Would you employ this person?

[DissociativeBitch]

Negatives:
The job is pretty physical and the applicant is obese.
The applicant also does have experience but it's from 10 years ago.

Positives:
The applicant is very enthusiastic about the job and building a career in this job and has proven record of steady employment.

OP have you had the (mis)fortune to see the "World's Strongest Man" on a bank holiday on TV?

If so don't worry about how fat or thin the applicant is be more concerned about lack of recent experience.

The lack of recent experience is screaming out at me as a problem

You and me both. I hear the previous experience, but would question whether they were better able to do the job back then, for all kinds of reasons including the obesity but not limited to that

I expect there's a probation period though, and that if it doesn't work out the employer will be covered?

As long as they can do it yes but be honest with yourself if you think you will struggle because of your weight don't . Presume you would have a trail period so if you can't do it they'd let you go .

Yes I would employ someone obese if they were the best person for the job unless the obesity means they can't do some of the the job. For example I know of an obese electrician who can't do part of the job because of obesity (eg fitting into tight loft spaces), in his case its OK because he's the owner however if he was an employee I'd worry that the other employees would have to take on more work to compensate therefore maybe causing some bad feelings.

OP, have you applied and been turned down, or are you weighing up whether to apply? What skills from your more recent post are transferable into this potential post? That's what you need to focus on, to bolster your 10-year old relevant experience.

Were I the hiring manager, I would want to know whether the person has the ability and the willingness to be a good worker in that role. If they have any physical characteristic that stands out (be they obese, skinny, tall, short, or anything else), I would just want to know that was not going to get in the way of doing the work and getting along with colleagues.

If you are the applicant then you can volunteer information to the hiring manager to reassure them on that, and if you are comfortable making light of yourself a little bit, then you can even turn it into a positive. For example, if the physical aspect involves carrying heavy things, something like this:

«I know this is a physically demanding job, from having had a similar role in the past. I actually have a lot of strength just from carrying all of myself around all day! I am really keen to put that to good use in this role because [reasons why you want to build a career and contribute in your chosen professional area]»

On the experience front, again as a hiring manager I would want reassurance that you can still do the job after such a long period, and I might be curious why you worked in different areas for 10 years and now want to come back to this area.

Employees who are self-motivated and competent are actually kind of rare, so if you are one of those and can make sure the hiring manager knows it, you should stand an excellent chance. Good luck!

I can see why you might be concerned that if they were comparing two candidates who were similarly good, but one looked obese enough that they might struggle with the physical aspects, it might count against them.

I guess the two things to think about are (i) are you confident you are fit enough for the role, and (ii) how do you address it at interview. If they're going to bring it up, I guess it would be along the lines of "the work is quite physically demanding; how well do you think you'd cope with that?", with the same question asked to all candidates. That's where you want to be ready with some evidence, eg "I spent a whole day doing recently, and had no problems" or "I've put on a bit of weight over lockdown, but I'm now on week n of couch to 5k, and I'm confident I'll be back to my normal fitness levels shortly". If it doesn't come up, it may be worth finding a way of bringing it up yourself, so that they aren't left making assumptions.

Sorey, but enthusiasm doesn't really make up for lack of recent experience. Is it something where things change a lot? It's been a decade.
Re the obesity. I can safely say that there are jobs obese person couldn't do to a standard of non obese person. I waitressed as slim and I did when obese/morbidly obese. Totally different and no. I couldn't keep the same speed and agility.
Some jobs are fine. Some wouldn't.

If its a physical job they will soon be less obese!

Win-win.

People will of course be more likely to employ someone who appears more physically fit and with more recent experience in the field.

@DissociativeBitch You could try applying for something that's just for a few hours maybe, or do some related volunteering if such a thing exists, just so you have something recent and relevant on your CV.

I'm sure you'll get back into it eventually if you keep trying. Volunteering in something physically stretching will help with your weight, too. I know it's probably not as easy to do this stuff during Corona etc.

Obese person here. I can Chuck a 10stone meltdowning teen over my shoulder and walk them back home to safety.

Fat, not lazy and you’d be surprised at the muscle I carry. Shifting around an extra 6stone for several years I’ve thighs of steel.

Employ them and offer support where appropriate. They will surprise you

The applicant is very enthusiastic about the job and building a career in this job
Not to put the boot in; but I'd deem this irrelevant if the applicant had spent the previous ten years doing something quite different.

Lack of experience in the last 10 years would be the bigger concern for me. I qualified in my profession 10 years ago and it’s changed almost beyond recognition since.

To be brutally honest, even if it wasn't a physical job, if other aspects are comparable someone fat is likely to be turned down in favour of someone slim.

Depends on risk assessment and competition. What is the job?

Try and highlight and relevant experience over the past 10 years. Transferable skills, personal development etc

Weight depends on job... i work in an industry where you have to be under a certain weight for the safety equipment needed, it’s quite a physical job which requires a medical and fitness test every 2 years. If you fail then you don’t get paid.

Cultural fit is super important as well.

I am surprised nobody has commented on this.
What does this mean exactly? Everyone else on the team is female / under 25 / privately educated / white ( delete as applicable) so we don't want to recruit someone who is male / over 50 / went to a comprehensive / non-white?

Doesn't sound good.

Yes of course.
Unfortunately obesity has got an impact at interview stage before you can get a chance to prove yourself as able.
If two people with similar experience applied and one was physically fit they'd be at an advantage.
Kind of slim privilege.

Depends if you mean obese like a size 16 lady which is actually the average size but at many heights is obese. Or a size 34+ lady (or equivalent). I'd be concerned in my area about safety equipment being available for example but if otherwise the best candidate why not? Most contracts have a probation anyway?

It really depends! My friend weighs 120 kg (roughly) and teaches zumba! She's AMAZING!

Where you obese when you did it before ? Do you think you will manage? I had an obese cleaner and she struggled to do any low jobs, it must of been very tough. I felt like I had her round to quote and I should give her a chance, she did about 6 months for me. I then started doing it myself. She was lovely and friendly and mostly reliable, but not that good as a cleaner.

I’d employ them if I thought they were capable of the job
We had an obese plasterer out in the summer which was fairly physical work and his weight didn’t seem to have any impact on the good job he did. I’d assume if the person had applied for the job and had experience in it then they could judge their own physical capabilities.

What job is this specifically? If it's physical and requires training you may be at a disadvantage due to your hands-on skills lapsing. have they got a return to work or other training perchance?
#Also any professional qualification?

OP I am 18 stone & 5ft 1. I'm in a very physical job! Of course you can do it. I would hate it if someone turned me down for a physical job when I knew I was capable of it.

@WhoStoleMyCheese

What job is this specifically? If it's physical and requires training you may be at a disadvantage due to your hands-on skills lapsing. have they got a return to work or other training perchance? #Also any professional qualification?

Indeed. If you are to get any relevant advice, op, it would be better to be a lot more specific. Especially regarding the professional qualifications. If "trained at college" means what I think it means, it's unlikely to be a huge asset ten years later.