What would you think if an overweight person worked in a health & beauty clinic?

[Jabbathejob]

I've found the perfect role in terms of hours that can work around the DC, pay and experience, but I'm overweight and it's for a health & beauty clinic. Would I be mad to apply? Would they hire someone who's overweight, non-glamerous and not young, but who's otherwise ideal for the role? What would you think if they had overweight staff in a clinic like this?

YABU- they won't hire someone who's nearing middle age and overweight.

YANBU- go for it! They wouldn't mind.

This ^
its not necessary about being glamorous rather polished. You can aim for “practical and efficient” style of looking for this job.

Surely you can buy a hairdryer and some nail polish, moisturiser, mascara etc? I would most definitely expect a polished look, weight and age are irrelevant. But a polished look is easily and cheaply achievable! Go for it OP.

Hi @Jabbathejob OP I don't know about this salon especially- but they would be crazy if they were avoiding overweight and older people. As long as you are a good example of the thing you were trying to sell- e.g. good condition hair if you were hairdressing it doesn't matter a bit to me.

As a shy individual I would always try and avoid the young/ gorgeous workers as much as I could. They made me feel bad about myself and uncomfortable- it is probably a bit unfair on them! Rather than finding them inspirational I find them kind of intimidating, so I'd be booking with you all day long. I can't imagine I'm the only one who feels that way.

Apply OP. I've done lots of receptionist type work over the years and usually they want someone very competent, chatty and friendly and approachable and I'd imagine they will be more interested in getting in someone who won't mess up bookings and payments. That will be one of their main priorities. Clients will come in all shapes and sizes . The salon I use is a long established local one and not an overly trendy place and the staff while always well groomed are all ages shapes and sizes.

So the most important skills are polite, friendly, cheerful, perhaps chatty, approachable and generally good people skills.

It's not like you're going to sit there shovelling packets of crisps on reception! 😂

If they don't want a receptionist that's overweight then that's their lost.

I think being polished is what they're looking for. I suppose they want someone who has an interest in the product and services they offer and if you look as though you don't have that interest then you wouldn't get the job. I don't think it's weight as such, more that polish.

To be honest, I’d be made up to see another actual human that’s not all lips & boobs, as myself can feel quite self conscious being a middle aged ragged mother of 4 😂

Your ability to do beauty treatments on other people has nothing to do with your weight or appearance in general. As with any public facing role id expect cleanliness and friendliness and that’s it.
I had a beauty therapist/nail tech whose nails always looked dreadful and she didn’t wear make up. She was probably so sick of doing it all day that she wasn’t going to go home and do her own nails!
It shouldn’t even be a factor.

When’s the interview OP? X

It depends very much on the salon/clinic, and what the owners want/their target customer base. Some purposefully appeal to the everywoman, and will have a more diverse range of client and employee ‘types’, whereas others are exclusive regarding both clients and employees.

Look at their social media and marketing if you want to get an idea as to whether you’ll fit or not.

Polished is as standard ime.

Overweight and older are absolutely no problem. But I think you need to look like you are into beauty for being the receptionist of a beauty salon..and, no offence, it sounds like you aren't? Are you only interested in the job because the hours suit you?
I don't think the no make up nor owning a hair dryer is going to do you any favours OP, unless you are prepared to do experiment with them before the interview.

To an extent I think you’d need to buy in to the service they’re selling. Overweight etc not an issue, but they’re selling grooming services and having a person that’s utterly disinterested in the service really isn’t going to work however competent and efficient. Not saying you need to go all in, just enthusiastically engaged. Tidy nails, tidy hair etc.

Yeah, it’s sort of like having an overweight personal trainer. Not fair, but a fact. Just prepare that they may well turn you down, but it’s not going to kill you to apply.

It’s nothing like that at all. You can still perform a service and not be a caricature of it. A personal trainer would probably naturally work out a lot to demonstrate they understand their job, although I suppose they could still have good knowledge of anatomy and fitness without actually practicing it.

A beautician can be totally capable of giving treatments to others without having to do them on themselves! Bloody ridiculous and shallow to suggest otherwise.