kind of confused because, I mean, what do I send them? I'm not. I'm 21 years old. The only picture I ever worry about is my Facebook picture. Like, what do I send them?

[Radio Host]

I wonder? 404,741Q100. I wonder if this, if you scratch the surface here, is this the way that you get around the EOE stuff? Like, you're not allowed to. You're not allowed to ask if you're cocky.

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

That's what my question was.

[Radio Host]

Or.

[Commentator 1]

Yeah.

[Commentator 2]

So I wonder looks or is it race?

[Radio Host]

I don't know. I wonder if there's a.

[Commentator 1]

Or is it both?

[Radio Host]

Somebody like, if. If you're in HR or you do hiring. I'm curious if you ask for the headshot here to get. I don't want to say get around. I get. But it could be. Right.

[Commentator 1]

It sounds like it could be because if you're going to be like an admin assistant for one of these entertainment agencies, then what difference does it make

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

what you look like?

[Commentator 1]

Well, you know, if it's.

[Commentator 3]

If it's an. If it's a talent and entertainment agency, they may want a look for the brand.

[Commentator 2]

Yeah.

[Commentator 1]

But you could say that for anything. Anybody at a front desk position or. I mean.

[Commentator 3]

Yeah, like, are they allowed Desk Johnny Invisible? You know, like, I know they totally.

[Commentator 2]

Well, I mean, metal bars is the new thing.

[Commentator 3]

This is our front desk.

[Commentator 2]

I mean, that is. That is the best first impression you could ever make is metal bars. Like you're in jail.

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

Yeah, it's confusing because they have enough information about me, they know about me. And the only thing that kind of like, spread it in my head, if I was being like, you know, sought out, was that the fact that my name is extremely unusual. But then again, one of the emails I got for the request, one of the entertainment ones was an email for 30 people saying, you are one of the 30 finalists being considered. Please send us, like, AB in a headshot. So that's when I'm like, maybe it's to compare so they can look at people and be like, okay, this person looks like this has these qualifications. But even then, I mean, are they allowed to do that?

[Radio Host]

I don't know.

[Commentator 1]

I guess we're gonna find out here. Yeah, that is weird.

[Radio Host]

Here is Amy. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Amy (Event Planner)]

Hi.

[Radio Host]

Hey, Amy.

[Amy (Event Planner)]

So as an event planner, I just wanted to share why I think they would ask for an 8x10 or a headshot. Because the person who is running the event is the person that people see at the event. And I wouldn't personally say, oh, this person. Person is African American or white or Asian or whatever, but you want to make sure that those person is, you know, there's no weird piercings. There's no crazy hair. And not that that's bad, but it kind of would, at a wedding, may not be appropriate.

[Radio Host]

But wouldn't you determine that after you hire the person, like, at what place you're going to, you'll place them?

[Amy (Event Planner)]

Well, not necessarily. Because if they wouldn't fit at any event, a small business like an event planning company can't afford to have someone working there who would only be appropriate for certain events.

[Radio Host]

But then why would they just ask for a headshot? I mean, maybe she was covered with tattoos from the neck down like Jeff is, But you can't tell that that's from just a headshot.

[Amy (Event Planner)]

But you can do long sleeves. You can ask someone, you know, to wear pants, not a skirt, if they have, you know, tattoos that were showing below the knee. Or you could ask someone to wear pants, long sleeves.

[Commentator 3]

But if you look like bombshell McGee, like, they need to have, if you have a swastika on your forehead, like, that may preclude you from working like a bar mitzvah, for example.

[Commentator 2]

Well, before that would be where the interview before that would be where the interview process took place. They say, are you willing to take the piercings out? Are you willing to cut your hair? And are you willing to wear long sleeves? Like, they would get to the point of one of the final interviews before that would take place. It sounds like now they're weeding people out that they don't think that whose look they don't look.

[Radio Host]

It's a time saver now. So even if you're qualified, if you don't look the Part you're not going to get the gig. They're just trying to find out if you look the part first.

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

But don't you also think now with Photoshop and stuff, like, people enhance and change their photos? I mean, I could go on, like, I have enough education to Photoshop a picture of me and make me look a different race and gender easily.

[Commentator 2]

Nobody lies on the resume.

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

Of course not. What am I thinking?

[Commentator 1]

I wonder if they're trying to find a diverse.

