Does being overweight/obese make it harder to find a job?

I know someone (who is obese) and she said that every time she went in for a job interview, the interviewers would immediately look at her up and down with a disgusted look. She said she knew before the interview would even start, that she was not even considered to be even hired. She believes that appearance does has its role sometimes. (That's her opinion)

I'm not sure if that is the case, but the decision to hire someone should be based on qualifications not appearance, race, etc.

OMG!!! I know exactly how she feels because that happens to me nearly EVERY SINGLE TIME I go for an interview. Most of the jobs I've applied for in the past have been through employment agencies, so I always have to have an interview with them first and so far nothing has benefited from them.

It's actually getting to the point where I'm not looking for another job anymore and am simply making do with the one I've got (I guess I can't complain in that respect).

It may just be her approach. I know slimmer people who have the same problem.

Even at 365lbs I didnt have a hard time finding work. I think it depends on your attitude and how you approach the employer you need tons of confidence.

For me it was the opposite. A former boss actually told me that he decided to hire me before we even sat down to talk because I was big, because to him that meant I had not social life so I must have dedicated my time in my studies and work.

WOW, I have no words

Yes, it does make it harder. Employers want someone with a "neat and professional" appearance, which means not fat, no matter how neatly a big person dresses or how professional they are on the job. