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.

(I should point out I only know her size because then we became friendly and she'd show me her clothing purchases etc., not because I asked in the interview or for her BMI as happened to pp on here!)

There is a massive bias towards people like me that people have to watch out for when interviewing

Indeed.

sometimes, to make life simple. When you know that some fat jokes will come up, the person will rightly be offended and you don't want to deal with the complaints. It's not fair, but sometimes you just want a simple life at work.

What on earth does that mean, @strike?

That you don't hire people you think are going to present a larger target for your bullying workplace???? Because you are unwilling to deal with legitimate complaints about bullying?

It depends on how the person presents themselves. I think it might be a disadvantage but only if the person is very overweight and has arrived looking scruffy. My theory anyway based on years in recruitment.
So scruffy fat person v scruffy thin person = thin person more likely to get job
well turned out fat v thin = best person gets the job.

If a 'fat' person turns up for interview well presented and confident, then I can't see there being any judgement against their weight. (unless it was a job that required you to be skinny, though can't think of any examples!)

I bought a 16 dress yesterday. I'm fat. Wow.
I thought I was normal.

I might have to take the bust darts in a bit. Would that make it a 15 and me not fat. Lol
If your weight impacts on your health and lifestyle then it's a problem.
That's for both sets of people those who feel under a normal weight and those that feel they are over a normal weight.
We are all different thank goodness

Dowser Did you really think 16 was normal? I mean...it IS normal in that there are a lot of women of that size...but it's definitely overweight.

Giving the impression that you take good care of yourself is important because it implies that you have good boundaries in place - and to have good boundaries is a useful attribute in many jobs.

Yes, of course, there are numerous studies that show this, like for many other characteristics e.g. race, class etc. Anecdotally, my weight has been up and down most of my life, the difference in treatment is astonishing. I am actually quite glad of it, had I always been at my best weight (and relatively attractive at that weight) I may have never learnt how to recognise (and avoid!) the shallow, prejudiced and frankly a little stupid people that harbour these prejudices, like a, thankfully small, number of people on this thread (and I don't mean people who recognise they have these biases, accept that they are wrong and try not to act on their prejudices, because we all have biases, I mean those who attempt to rationalise their biases with pathetic, simplistic, and ignorant generalisations!)

[are you saying] That you don't hire people you think are going to present a larger target

lol

RequestingSunshine

unless it was a job that required you to be skinny, though can't think of any examples!

Physical jobs, even those which just require being on your feet like being in a factory, bar staff, shelf stacking, lorry driving (if it required unloading at the other end), nanny or child minder, paper boy, fisherman, police / fire / ambulance / services, teacher, military, door to door sales.

Jobs where you need to present a certain style like a clothing shop, health food shop or gym.

Jobs where you need to be physically attractive like actor or actress, model, singer etc.

i think i'd consider anything over a 12 as overweight

if you were interviewing two identical candidates but one was fat, which would you employ?

I would toss a coin.

Yes, and studies show it's more of a disadvantage for women than for men.

Epipgab

Why?

If someone has eaten more than their body requires over time then they'll be overweight. But it is completely irrelevant to their ability to do a job. For example, a slim person might binge on alcohol regularly, get too little sleep, take no exercise, take recreational drugs, eat the right calorie intake but of unhealthy food, be lazy, be a stressed-out workaholic at risk of burnout, smoke 40 a day, etc. An overweight person may have trouble with food but take great care of themselves in every other way. The well-trodden stereotypes aren't accurate, aren't fair, and should not be used.

Why?

Because if they really were "identical" the only fair way forward is to inform the candidates of this, and then decide at random. No two people are identical in the real world though, so your question was surely hypothetical?

If two candidates appeared to be identical except for their size, I would set a tiebreaker task, not automatically choose the slim person!

True, but I asked who you would hire from 2 identical candidates with every other aspect being identical.

It's hypothetical of course, but I'll ask again. Neither (or both) of these identical people binge drink, take drugs or whatever else. The have the same personalities, experience, education. The only difference is that one is fat.

Which one would you hire?

Which one would you hire?

Am I going mad or has she answered this already?

Physical jobs, even those which just require being on your feet like being in a factory, bar staff, shelf stacking, lorry driving (if it required unloading at the other end), nanny or child minder, paper boy, fisherman, police / fire / ambulance / services, teacher, military, door to door sales.

Jobs where you need to present a certain style like a clothing shop, health food shop or gym.

Jobs where you need to be physically attractive like actor or actress, model, singer etc.

Do you need to be slim for all for all of those?
I think not. I've seen plenty of large nurses/childminders/bar staff/waiters etc.
Doesn't bother me.

splendide

No. She refuted the premise of the hypothetical question talking about ways to set them apart. Then asked if it was hypothetical (having missed out that word when she quoted me).

The tie-breaker would be answered identically.

The point I'm trying to make is, with all else being equal, most people would choose the healthy-weight person and therefore, the answer to the OP is, yes, being fat is a disadvantage. It doesn't mean you're unemployable or that you'll automatically not get a job despite being the best educated or most experienced or having the right attitude, but it is a disadvantage.

Very few people are fat because of something outside their control. Most simply don't care enough to lose the weight. That's not a good attribute and therefore you'll be judged negatively for it; in general and in job interviews.

The good news is that there's a solution!

She said she would toss a coin.

Not all actors are slim. Thank god.

So the other jobs you agree you would be better at if you were slimmer?

I'd prefer a childminder of mine to not be fat and able to physically keep up with my children.

This thread is depressing to read. I am overweight, I am also short and I am also a woman. I feel like returning to work will be an impossible task for me and this thread has just reinforced that.

Sad sad world we live in.

"I am overweight, I am also short and I am also a woman."

I've no idea what your sex or height has to do with anything, but there's a solution to your weight.

I am a short woman who is also really very ugly and it is a disadvantage but it can be overcome. I have a really decent job that I love.