What would you think if an overweight person worked in a health & beauty clinic?

It’s nothing like that at all. You can still perform a service and not be a caricature of it. A personal trainer would probably naturally work out a lot to demonstrate they understand their job, although I suppose they could still have good knowledge of anatomy and fitness without actually practicing it.

A beautician can be totally capable of giving treatments to others without having to do them on themselves! Bloody ridiculous and shallow to suggest otherwise.

Yeah, it’s sort of like having an overweight personal trainer. Not fair, but a fact. Just prepare that they may well turn you down, but it’s not going to kill you to apply.

To an extent I think you’d need to buy in to the service they’re selling. Overweight etc not an issue, but they’re selling grooming services and having a person that’s utterly disinterested in the service really isn’t going to work however competent and efficient. Not saying you need to go all in, just enthusiastically engaged. Tidy nails, tidy hair etc.

Overweight and older are absolutely no problem. But I think you need to look like you are into beauty for being the receptionist of a beauty salon..and, no offence, it sounds like you aren't? Are you only interested in the job because the hours suit you?
I don't think the no make up nor owning a hair dryer is going to do you any favours OP, unless you are prepared to do experiment with them before the interview.

It depends very much on the salon/clinic, and what the owners want/their target customer base. Some purposefully appeal to the everywoman, and will have a more diverse range of client and employee ‘types’, whereas others are exclusive regarding both clients and employees.

Look at their social media and marketing if you want to get an idea as to whether you’ll fit or not.

Polished is as standard ime.

When’s the interview OP? X

Your ability to do beauty treatments on other people has nothing to do with your weight or appearance in general. As with any public facing role id expect cleanliness and friendliness and that’s it.
I had a beauty therapist/nail tech whose nails always looked dreadful and she didn’t wear make up. She was probably so sick of doing it all day that she wasn’t going to go home and do her own nails!
It shouldn’t even be a factor.

To be honest, I’d be made up to see another actual human that’s not all lips & boobs, as myself can feel quite self conscious being a middle aged ragged mother of 4 😂

I think being polished is what they're looking for. I suppose they want someone who has an interest in the product and services they offer and if you look as though you don't have that interest then you wouldn't get the job. I don't think it's weight as such, more that polish.

So the most important skills are polite, friendly, cheerful, perhaps chatty, approachable and generally good people skills.

It's not like you're going to sit there shovelling packets of crisps on reception! 😂

If they don't want a receptionist that's overweight then that's their lost.

Apply OP. I've done lots of receptionist type work over the years and usually they want someone very competent, chatty and friendly and approachable and I'd imagine they will be more interested in getting in someone who won't mess up bookings and payments. That will be one of their main priorities. Clients will come in all shapes and sizes . The salon I use is a long established local one and not an overly trendy place and the staff while always well groomed are all ages shapes and sizes.

Hi @Jabbathejob OP I don't know about this salon especially- but they would be crazy if they were avoiding overweight and older people. As long as you are a good example of the thing you were trying to sell- e.g. good condition hair if you were hairdressing it doesn't matter a bit to me.

As a shy individual I would always try and avoid the young/ gorgeous workers as much as I could. They made me feel bad about myself and uncomfortable- it is probably a bit unfair on them! Rather than finding them inspirational I find them kind of intimidating, so I'd be booking with you all day long. I can't imagine I'm the only one who feels that way.

Surely you can buy a hairdryer and some nail polish, moisturiser, mascara etc? I would most definitely expect a polished look, weight and age are irrelevant. But a polished look is easily and cheaply achievable! Go for it OP.

This ^
its not necessary about being glamorous rather polished. You can aim for “practical and efficient” style of looking for this job.

I wouldn't think of anything. My expectations would stop at someone looking smart and polished etc, nothing else would cross my mind.

It would tell me that they likely have thought about how to accommodate a voluptuous woman. They'll have robes or whatever that are over a size 12, and chairs that can seat people over 8stone or Becky at the front would have cussed them out.

Just apply. Give it a go.

I'm thinking about the hair/beauty salon I go to (I only gp for hair, never beauty treatments).
The staff - all female - range from, I'd say, early 20s to early 50s. There come in all shapes and sizes. However, they all have 'well maintained' hair and wear 'visible' make up.

Where on earth did they inject your botox to leave you looking like a man? Botox smooths out wrinkles and men have wrinkles...?

Age and weight wouldn’t be relevant for me. I would probably expect them to be well-groomed and well-presented, but that’s all. And by well-groomed I don’t mean lots of makeup, just presentable.

I don’t trust overweight nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals , but I wouldn’t care if it was in the beauty sphere. I particularly wouldn’t care if it was for a member of support staff.

Personally if I was a customer I'd be very happy to see an ordinary looking person as the perfect looking people intimidate me a little! I'd also be delighted to take fitness advice from someone who was overweight and older. I'd much prefer relatable to aspirational and their own appearance wouldn't effect their knowledge of the subject. Though for a reception role that's not relevant. However, that said, I would manage your expectations as its possible they will have an image in mind to represent them front of house and you could lose out if that's the case.

I have no interest in beauty etc. So wouldn't really go there but I would have no issue for someone is friendly and professional, I have never smoked but have never got the logic of doctors and nurses should be non smokers

Seme as I would be fine with a makeup artist not using mke up themselves, or using a bald hairdresser etc.

I don't think that deeply about staff

@ShortyShortsthe manager. The dentists made the decision to fire me lol. I can laugh about it as I knew at the time I wasn’t right for the job, it was all boob jobs and Botox.

If you apply, interview, and don't get the job, will you assume it is because of your weight? And will it affect your self esteem?

I couldn't work in a beauty salon because I'd never feel pretty enough. Good on the people who can. But if you're like me and will spend every day feeling inadequate and like the ugly one, then I wouldn't bother. It's a me-issue, but I'd rather be happy than self-conscious everyday.