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Rosemary E. Lloyd
traineo Newbie
Posts: 1
Post History
 # Posted: 29 May 2008 20:28


Hi, all! My name is Rosemary, I'm brand new to Traineo and I'd like to introduce a subject --- your weight and getting a new job.
I've been "RIFed (Reduction In Force) and I'll need to find a new job. But I look really fat and no amount of clothing or makeup (which I don't care to wear) can't change what a perspective employer sees. Does anyone have any ideas? Has anyone experienced "weight discrimination"?


Angie H
Fitness Guru
Posts: 718
Post History
 # Posted: 29 May 2008 20:43 - Edited by: fauxvirgo


Unless your weight is a factor in the type of work you're doing (heavy manual labor, etc.), it shouldn't be an issue. My best advice for appearance is to find clothes that fit you well, with colors that compliment you and the job description, and be well groomed. Makeup isn't needed, but tidy hair and a clean face are! A nice manicure can go a long way to appearing neat and professional as well.
Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 29 May 2008 20:49


Well, like it or not, fat people are considered lazy and that is not a sought-after trait for any job. The nation's most successful people are tall and fit.
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 29 May 2008 21:41


Quoting: MISSNAVYMOO
But I look really fat and no amount of clothing or makeup (which I don't care to wear)...


I think that even if you don't like to wear clothing, it'd be a major plus in most feilds.



HEHEH! I knew you were referring to the makiage, I'm just dog-tired and feelin' silly.

As for myself ever experiencing discrimination based on weight, the only time that I was tippin' the scales fantastic I was self-employed and didn't care to endure any lip from giving myself the axe.

If you're actually looking for advice for your current situation, I'd say hop on the health and wellness train this very minute as you'll be doing yourself a service on so many levels.

And, welcome to traineo!
Ivie H
Fitness Guru
Posts: 321
Post History
 # Posted: 29 May 2008 21:59


When I went on interviews before my weight loss, my weight seemed to be more an issue for me than for those interviewing me. I think a lot of it comes down to confidence in yourself, and while there are some that will discriminate because of weight - do you really want to work for those kinds of people anyway?

I'm with Minu and Angie - get on your way to getting healthier and do your best to interview with nice fitting clothes. If you are working hard to improve your health, you'll see changes that make you feel better about yourself, and that confidence will come across in an interview. It's a win-win situation that way!



Clifford Chinn
Fitness Guru
Posts: 470
Post History
 # Posted: 30 May 2008 00:58


Quoting: nicholman
The nation's most successful people are tall and fit.


I'm not sure that's as much perception of others as much their own attitude towards themselves and life; people who are successful don't let the possibility of failure enter their heads and, as such, have a tendency to carry that attitude into their exercise... it's circular. The bottom line is you have to visualize success, whether it means wealth, health or happiness (or all three) and not failure and you'll make it happen.

You have to love yourself and be comfortable in your own skin, so I'm just going to reiterate what's been said already in this thread: take care of yourself and make yourself happy and it will ultimately lead to good things. Now is always the best time to start doing anything, so go out for a run (or a walk if that's all you can handle for now) and soak in the world.
Angie H
Fitness Guru
Posts: 718
Post History
 # Posted: 30 May 2008 14:29 - Edited by: fauxvirgo


I really don't judge people by their weight, honestly, unless I just don't like them in the first place. (Then I just find every flaw they have and stew over it; their weight is just one tool in my antagonistic arsenal.) So I agree with Ivie, I think it has a lot more to do with your own self-image conflict than what people are actually thinking.

Interviewing with a complete stranger can play to your advantage. They don't know squat about you, and as long as you portray yourself as a likable and capable person I highly doubt weight is of any concern. Some of the most beautiful women I know are obese; they know how to flaunt it with style! So go get some kick-ass clothes and play up your curves!
Splint Chesthair
Fitness Guru
Posts: 471
Post History
 # Posted: 30 May 2008 15:07


The 2007 Report from the National Bureau of Economic Research, Body Composition and Wages, concluded:

"Our results indicate that increased body fat is unambiguously associated with decreased wages for both males and females. This result is in contrast to the mixed and sometimes inconsistent results from the previous research using body mass index (BMI). We also find new evidence indicating that a higher level of fat-free body mass is consistently associated with increased hourly wages. We present further evidence that these results are not the artifacts of unobserved heterogeneity."

Why? Well, it could be both conscious and subconscious beliefs about overweight people on the part of those doing the hiring as well as the conscious and subconscious attitude that overweight individuals exude.
I think a large portion is probably the attitude one portrays. Generally, people who are overweight are less confident in appearance if not abilities. That attitude doesn't scream "Hire Me!". But I think that if you are eating right, taking care of yourself, and exercising regularly, you can counteract that effect because you KNOW you're on the right path.
Angie H
Fitness Guru
Posts: 718
Post History
 # Posted: 30 May 2008 16:03


This higher body fat for lower waged workers could also be an indication of their less expensive diet. Generally speaking, processed foods are cheaper and notoriously unhealthy. By stretching their food dollars, many could also be expanding their waistlines.
Splint Chesthair
Fitness Guru
Posts: 471
Post History
 # Posted: 30 May 2008 17:04


Quoting: fauxvirgo
This higher body fat for lower waged workers could also be an indication of their less expensive diet. Generally speaking, processed foods are cheaper and notoriously unhealthy. By stretching their food dollars, many could also be expanding their waistlines.


This is true, you'd have to study a job-seeking group of people with the same experience with only body composition as the main variable to determine whether low wages leads to poor body composition more than poor body composition leads to low wages. It's kind of a chicken and egg thing. However, there are also studies showing that non-cognitive factors such as tallness, beauty and leadership are all positively correlated to wages so why not body composition? (that's from the paper) In fact, I'd bet it's more likely a double-edged sword in that if you have a large percentage of bodyfat, you're unlikely to earn as much as someone who had a normal bodyfat percentage, thus leading you to a poorer diet.

But cheap crappy food comes from poorly planned farm subsidies. good luck fixing that.
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 30 May 2008 17:30


I'm short(ish). Guess since I make good do$h, that means I'm EXTRA good.


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