Okay, Opinions please...Appearance/Weight Not getting me a job interview
Hi!
I've applied for the same job title/same food store chain/same person taking the applications, but at two locations. In order to hand in your application, you had to hand it to the district manager and talk to him for a minute or so. He then shakes your hand, tells you it was nice meeting you and says he will be calling you back in a few days if your application is what they're interested in. So far, both times I haven't been called in for a formal interview in the time that he has speculated. I feel that my prior job experience could really benefit their store. I shop there all the time and know the entire lay-out of the store, including trying most of their products. I didn't sound conceited or over-bearing when I dropped off my application. The only thing that I feel may be holding me back is my weight. I know legally they can't hold this against me, right? But...in disguise, do you think this may be the reason why I haven't been called in for an interview? He can see in my application that my present job has a lot of walking, so I'm physically fit enough. What else could be the reason. Please, everyone reading this, let me know what you think. Thanks!
It's really impossible to know. It could be some sizeism, or some other characteristic that's putting them off. It's definitely not unheard of to lose job opportunities due to weight, but it could be your confidence walking in, some other factor, or just other applicants with more experience (there are a lot of people looking for work now, so employers can be a bit more choosy).
The truth is you just never know. I work for a company that manages other businesses human resources and we do their recruiting and hiring. For each job there is a different set of criteria. If you actually get notified that you are not being considered for the job I would call them and ask them if there was something that you could have done differently that would have improved your chances of landing the position. We are always happy to tell people if there was something specific in their application/resume that excluded them from consideration. If they don't have an answer it could be your weight or it could just be that "suzie's aunt Judy's cousin's son needed a job". Although this is not the best way to hire people sometimes that is the reality.
It is hard to say what the reasons are. I remember going in, when I was around 17 to get a job and I was overweight, to a fast food place and they were nice, but didn't hire me. I didn't get why as the person they did hire for that position was an absolute numpty and ended up getting fired within a week lol. I had moved on, but the point is that the interviewer could have struck up a rapport with the other guy and "hit it off" as they say. You never know...
Asking them questions about why you didn't get called back could be important. Perhaps there is something there that you aren't seeing. It could just be one of those things though, meaning it could have had nothing to do with you. Sometimes you just don't get the job.
When you spoke with him, were you wearing nice clothes, hair neat? Not too much makeup? I mean if you spoke to him all frumpy looking he might have just tossed your application. Also if in that time you said anything negative about your current job or employer- that looks bad.
I do believe weight has a factor because I was turned down for MANY jobs I was very qualified for, it really hit my self esteem hard. Not much you can do but call and ask or just look elsewhere.
I know for me I got the current job I am at at least 20 lbs heavier than I am now- so not everyone is "weightist."
My friend kept applying for a receptionist position at this one job, and kept not getting it, she certainly was qualified and I told her I bet it's her weight because while she dresses nice and carries herself well, she weighs like 300 lbs, and all the girls they were going through couldn't have been more than 120.
like everyone else said, no one can tell you for sure. maybe call and ask? explain that you feel you are qualified and you're wondering if the position was filled. sometimes going that extra mile and showing them you're really interested can get you the interview.
that being said, i had a much easier time in ALL areas of life when i was 21 and 115 lbs. its sad.
I've applied for the same job title/same food store chain/same person taking the applications, but at two locations. In order to hand in your application, you had to hand it to the district manager and talk to him for a minute or so. He then shakes your hand, tells you it was nice meeting you and says he will be calling you back in a few days if your application is what they're interested in. So far, both times I haven't been called in for a formal interview in the time that he has speculated. I feel that my prior job experience could really benefit their store. I shop there all the time and know the entire lay-out of the store, including trying most of their products. I didn't sound conceited or over-bearing when I dropped off my application. The only thing that I feel may be holding me back is my weight. I know legally they can't hold this against me, right? But...in disguise, do you think this may be the reason why I haven't been called in for an interview? He can see in my application that my present job has a lot of walking, so I'm physically fit enough. What else could be the reason. Please, everyone reading this, let me know what you think. Thanks!
