Help - terrified of accepting new job because of unflattering uniform

[jobdilemmahelp]

Ive been offered a job with the ambulance service and as much as I would love the job, the uniform is going to look horrendous in me

I'm sure you are all familiar with the cargo style trouser and shirt combo, the shirt must be tucked in - herein lies the problem. I have an awful large saggy lower belly and I know it's going to look horrendous in the trousers

I'm going to have to turn the job down unless anyway has any advice to help please

I look like I’m playing dress up in my uniform and look short and dumpy. I’m not very but look it in scrubs.

Congratulations on the job op.
Try the uniform and see how you get on. If you can ask for men’s trousers as they’ll be cut differently.
I bet you will meet others who have the same concerns and have possibly found ways around it.

Could you go to seamstress and have the uniform altered?

Congratulations...great job . Ignore the sarcastic comments. I have a uniform that makes me look like a fat pudding...I just ignore mirrors. Enjoy and BTW my job involves regular involvement with the ambulance service and I can honestly say they come in all shapes and sizes.
The personnel who really stand out are the kind,personable ones who are efficient and compassionate towards their patients.💐

Seamstress is a good call! I used to get my student uniform tailored as they were such bizarre shapes!

Aw I feel your pain. Don't lose the job though because it awesome.
Lots of great advice on here. Good pants and and clever tuck with your shirt. You'll be fine

Congratulations on the job. It sounds a fantastic opportunity. Please don't let your mum tum put you off taking the job. I have a mum tum too so I understand how you feel. However, I do not think it would stop me accepting a job/career that I wanted.

There is some really good shapewear you can wear underneath if it would make you feel more confident. Ensure your uniform is not too small but also not too large.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for the kind, thoughtful and helpful comments, I really appreciate them

Who actually cares what the uniform looks like, does the patient needing emergency care check you out before letting you provide are.
Sorry I think you are being ridiculous about being 'terrified' of the uniform

you could probably get away with getting your own similar trousers
^ seems like a reasonable suggestion?
Ignore the haters and the booters OP ()
I want you to feel as confident and self assured as possible so that you can do your best work! There's nothing wrong with wanting to feel happy in the clothes that you wear!

@HalzTangz

Who actually cares what the uniform looks like, does the patient needing emergency care check you out before letting you provide are. Sorry I think you are being ridiculous about being 'terrified' of the uniform

Lets hope you're never in any kind of a caring role👀 null points for compassion!

A jumper when you can?

@HalzTangz

Who actually cares what the uniform looks like, does the patient needing emergency care check you out before letting you provide are. Sorry I think you are being ridiculous about being 'terrified' of the uniform

Read the thread properly whilst trying to remember how to use your kind words.

@HalzTangz you do realise that the op realised that the people laying on the floor in need won't notice, she is worried about what colleagues, partnership workers, people in the shop next door to the ambulance station where she grabs lunch from will think. She has body image insecurities. I assume you don't care what you look like and wear any old unflattering outfit because who cares right??! Most people do care.

@GlutenFreeGingerCake

No one is going to be judging your tummy they will be very happy to see you and you may well be saving their life.

Exactly this. Don't worry about it!!

Lots of you have never been dysmorphic and it shows.

Well done on applying OP, what a massive step in the right direction. I think that a pair of over the tummy underwear would be your best bet. They don't have to be shapers but just offer a little suction and support.

Primark do some excellent belly button height pants that suck you right in. They're very Bridget Jones but they do the job for about £5 for three. If you would feel a little more comfortable in more supportive underwear these are great! They don't give the awful knicker line that a lot of Spanx do.

www.asos.com/spanx/spanx-power-short-in-black/prd/6351738?affid=26508&_Cj0KCQjwhr2FBhDbARIsACjwLo3EF5T8ARD8ahdSZeoo1-qyz6ctryzuB9fbUM7GTkgN3BxDkaY19lMaAqqBEALw_wcB&channelref=product+search&ppcadref=12828449490%7c116551776450%7cpla-335561786393&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhr2FBhDbARIsACjwLo3EF5T8ARD8ahdSZeoo1-qyz6ctryzuB9fbUM7GTkgN3BxDkaY19lMaAqqBEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

In the long term what do you think would make you more comfortable? Could you lose a bit of weight? Work on toning in the gym? Or is it psychological? Would counselling help? Whatever it is well done you for putting yourself out there :)

A friend of mine is a senior paramedic and has a similar body shape and is a size 20. She looks lovely - she orders shirts and trousers that are 2-4 sizes too big (in size and length) and then gets them adjusted to be higher waisted. she looks so good.

Sorry, i agree with it being shallow. Most of us feel insecure about our bodies. I think I look awful in trousers, but the majority of us have to work to live, so I think my need of a wage to pay my bills would trump how I feel I would look in a particular outfit. Going to work is not a fun outing, it’s just performing a job to earn a wage. As long as you look clean and tidy, then everything else is irrelevant. But I would take the job OP - you’re worrying unnecessarily.

@Workinghardeveryday

Why don’t you get the support pants and try some trousers and top on and see what you think before deciding? You probably don’t look anywhere near as bad as you think! I do get you stressing over this, don’t understand these other posters sort of saying get over yourself, they wouldn’t go out in something to work that made them feel humiliated now would they!!

But thousands of people do, not many uniforms look flattering full stop, not heath care, store staff, distribution workers. Yet they go out daily in those uniforms that don't look flattering

When you get there OP you will see that everyone looks awful because it’s an awful uniform!
I would hate it too but at 14/16 you will definitely look fine to everyone else and nobody will care.

I can empathise, I am over weight and had a c section so my tummy is now some kind of bizarre apron. However, no one cares as much as you do! Get over it, and do what sounds like a really worthwhile job!

Try not to worry as there will be all kinds of body shapes wearing the uniform, and your colleagues will empathise as NHS uniform isn’t known to be flattering or practical. I used to wear my trousers unfastened but was lucky as my tunic went over the top 😂

Perhaps a drawstring or elasticated waist may help if they’re fitted. As long as the trousers are the same colour I think your employer will be ok with you wearing them (but ask if it’s an option)

www.simonjersey.com/shop-all-c4/trousers-c101#t22:t2314:t2316

Give it a go, and see if your feelings of anxiety reduce (hopefully!) or get worse.

I can absolutely guarantee that not a single soul will care about what you look like in the uniform. We are still in tunics/dresses at my trust rather than scrubs and they're not very forgiving at all, but nobody really cares as long as you look presentable

We are about to get a newuniform.

Polyester if you please.

Fine if you are based in an office or big unit with air conditioning.

Not so fine if you are boots on the ground. And fat. And battling the effects of menopause.

If the company think the uniform is more important than the job I do then hell mend them.

@Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin thanks so much for the link, the scrub bottoms would be perfect, I'll ask whether they will accept those
Thank you