to ask if you think being fat is a disadvantage in job interviews?

[AteRiri]

Especially in corporate world? Just curious.

Also, before anyone suspects fat shaming, I'm a 16 myself. So really curious as I am doing the rounds of graduate job interviews currently.

Depends on the job. As a 48 year old 5'4" size 14-16 I'd never get a job in Hollister, but as a university lecturer I fit in just fine and have been promoted twice in the last 4 years.

I don't know but I suspect so. I don't think size 16/18 would matter but if it was much heavier then I wonder if employers would be worried about sick leave. Completely WRONGLY but I wonder if happens.

Yes I do , honestly.

But it's the same with pretty/ugly .. people find pretty/slim people more personable ( probably they feel less uncomfortable)

LellyMcKelly as a university lecturer, do you know the difference between statistical evidence and anecdotal evidence?

I'll tell you what I do judge in interviews: basic comprehension. And I wouldn't hire somebody that can't see the difference between:

Is being fat a disadvantage?

and

Do you think being fat should be a disadvantage?

yes of course, even before you start trying to think of rational reasons.

People who are tall, or beautiful, or well-dressed, or fit, get treated better even if you adjust for skills and competence.

And @Karlakitten1 without being mean, i understand the myriad of reasons a person could be overweight and I do try not to judge , a 16 is big. It is very big. We are conditioned to think it's normal , because it's average, but it's not.
I know I sound like a cunt but I'm trying to be honest .

Plus if you are in client-contact being obese creates issues because we don't know how you will be received by a client .

Yes I do.

Not even about manual job. Its about 'looking good' in front of house type jobs.

I'm university educated and always came up short at interviews. It weren't because I lacked qualifications that's for sure!

needsahalo that's all grand and you've proven the PP wrong but still would need to be getting that across in an interview to not be disadvantaged by size. It's not right but it is harder than if someone did all those good things and was not overweight/obese

I have a friend didn't get a p/t job because she was too large to fit behind the counter at a shop. I think that instance is probably the only time that weight should be used as a reason not to hire someone. Also, how can you bloody tell if someone is healthy just from looking at their size in an interview. A skinny person could have a 40 a day smoking habit or a drink problem. A larger person just wears their vice on the outside.

Yes, and so it should be. I wouldn't employ someone who was fat. Shows a lack of self discipline and laziness

Thanks for your wise ignorant comments sarasue1967. My weight gain os because I have been put on enough steroids to knock out an elephant. Kind of comes with nearly dying and all that and being extremely ill. Funnily enough the doctor was more concerned about me making it OFF the resus table alive rather than if I was going to win slimmer off the week at fat club but you carry on with your lazy & undisciplined ethos Hopkins

Plus if you are in client-contact being obese creates issues because we don't know how you will be received by a client

Hopefully well or are they going to make quips about them nipping to the kebab shop for lunch.

YouWhatMate

Dont get me started.

Twice this week I've had to put the phone down on official people because I couldn't understand a bloody word they said. But hey they weren't fat when they got the job so that's a bonus

I suspect fat people are the most discriminated against of all characteristics
Ha! Try being disabled!
And being fat is not a protected characteristic.

Being overweight - no big deal
Morbidly obese - that could well be an issue

Voice of reason my point exactly. Anorexia is a disability but morbid obesity isn't. One receives sympathy the other condemnation. Being fat isn't a protected characteristic but perhaps it should be?

I think it is a disadvantage, although not a fatal one.

Yes.

VoiceOfReason and crumbs1 I'm disabled AND fat. So I'm shot!

You don't just have the public judging you. You have medical staff doing it too when you end up getting rushed in, suggesting you lose a bit of weight whilst simultaneously handing you yet more steroids you need to take. You can be the only one on a respiratory ward who doesn't smoke but you get judged at because you look 'only slightly overweight' (physio's words - not mine).

Thankfully I'm not a total arse and I never judged the nurse who was a bit plump who sat by my bedside when I stopped breathing whilst the docs worked on me.

Obesity is most commonly lifestyle related, not illness. There are exceptions but common things happen commonly.
Employers know this and don't have to look too far at interview to work out which it is.

Going off on a tangent slightly - your looks and how you carry yourself matter too. It shouldn't but it does. People will always judge. A few years back I got stopped and had my bags searched in a certain shop because I was wearing my exercise gear.

Another time. I was suited and booted for an interview and I was early so took myself off for a cuppa. People were practically falling over themselves to be nice to me.

Similar happened in M&S recently. I was feeling like shit and probably looked it too because I had a manager stop me on the way out asking if everything was okay with that patronising smile whilst obviously checking I hadn't nicked anything.

YouWhatMate Yep. What's your point? Isn't Mumsnet about sharing experiences rather than supplying p values? Perhaps you would be better off on Statsnet,

wevegottobeatthemdown but how could you tell just by looking at me for example?

Is it a certain cut of the jib that makes people think, "ahh hers is obviously steroid related"? I'm certainly not going to tell the interviewer.

Yes. No one, male or female, in my office of 125 people is fat. We have a pretty diverse staff as a whole but no one fat. I just don't think they'd be taken seriously as it's an image oriented industry. Sad but true