Italian company slammed for reception job advert saying candidates should be young and attractive

Italian security firm is blasted for ‘unethical and scandalous’ receptionist job advert asking ‘attractive’ candidates under 30 to submit a swimsuit photo with their application

  • A Naples security firm requested applicants for a receptionist job be under-30 
  • And it also asked all applicants to send in a photo of themselves in a bathing suit
  • The company said the advert was a ‘mistake by an inexperienced employee’
  • Now the Italian Labour Ministry has opened an investigation into the case


A Italian security firm has been slammed on social media after posting a job advert for a receptionist, saying that applicants should be women aged 30 or under, good looking, and should send a photo of themselves wearing a bathing suit ‘or similar’.

Medial Service S.r.l., based in Naples’ business district, also said candidates for the part-time, 24-hour per week, €500-a-month job should speak English, own a car, and have a ‘sunny character’.

According to reports, labour minister Andrea Orlando has now asked inspectors to investigate the company as a result of the ad, which has been branded ‘scandalous’ by Labour councillor for Naples, Chiara Marciani.   

‘They want a photo in a bathing suit? What an absurd advert,’ the Guardian reported her saying.

Naples-based security firm Medial Services S.r.l. prompted a fierce backlash after posting a job advertisement looking for a receptionist who is under 30 and attractive

Twitter users were unimpressed with the posting, branding it 'unethical' for asking women to send in photos of themselves in a bathing suit

Twitter users were unimpressed with the posting, branding it ‘unethical’ for asking women to send in photos of themselves in a bathing suit

‘It is scandalous, and for several reasons – beginning with the search for a woman under the age of 30 and a salary that is absurdly inadequate for the commitment and tasks the job requires.

‘The problem of sexism persists … there needs to be much more work done on gender equality. 

‘There are so many issues that need to be addressed, especially in a city like Naples, which has a very low rate of women in employment.’         

The job posting, which was shared across social media before the company removed it, also received criticism from Twitter users.

One said: ‘The photo request is unethical but alas not yet illegal. I hope that no one is applying in light of the request.’

Another worried about what the bathing suit photo request might indicate about the company’s intentions, writing: ‘The request for photos in costume is not a small one. 

‘Which will be followed during the interview: do you have children? Are you planning to have children?’ 

The original advert (which has now been deleted) says candidates should be aged 30 and under, have a car, a sunny character, and send a photo in a swimming costume 'or similar'

The original advert (which has now been deleted) says candidates should be aged 30 and under, have a car, a sunny character, and send a photo in a swimming costume ‘or similar’

Some posters seemed shocked by the adverts requests - with one reasonably asking what the company meant when it said applicants should send bathing suit 'or similar' photos

Some posters seemed shocked by the adverts requests – with one reasonably asking what the company meant when it said applicants should send bathing suit ‘or similar’ photos

And another pointed out: ‘It is also not legal to advertise for women only.’ 

One suggested that despite the unreasonable requests, the company may find staff, writing: ‘The problem is that they will find someone so desperate to accept or at least evaluate an offer like that. We have come to the point of having to sell our dignity (not just as workers) and having to say thank you too.’ 

A further poster revealed that they too had experienced similar requests when applying for a job, writing: ‘Once they asked me for photos in a bathing suit to work in a furniture shop, plus if I was free from family commitments and willing to go long trips alone with my boss.’               

In response to the furore, Medial Service S.r.l told Italian media the posting was ‘a mistake by an inexperienced employee who did not know the company policies on gender equality’.   

It has now published a new advert with all references to appearance, age, and disposition removed.

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