[Radio Host]

Maybe it's working in your favor.

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

I mean, maybe.

[Radio Host]

Here's Janet. Good morning. You're on Q100.

[Commentator 3]

You think Reshma would give it away?

[Janet (HR Professional)]

I work for a pretty big place here in Atlanta, and I work in hr, and I think you guys are way off. We do that. We take pictures of people when they come in for interviews. Not just so that we have their picture, but when you're interviewing thousands of people, it's easier to put a face with the application. You can remember their personality more like they may just be getting a head start on getting all their files together. So when they call someone in, they already have that picture attached to the file and they can say, oh, yeah, remember this girl? Well, she, you know, had a great personality and she released it out. Because after a while, people just start to blend in together.

[Radio Host]

It sure does make you raise an eyebrow, though. First, if they're asking you for the headshot before the interview, like, I understand what you're saying about taking the snapshot when you're there so they can attach it to the application, but when it's asked beforehand, it just makes. It makes you look at things a little strangely.

[Commentator 2]

Yeah. And I have to say, just on an offshoot, that I'm going to start doing that just with people, because I am so bad with names that I'm just gonna take. I'm gonna take. Just from now on. No, if you meet me, I'm taking your picture. So that way I know who you are.

[Commentator 1]

Put it in your little iPad or whatever.

[Radio Host]

Hey, Lauren. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Amy (Event Planner)]

Hi.

[Radio Host]

Hi.

[Amy (Event Planner)]

I am working with staffing, and we have gone through a ton of EEOC training and definitely a headshot. Not appropriate protocol for hiring.

[Janet (HR Professional)]

You have to pretty much just ask

[Amy (Event Planner)]

the person to take out the piercings, like you guys were saying before, versus discriminating against the headshot.

[Radio Host]

Yeah. Most are calling with the same thing, saying that it's to remember who you are so they'll attach the picture to your file.

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

Okay, then here's my question. What do I send them. Am I supposed to go to a photographer? Like, get all glammed up and take a picture? Like, what am I supposed to wear? What kind of photo is it supposed to be? Like, that's a pretty specific thing to have without requirements.

[Commentator 1]

I think you should wear like a sailor outfit and pose in front of like a. A big wheel.

[Commentator 2]

Like a nautical wheel. Like second grade.

[Commentator 1]

Yeah.

[Commentator 3]

What about like on a bridge, like with a stream and woods in the background. Or what about in front of a big giant foam core 09 to represent a graduation year?

[Radio Host]

How about one of those photo booths at like a Dave and Buster's?

[Reshma (Internship Seeker)]

I mean, that'll work. Save me some money.

[Radio Host]

Or send them four pictures and say, I can be anything you want. We're totally different people.

[Commentator 2]

My diversity, diverse.

[Radio Host]

Who do you think I am?

[Moto Casino Advertiser]

Get it?

[Kalshi Advertiser]

The birch the World cup championship will be crowned this week and you can trade the tourney through the finals on Kalshi, America's number one prediction market platform. Right now, Spain is trading at 58% to beat Argentina. Meaning 100 trade pays out 166 if they win. On Kalshi, you're trading against other people in a live market. No house, no odds makers. For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code defend to get $10 when you trade $10. Kal Shi Kalshi trade the beautiful game 18 only restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information, see kalshi.com regulatory you

[Moto Casino Promoter]

ain't heard about MotoCasino? Moto has real Vegas slots. Any game you can find on the floor in Vegas, you can play it on Moto. I like my slots hot. Moto's free to play like foos. Stamps in line at the grocery store at a funeral in traffic Keep your eyes on the road. Hop on Moto Casino Moto Casino Got jackpots that are bigger than my belly Moto America's hottest Free to play Social

[Kalshi Advertiser]

Casino Download the Moto Casino app today. Moto Casino the social casino board. We're prohibited.

[Moto Casino Advertiser]

No purchase necessary.

[Radio Host]

Visit Moto Us for more details.

[Moto Casino Advertiser]

Casino America's Social Casino all new drinks are now at McDonald's with refreshers like the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher and the Mango Pineapple Refresher with popping Boba. To crafted sodas like the Sprite Berry Blast with berry flavors and cold foam. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire six. All new drinks are here now at McDonald's.

[Radio Host]

Refreshers contain caffeine.