I don’t often get cross in my Blog. I don’t write furious posts like some of my colleagues (who are much better at being angry than me). In general, my blog is a happy place, full of fluffiness and love.
I’m not one of the Bloggers who religiously writes 4 posts a day, or goes to every meet up that’s arranged to make new contacts and keep up to date on the latest hashtags. I have some friends who Blog, some friends who really do not care about Blogging in the slightest and some who think it’s completely geeky. I rarely have time to read even the best of blogs, let alone all the ones I’d like to, and only comment when I think I have something important or worthwhile to say.
BUT.
There are many Bloggers out there that I respect and have a lot of time for, so when someone like @BigFashionista tweets about an important post, I’m going to take a look and if I agree (or strongly disagree) I’m going to have my say.
Which is what happened yesterday. Kellie wrote this post about a competition that ASOS Fashion Finder and LOOK Magazine is currently running, which gives you the chance to win an internship working with the mag – a position that would clearly be a good addition to many budding fashion journalists trying to get a break. So – I do not have a problem with the competition in the slightest.
I am in the camp that believes internships are valuable, and when handled correctly, can really help the intern learn skills that will set them on the way to hopefully glittering careers.
So, the prize is not my issue. At all. What has riled Big Fashionista, and me…and a whole lot more of us…is the entry process.
Do you think that to win this prized internship, you need to submit a brilliant piece of Journalistic copy that will prove your writing ability? Or perhaps details of who you can add value to the brand? Or maybe your ideas for features, details of your relevant qualifications or a creative video about why you would be the best person to hone your skills whilst working with the team?
No my friends. They don’t care about that.
What ASOS FF and LOOK have asked for, is quite unbelievably….a photo of yourself. And it doesn’t stop there. They want a photo of yourself, that is then going to be judged by your peers.
So basically, above anything else, ASOS Fashion Finder and LOOK are going to hire someone based on who looks the best.
Now. I worked in Recruitment for a number of years – and while I didn’t work with interns so can’t comment on the laws of unpaid employment, I know that it would be completely unethical, if not illegal, to scrap all interviews when employing someone, ask people to send in a picture and then pick the one we fancy.
So why on earth do LOOK or ASOS FF think this is OK?
They are not running a modelling competition. They are looking for an intern, hopefully one with relevant skills who can help in the office and hopefully who they intend to teach, nurture and help kickstart their career by making useful introductions and offering guidance.
It is hard to get an internship on a fashion magazine these days, so of course many women will jump at the opportunity, whatever the conditions may be. To get these names on your CV could be a massive bonus, so of course people are going to enter, and perhaps someone at the top will look at those entry stats and think this terrible idea was actually a success. Well, no.
With a country unfortunately full of young women who suffer from self esteem and confidence issues (largely because of the images shoved down their throats by these magazines), surely we all have a responsibility to show the next generation that looks do not matter – that the things that will get you furthest in life are education (in whatever form you choose to get it), hard work and enthusiasm, rather than a pretty smile and a nice dress?
We have come so far from the fifties, where a tight skirt and large boobs may well have been enough to secure you one of the few jobs available to women.
So why are these two, supposedly forward thinking brands taking us back there?
Kellie had a chat with ASOS Fashion Finder, who said that her concerns had been noted, that people will be judged on their outfits (like this is better??) and that they were unable to change the T&C’s of the competition now it was live. I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t wash with me. This competition should never have been run in the first place. I hope that ASOS FF and LOOK think of a suitable way to apologise and make up for this…teaching people that having the best looks or style will get you a job is a disgrace and they should be ashamed of themselves.
Have an opinion? Please let me know in the comment box below. I’d love to know what some of my HR/Recruitment friends think of this…as well as the rest of you, of course!
*applauding warmly*
facts based and relevant. Thanks for that JJ!!!!
Isn’t the competition something to do with judging how well you can dress in relation to a trend? I’d be amazed if it was about bust size or how short your skirt is…
OK, it’s a fashion mag…but they are going to be interning in the office of a magazine, not styling shoots on day 1. I think if it was for a stylists role – or as I mentioned earlier a modelling competition, a photo may be an appropriate option for entry. But even models have to submit a portfolio and stylists need more than 1 photo.
And even more than that? It’s the public voting system. Demoralising and completely wrong when it comes to “recruitment” of any kind. We’re not grading cattle.
Anyone offering a free role as a prize for one photo is wrong, in my opinion. As part of a combined entry? Without a humiliating voting system? Would have much less of a problem. But as it stands, I think its wrong on a whole host of levels.
Just my opinion, for what it’s worth!
Where does it say the community voting is what wins it? The page on asos says its a judging panel. let’s read the rules before we start getting angry!
So why open it up to a vote at all if it’s irrelevant?
I’m really interested – can you see nothing wrong in this competition at all? I’m trying really hard to see how it would ever be OK. To get a job, paid or unpaid, you should demonstrate you have some relevant skills. Even one relevant skill. May not be the most brilliant to get a shot, but at least show some passion.
I would love for them to be running a competition based on the entrants ability to write a piece on this seasons fashion, or create a video stating their ideas about a subject, or even put together a mood board with their vision and reasons for decisions/influences/anything that shows a tiny bit of brain power and the basic skills needed to do the job. Any job.
Just not one bloody photo.
It looks like you can vote on anything on the site not just the competition stuff. like I said, isn’t the skill being tested the ability to interpret a trend with your wardrobe and then photograph it dorm the competition. if you match that trend and the judges think its the best then you win. I’d be amazed if it was a serious job that wasted more than a week or two. like you say they won’t be editing the mag anytime soon but if it gives the winner a little lift then why not?
Whilst I understand Fashmash’s point of view, I still disagree with the way in which this competition is/was being judged. There is no way that you can say that once they receive these pictures, that other attributes other than the outfit will not impact their decision making. It would have been safer to say, send a picture of your favourite clothing items along with 100 words why you chose it. That way, no one is in the picture to be judged or discriminated against, and the competition then truly becomes about the individuals ability to demonstrate an eye for trend and style!
This was not a well thought out competition.
P.S. Sorry a bit late to the table :o)
Completely agree Sam – would have had no problem with a photo AND another entry mechanic. But it was deemed to be inappropriate (not just by me!) and they took it down soon after this post was written.
Appreciate the comments tho! Have a great weekend x