Does being obese affect if you think they are employable in an interview?

[Skye85]

Had an interview. Didn't get job. I know I didn't get the job as I didn't have enough experience. However, I remember seeing myself on screen and just how fat I looked. Just yuk.

I just wondered if there was an unconscious/conscious bias and what peoples views were.

For example saying in an interview 'I'm Motivated ' my inner voice says to me 'obviously not that Motivated. You can't stick to a diet longer than 3 days '

No, it wouldn't affect my decision. As long as the candidate presented well it wouldn't bother me. I'm sorry you didn't get the job - is it possible to get feedback!

I am very obese and been offered the last two posts I have interviewed for.

Obese here and walked straight into a new job last week. It was held over Zoom on a badly positioned iPad at their premises and the first thing I said was don't count my chins!

Better luck next time OP.

I do know that's not the reason why I never got the job.

I just remember seeing myself on screen and how terrible I looked.

Unfortunately you’re right OP, we tend to be bias against those who are overweight.
I doubt that anyone will admit it, probably because no-one (well no one worth working for) does it deliberately, but statistically we are. I’m overweight by the way.

I really need to do something about it, for health reasons also. I know it affects my confidence, which in turn may affect my performance in an interview.

@Skye85
That's probably more likely. Most interviewers value well-placed confidence in a candidate and anything that knocks it could hold you back and if the vibes are saying you don't think you've got this then you will get overlooked. I always found a bit of method acting helped if I had a wobbly pre interview.

Certainly not consciously, no.

Anyone who asserts they absolutely have no biases around body weight should do the obesity implicit association test. You don't necessarily have to believe or adopt harmful stereotypes for them to unconsciously influence our decision making judgments.

I know it affects my confidence, which in turn may affect my performance in an interview.
Yes I imagine that. And I find that it’s harder to look presentable the heavier I am. You still can, but it takes more effort.

But I also realise how negative my first reply probably was! Yes it’s a factor, but some people are really good at overriding their automatic bias and not letting it affect decision making. And not everyone is bias.

So 2 identical candidates except 1 is obese and the other not then the job is more likely to be given to the non-obese one. But it’s never going to be the case that candidates are identical.

Enthusiasm counts for a lot in job interviews- so for the next one turn your view of yourself off and convince them why you want the job!

Some of the places I've worked... I'd say they would be very bias against to be honest... They would think that person wasn't a culture fit as they favoured a "I do the London marathon for fun " type person. As it turns out I quickly realised they weren't my cup of tea at all either! Shallow arseholes.

Depends on the job. I have a morbidly obese relative who is doing very well in the corporate world. She clearly has the right chat as aside from being overweight she wouldn’t know a beauty saloon or makeup counter if it slapped her in the face. Simply has no idea about appearance. And I’m going to assume that at 40 has no desire to try.
I was appointing a nanny a few years back and anyone overweight was automatically rejected- if you can’t manage to feed yourself healthily how can I assume you’ll feed my children healthily?
In my own line of work (healthcare) if it was down to 2 candidates and one was overweight, the not overweight one would get the job.

For context, I am an ED/disordered relationship with food survivor. Have been pretty underweight, addicted to exercise and also had a spate of mild overeating and obesity following bereavement.
I am hyper-aware of how I look on camera as a result. Lost 30lb + in the last year, vaguely suspect that my own vanity (as well as health fears) the main driver(s).
Most people are just not that fussed about others' appearances. I am aware that I've got a huge issue about weight, but have appointed people of bmis from underweight through to obese based on the objective criteria and interview performance, both in person and via video link. BMI does not enter into whether someone can do the job well, unless the job is in the fitness or diet industry where a stereotyped healthy image is part of what you're selling.
Your confidence will be more of an impediment than your weight. Perhaps look into CBT as a way to manage anxiety around your appearance. It is much harder to read candidates/interviewers in a zoom call than in a room so anxiety is understandable. Managing what you can of the situation (calm environment, tidy background, makeup/outfit of your choosing, practice call on the same platform before the main event so you're ok with the controls) can help a little too.

I think truth be told it can affect people's perception. Of course no-one would admit to it as it's not the done thing but there's a reason why the standard of beauty is incredibly narrow and unforgiving. That said, confidence and experience speak volumes but whether we admit it or not we are all to varying extents affected by subconscious thoughts/ideas (if not bias).

I think bias does exist, but I've worked with some hugely obese people over the years who have been successful. I think you'd problem is more likely your lack of confidence.

My SIL is as recently talking about a friend who is struggling to find a new job. My SIL said her friend thinks she is being rejected because of her race, but SIL thinks it is because she is obese and would probably struggle with elements of the job.

I work in engineering. Appearance bears no relationship to ability. I pick the people who can do the job. (Even if they struggle with doing up their own shirts)

It can affect some people’s opinions sadly, I had an awful boss who refused to employ the better candidate who also happened to be very overweight. She said it was because she was worried they would be off sick all the time with ‘back problems’. The candidate had no health problems.

In my job you need to be fairly fit because you have to do a lot of walking/climbing stairs/overcoming obstacles. It depends on the job. I have a medical every 5 years, including weight, sight and hearing.

Can't answer for others but I've done hundreds of interviews and met some extremely strange people but I don't ever remember thinking about someone's weight. Unless it's a very physical role it wouldn't have made any difference at my company xx

I once interviewed a junior candidate who was very overweight. I liked her and put her forward for the second stage where she met my female manager, who had liked her on paper. My manager cut the interview short and said the candidate wasn't right for the role. She even made a comment about her appearance - not her weight but it's clear that was what was on her mind. It was a pity as she was clever, ambitious and keen.

So much bias coming through here in some of the answers!

In my job you need to be fairly fit because you have to do a lot of walking/climbing stairs/overcoming obstacles. It depends on the job. I have a medical every 5 years, including weight, sight and hearing.
I have a medical every 2 which includes a fitness assessment. I am overweight but track at the fitness profile of someone much younger than me. They can be correlated but weight and fitness are not the same thing. Test for the thing you need.

I was appointing a nanny a few years back and anyone overweight was automatically rejected- if you can’t manage to feed yourself healthily how can I assume you’ll feed my children healthily?

Seriously? By asking what they would feed your children! By asking what their daily routine is (do they talk about prepping the days food or do they assume it’ll take 5 mins to prep a meal). By asking what they would have as snack for your children. By, you know, interviewing! This is bias at its worst... you sound proud of it. Define the criteria you need/want then test for it. I know a lot of slim parents that feed their children all sorts of crap that I wouldn’t dream of. Mine eat a home cooked varied diet when at home. I’d say trying to bring them up with a healthy attitude to food is even more important to me because I don’t have one.

@newmumwithquestions It does make it easier to sort out the nightmare employers though

I have read studies that say it is true that your appearance impacts your career progression.
Apparently being tall for a woman is statistically a great advantage.
However if I think of the female senior managers I've worked with in two completely different fields most of them were not particularly well groomed.
Weight range from slim to obese with slightly overweight the most common.
Usually only wearing makeup on eg Board Meeting days and having a uniform like approach to clothes. So all black work wardrobe or tops and tailored trousers in the same coulour palette.
Even the one immaculately presented VP I can think of that I thought must get up at 6am to do her hair before I learned about extensions might look like Corporate Barbie but it's the same suit in different shades.
I actually think being very put together/attractive could be just as hampering depending on an interviewers bias. There can be prejudice against women who take pains with their appearance also.
If you don't already know this the angle the camera is on you and the direction light shines on you from makes a massive difference to how you look on camera.
On days when I have had little sleep I lower my chair so the laptop camera is higher and turn on the overhead light to lessen the harsh light coming in the window on me.
My colleagues don't care what I look like this is just because I don't want to feel knackered and look at my black circles at the same time.
Best of luck in your job hunt

Personally, not at all. I've been obese myself more than once.

There are some obese people, men and women, in very senior positions where I work so it can't have hindered them. Unless your job is very physical I don't see why weight would affect your ability to do your role in any way.