Listing weight loss as an accomplishment in your resume/CV?

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Replies

  • lachesissss
    lachesissss Posts: 1,298 Member
    No. If anything it would look out of place on a CV.
  • Litlbeast
    Litlbeast Posts: 340 Member
    Why would you do that? Can i list that I had my babies without pain meds? NO.

    Awesome reply. :laugh:
  • crazyellybean
    crazyellybean Posts: 999 Member
    I would file the resume. Honestly, and even though I am on the tail end of my journey and know how hard it is. If it's on your cv, it gets trashed.


    @rml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curriculum_vitae

    agree.. I would not even consider it serious
  • hikeout470
    hikeout470 Posts: 628 Member
    On that note, losing weight is a nice accomplishment, but in listing this, you are listing that your accomplishment of gaining the weight in the first place.
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    Another No. Unless you are applying for a person trainer job at the YMCA.
    I've see many "accomplishments/skills" listed on a resume that don't belong.

    What should be there varies with how much experience you have. For instance, a fresh-out can put "achieved 3rd degree black belt" in accomplishments because, in the absence of a long work history, is shows they can work hard and stick to a task.
    But I would never expect to see that on the resume of someone 10 years out of school.

    I also tend to pass over resumes the show too many different employers. A change every couple years either means they get fired a lot or they lack the stability to stay in one place too long. I'm on the other extreme. I was at one job for 24 years before deciding it was time for another opportunity.

    Stick to what is relevant to the job you are seeking.
  • joe7880
    joe7880 Posts: 92 Member
    It was a serious question. I lost a good deal of weight since being here, and even more since I was at my heaviest and wondered if listing weight loss as an accomplishemnt would help. Apparrently NOT lol.

    But I must add that I think the effects of losing weight (increased confidence, stamina, better looks, etc) definitely helps when it comes to getting ahead in one's career. Thanks for the feedback

    EDIT: A special thanks to those who have experience with reviewing resumes. That was valuable stuff right there. I also appreciated the wise-guy comments.... they were almost all pretty funny! And BTW, I did not put that in my resume. I only wanted to hear from the community on a thought that entered my brain.
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    Do you think it's a good idea to share this information? I mean, losing weight does require many skills that would be helpful in many jobs like dedication, being detailed oriented (counting calories), hard working (exercise), etc. What are your thoughts?

    Only if you're trying to become a personal trainer or some such.
  • lukeevans85
    lukeevans85 Posts: 108 Member
    Best resume I ever had...

    A guy applied for a job who had just gotten out of the army...his resume looked something like:

    John Smith ARMY STRONG

    1998-2010 - US Army - Private First Class ARMY STRONG

    School - Johnson Elementary ARMY STRONG
    Smith Middle School ARMY STRONG
    Bob Dole High Shool ARMY STRONG

    Summary: I spnte lawts of time in the AMRY STRNOG ARMY. I want a jawb that will use my ARMY STRNOG skills!

    ARMY STRONG!

    ________________________________________________

    The misspellings were not on my part btw.
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!

    Most people are aware of yo-yo dieting, and a potential employer might think you are prime for ballooning up again, and costing him/her more money in lost productivity and higher health insurance premiums.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    No but i would put things like events that I completed- If id trained and finished triathlons, mud runs, etc of substance (meaning not an hour long 5K turkey trot) I would put that on there. Shows Im healthy and active and setting/working toward/reaching goals OUTSIDE of work- which carries over to it. A+ me.
  • downsizinghoss
    downsizinghoss Posts: 1,035 Member
    Not on the resume, but it doesn't mean you can't use it.

    I walked in off the street and handed them my resume along with a before/after pic.

    I told them the resume was the guy on the left side of the picture and they needed to hire the guy on the right side.

    got the job.
  • likearadiowave
    likearadiowave Posts: 445 Member
    I guess if you're applying to be a trainer at Biggest Loser.

    If you're applying to be a cashier at CVS, I don't think they'll care much.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

    Resumes are for professional/relative accomplishments only!

    lol actually it really really depends on what field. not all jobs are in business mr suit!
  • joe7880
    joe7880 Posts: 92 Member
    No but i would put things like events that I completed- If id trained and finished triathlons, mud runs, etc of substance (meaning not an hour long 5K turkey trot) I would put that on there. Shows Im healthy and active and setting/working toward/reaching goals OUTSIDE of work- which carries over to it. A+ me.

    LoL at turkey trot, but good point!
  • joe7880
    joe7880 Posts: 92 Member
    ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!

    Most people are aware of yo-yo dieting, and a potential employer might think you are prime for ballooning up again, and costing him/her more money in lost productivity and higher health insurance premiums.

    I see the point but what if the person lost, say 100 lbs, and kept it off for 5 years. How about 10? 20?
  • joe7880
    joe7880 Posts: 92 Member
    Not on the resume, but it doesn't mean you can't use it.

    I walked in off the street and handed them my resume along with a before/after pic.

    I told them the resume was the guy on the left side of the picture and they needed to hire the guy on the right side.

    got the job.

    Very cool, and congrats on your accomplishment, and job!
  • joe7880
    joe7880 Posts: 92 Member
    Do you think it's a good idea to share this information? I mean, losing weight does require many skills that would be helpful in many jobs like dedication, being detailed oriented (counting calories), hard working (exercise), etc. What are your thoughts?

    Only if you're trying to become a personal trainer or some such.

    I'm actually considering getting certified in something as a side-gig but my primary job is an attorney.
  • ethansmug
    ethansmug Posts: 159 Member
    Please please please for the love of god....DO IT!!!! Also sit on a copier and scan a pic of your booty-hole to submit along with it =]
  • joe7880
    joe7880 Posts: 92 Member
    Please please please for the love of god....DO IT!!!! Also sit on a copier and scan a pic of your booty-hole to submit along with it =]

    I may have lost weight, but if I did that I may just break the glass in the copier and cut my booty-hole to shreds...
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!

    Most people are aware of yo-yo dieting, and a potential employer might think you are prime for ballooning up again, and costing him/her more money in lost productivity and higher health insurance premiums.

    I see the point but what if the person lost, say 100 lbs, and kept it off for 5 years. How about 10? 20?

    I worked middle management for a long time, and would say keep it out of a resume. It looks like padding for one thing, and not all managers think alike. You really don't know how that information will be received on a resume and that is your blind introduction. In other words, in person, you can gauge the response before going further with a subject. But, you don't have that opportunity with a piece of paper.

    Hobbies used to be listed on resumes in the old days, but even those can be a little risky, since some hobbies come with stereotypes.
  • bizco
    bizco Posts: 1,949 Member
    No way! Ridiculous. A sure way NOT to get the job.
  • mgobluetx12
    mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
    I'm an HR Director for a major corporation and anything non-professional-related has NO place on a resume. Even hobbies or interests are a turn off. Who cares? We care about your experience and skills, not that you enjoy running or biking.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    Listing that sort of information on a resume or CV seems wildly inappropriate to me.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    No but i would put things like events that I completed- If id trained and finished triathlons, mud runs, etc of substance (meaning not an hour long 5K turkey trot) I would put that on there. Shows Im healthy and active and setting/working toward/reaching goals OUTSIDE of work- which carries over to it. A+ me.

    Or it makes you look like you are more interested/dedicated to things outside of work than your job. It all depends on who is reading your resume/CV.
  • Do you think it's a good idea to share this information? I mean, losing weight does require many skills that would be helpful in many jobs like dedication, being detailed oriented (counting calories), hard working (exercise), etc. What are your thoughts?

    nop!!!
  • geonbaeLeilee
    geonbaeLeilee Posts: 606 Member
    Is this a serious post???

    Either way, it gives me an opportunity to ask a question I've been wondering for a while. I know a CV is basically a resume, but what does CV stand for?

    NM. Google and Wikipedia to the rescue.

    Curriculum Vitae. It's the resume for teachers and lawyers. I know since I'm an instructor. XD
  • ThaRealNicki
    ThaRealNicki Posts: 322 Member
    Do you think it's a good idea to share this information? I mean, losing weight does require many skills that would be helpful in many jobs like dedication, being detailed oriented (counting calories), hard working (exercise), etc. What are your thoughts?

    THAT IS VERY TRUE! BUUUTTT, No, Its not professional in the least unless your getting into fitness. Its a bummer though because experience is a nice thing to have and losing weight is a difficult thing to do but I wouldnt dare include this personal experience/information in my professional resume'.
  • kingofcrunk
    kingofcrunk Posts: 372 Member
    Personally I'd be impressed by someone who has lost a lot of weight, it takes hard work and dedication.

    But for someone who has never been overweight (your potential employer) they might just see the fact you had all the extra weight as showing a lack of control in the first place.

    Weight loss is only recognised as the huge accomplishment it is but people who have had to lose weight or have personal experience in it. Those who have never struggled with weight won't be impressed by people who have.

    Also if your potential employer is unhappy with their weight they may not want to employ someone who is successfully losing as it might undermine them.

    Putting that sort of thing on your CV has more chance of hindering your job prospects than helping so i'd leave it out.

    Congratulations on losing all the weight though :)
  • HowieTwoPointZero
    HowieTwoPointZero Posts: 494 Member
    Went in for a job that I was amazingly under qualified for a few months ago. I knew I had little to no shot of getting it, but I wanted to impress the HR person because I figured sooner or later I'd be working for that company. She asked me my greatest non-professional accomplishment so I whipped out my tablet and showed her my weight loss progress.

    Didn't get it, but she still emails me from time to time letting me know whats available.
  • mamamc03
    mamamc03 Posts: 1,067 Member
    Sorry...while it is an AMAZING accomplishment. That is something that can be shared off the cuff...IF the situation presents itself!! ONLY IF it is appropriate!!

    Certified Vocational Specialist
    PLus I teach work readiness! ;)