Weight and careers

[Judy1234]

MSN article msn.careerbuilder.co.uk/UK/Custom/MSN/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=105&SiteId=int_ukmsn_a105hp&sc_extc mp=intukmsna105hp&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=267407d10634413ea5aa0f86ef9a4b96-254252887-X7-2
Larger people can find it harder to get jobs.

Yes, and more attractive people do better too. I don't think I feel comfortable with either of those facts.

shorter people do too.

On the other hand I was the youngest person to ever quality as an accountant (in a top three mulitnational firm) and european finance director of a major multinational ad agency at 27. (I am ginormously enormous)

Most people have some kind of disadvantage to overcome (and if they don't then they probably lack empathy!). Too much blaming of outside influences generally in this country and not enough personal accountability.

I try not to discriminate against anyone on any basis other than incompetance when I'm recruiting... that is my gift to the world

oh and women less likely to get into the boradroom and women with kids less likely to get promoted... and lets not even start of people with an obvious disability...

You are a wise vegetable, kewcumber

Here's the deal. I'm a smoker, a social pariah. If I went for a job interview smelling of smoke, I doubt I would get the job.

If I couldn't get through the office door, or fit a swivel seat, I doubt I'd get the job either.

That's life. It was ever thus.

Mind you, a towering personality will get you through most things.

Desi - when I started work at the firm of accountants (notable for generally recruiting oxbridge grads from private schools), someone said to me..."you went to a welsh comprehensive and cardiff university? How did you get a place here?"

It was my magnetic personality of ocurse.

Howver by my stellar ascent, I should be running ICI by now... oh no thats right I got a life instead .

Agree with Kewcumber.

It's more about your attitude in the interview than the cake you had for breakfast.

I have known folk moan that they missed out on a job because their arse was too big for it - I would suggest that, whilst there are a few dunderheads incapable of separating your eating habits from your professional abiltiy, mostly you miss out on a job for reasons other than your bunshovelling talents. And I'm talking childcare workers here, btw.

The above does not apply if you are a moggle.

HAven't read the link.

WT - we don;t call it "cake" in this house we call it a "muffin" - so much more acceptable don;t you think?

I certainly agree that personality helps. My eldest child has always benefited from her outgoing personality (and the blonde hair and gym toned figure doesn't exactly disadvantage her but the personality helps hugely).

But certainly some employers think weight matters and it may depend on the role you are going for. I have been asked over the years to give references for one of our best ex nannies who is quite large and that's been raised and I've always said it never stopped her looking after toddlers perfectly well.

Combined with personality, larger size can command a lot of presence. Which is great for management/leadership roles.

True. I can think of a goodly lot of ahem... fat business women (and men for that matter). May be things are the reverse and the key to success if putting on 3 stone.