I’ve been on several interviews over the past few months. I always do great on the initial telephone interview and get invited for an in-person interview. During my in-person interviews, the conversation goes well and smoothly and I am always able to build rapport with the interviewers. However, I never get selected for the job.
The only theory I can come up with is the fact that I am overweight. The harsh reality is the people DO judge you based off your physical appearance. I am a defense contractor working in the D.C. metro area. If I do not find a new project/task to work on at my current employment, then I will get a pink slip and be unemployed for the first time in my career. I’m anger at myself for letting my appearance go…to the point where potential employers will not even considering me for the job. I have the degrees, certifications, and work experience to perform the jobs that I’ve been applying to….but nothing has come of it.
I just had to vent. Logically, I know this isn’t the end of the world if I do get laid off, but it just gets to me that my weight gets in the way of my income & job security.
I do believe that appearance plays a part in job procurement, especially in the confidence area but I also know that the market is tough. I started interviewing when I was obese and now at a normal weight and I still have not found a good fit. Competition is tough. I'm competing with Masters degree holders for Administrative jobs.
One reason I am trying to lose weight is that down the road I may need to look for a new job. I love the job I have and I am confident that I will have it for at least a few years. But what happens after that? I don't want to be in my late 40s and overweight trying to look for work. I get enough rejection for that in my search for a boyfriend.
I actually had someone tell me this during a practice medical school interview. I used to be premed and I was around my highest weight, my interviewer told me afterwards that I should take care of myself before I could take care of others. I wasn't offended at the time because it was something that crossed my mind, but I think it's ridiculous when people judge someone based off appearances.
It's unfair, and you can lose some really great people that way!!
Thankfully I got my current job at almost my highest weight.
When I went with the newbies to get my picture retaken for the website a few months ago, my supervisor asked me why I needed a new picture and I told her I had lost a bunch of weight. I referred her back to the then-current picture on the website and her response was "I don't remember you looking like that!"
Umm... well I did look like that, and then I gained 10 lbs the first 4 months of working here!
Last edited by Underwater; 08-29-2013 at 04:31 PM.
Location: Anchorage AK in the summer, Lawrence KS and travel in the winter
Posts: 222
S/C/G: High 285+ 256/ticker/160ish
Height: 5'6"
I understand. Add age and it's a real bummer. I have impeccable references and am good at what I do but I've had to get "creative" with my resumes to hide my age to get a call back. My weight on a face to face interview? Well that one isn't so easy. Overall age has been the real sticking point for me for any job, even ones I could do in my sleep.
I needed a part time seasonal job to pay for some remodeling recently. Grunt labor. Jobs I'm overqualified for. I didn't need benefits. I didn't ask for more salary. It's been challenging.
I don't know the answer but I can empathize.
Cathy
Last edited by vintagecat; 08-30-2013 at 01:08 PM.
I'm unemployed right now, and this is something that I have lately been thinking. Coupled with the fact that my resume is fairly bland (I've worked 3 jobs since 10th grade, and I'm 29 years old now), and I've been out of work for over a year, I just feel that there is something that I'm doing wrong.
I just applied for a job that I really really want, with a company I can grow old with, and their hiring process is all done online. On one hand I'm worried that my simple plain resume won't stand out, so I think I should go in and visit the HR dept so they can see me, gauge my personality (I'm constantly smiling, it's one of the things that come across in my telephone voice. I also work well in a solo or team setting, and I'm one of those people who you'll never know I'm having a bad day). On the other hand, I'm worried that they are going to see me and think "hmm, there are healthier candidates with equal skills". In today's world where healthcare is important, I can understand them wanting to take someone who is healthier (which means it would cost them less), even though I don't think it's fair.
If I do get an interview, I'm wondering if I should bring a picture of me at my heaviest weight along (I believe in February I was closer to 235 ish pounds, and that's the picture I'd use). I wouldn't show it to them and say "look at me I've lost weight!", but if they ask me what I've been doing in the year I've been without a job, I can tell them that on top of looking for work, I've been working on myself, and they can see the transformation. Perhaps seeing that I'm determined to lose weight might translate that I'm willing to work hard at something, including a job. I dunno
I went for the most important interview ever at my high´st weight of 300lbs. I knew there would be potential prejudice but I actually read up on weight prejudice and how to conquer it. Armed with that, good hair and a killer dress, I got the job. I think being prepared for the prejudice actually helped dissipate it. If you are good at what you do then any future employer will see it if you are able to show it.
Good luck!
If I do get an interview, I'm wondering if I should bring a picture of me at my heaviest weight along (I believe in February I was closer to 235 ish pounds, and that's the picture I'd use). I wouldn't show it to them and say "look at me I've lost weight!", but if they ask me what I've been doing in the year I've been without a job, I can tell them that on top of looking for work, I've been working on myself, and they can see the transformation. Perhaps seeing that I'm determined to lose weight might translate that I'm willing to work hard at something, including a job. I dunno
I think that is an interesting idea and a positive spin on the question of what you did in your year of unemployment. I know I have asked that question of applicants. I look for answers about going back to school, improving skills, and volunteer work. I would be impressed with a tale and visual regarding your weight loss. It shows you worked hard on your health. Almost everyone can relate to weight loss. I think you would stick out in the interviewer's mind. It couldn't hurt to have that answer ready in case such a question is asked.
Well I don't think the last couple years are representative in general but I'm in the same area and within a week of listing a job opening, we get 100 resumes. We do phone interviews of about 30, maybe 10-12 in person interviews.
If there is anything to improve your resume, I'd do it. Any classes you can take? Do you have a mentor at your current company? Are you listed on LinkedIn? What generic field are you in? Are you also looking in jobs in Maryland?
Don't just assume it's your weight. That's usually the first things many of us do. But there's so many people unemployed out there looking for jobs that you can't really know who you're competing against. Maybe someone really was better for the job and it had nothing to do with your weight.
Given that, I'm not oblivious to the world of weight discrimination. I'm in a career currently that has lots of layoffs due to outsourcing, so I live under the constant threat of having no job. One of the primary reasons I am losing weight is to take away that threat of weight discrimination. I also do other things to prepare myself should I need to look for a new job such as keeping current on my skills and expanding my education.
People should always assume they could have no job tomorrow and work on things that can be improved constantly.
For those people unemployed currently, I'd suggest doing volunteer work in the meantime if you can so that your resume shows no gaps or can be bulked up in some way - something that shows you're interested in working.
I can totally relate to this. When I was a flight attendant, I applied to one of the charter flight programs we had for the NBA. The first selection round was performed by our inflight management, and I was thrilled to have been selected. However, the second part was a panel interview by a number of NBA executives (mostly men) and not only did they not direct one single question to me, not one of them made any eye contact with me. As you can guess, I was not selected (nor were any of the other "plump" FAs). Those chosen were cute and thin. Never mind the fact that I had loads more experience and commendations galore in my records. It's hurtful and unfortunate, but it happens everywhere.
When you weight interferes with getting a job