What are you wearing when you drop off the application?
I think others are right in saying you can never really know if weight is a factor in not getting hired. I have often wondered the same in the past, but can only put my finger on one instance where I was almost sure my weight was the case. I had spoken to my interviewer twice before my interview. She was very enthusiastic about meeting with me, very impressed with my skills and how well they matched what she was looking for. This woman was very friendly on the phone, but the minute I stepped into her office (dressed professionally and neat), her face fell and she was a total witch throughout the interview. Despite all of that, I put my best foot forward, Of course, I didn't get the job. I'm 100% sure that my weight did not line up with what she had in mind for the job. Eventually, I found a job. And you will too. Just keep pushing forward and doing the best you can and try not to think about your weight. Good luck!
Thanks everyone for responding to my question! It's much appreciated! I didn't expect that many responses so quickly! Keep on sending them, okay? When I went in to turn in my application, I was dressed kind of dressy-casual. I had on a nice top-not too revealing, casual jewelry, a common pair of dress slacks and low heels. My make-up was done very lightly. Just mascara, natural looking blush, natural lip gloss, and styled my hair casual, but nicely. I was polite when turning my application over to him, but not overly polite. I didn't seem to be frumpy and my husband actually told me I looked nice and wished me luck. (My husband is in sales and is an account manager.) I normally interview well, so I can't figure out why they haven't called me in for a formal interview. They asked me on the application what I currently make at my present job and jobs in the past. (I make more at my current job, but no benefits.) Could that be why perhaps I wasn't called back for an interview? The job I am applying for is less pay, but has benefits. It states in their ad that the job has potential for advancement. So...who knows? I may stop at the store and pick up a few things and ask someone if they are still interviewing. If they are done interviewing...I think I will try & get their phone number, call and ask why my application was not considered.
Again, thanks for everyone's responses, it is much appreciated!
Just because you believe you were qualified, doesn't mean that someone else who was hired wasn't just as qualified or even MORE qualified. You never know.
Ah hah, I think you just hit what it might have been... I will tell you that I'm in HR and totally flooded with applications right now. I posted a staff accountant position a few months ago and got 300+ resumes by email in the first week the job was listed. I had to come up with some pretty arbitrary sorting criteria to get through the stack. Current or most recent salary & current or most recent position were my first two sort criteria. If you applied with me and were already making more than I was paying, or your most recent job was significantly higher than my rate, I would put you lower in the stack than someone with a lower current wage. I would also put you lower down if you were in a position of higher authority or responsibility than mine. I saw a lot of people who were just looking for something to fill the gap and wanted to make sure I didn't spend a lot of time hiring someone who was just waiting for something better to come along. In your discussion with the DM or hiring manager in cases like this you might want to try to find a way to bring into conversation why you are looking for a job that is a pay decrease, if you can do it smoothly. Maybe emphasize how you are looking for growth opportunity with a company that treats its people well, as evidenced by their low turnover and great benefits package, something like that. Could gateway into the opportunity to say that the job you have now pays a little higher but has limited benefits and less room for advancement. Though be careful to say nothing negative about your current job, that is a real turn off.
Good luck sweetie!
Last edited by Shannon in ATL; 09-18-2009 at 03:11 PM.
I may be wrong here, but I googled "weight discrimination" and all I could find was that there are no fed laws, only one state (MI), and only a few major cities that have any such laws.
I read a few entries where it has been suggested that it "could" fall under ADA, but certain criteria would have to be met.
I truly hope you were not denied because of your weight, but it does happen. Like others have said, there's no way you can know.
1) we are in the worst employment situtation in decades
2) I see some employers giving preference to people who are out of work, while this may not be completely fair, I think it's understandable
Good luck! Looking for a job is always difficult, but I would not take this personally.
Okay, Opinions please...Appearance/Weight Not getting me a job interview
Thanks!
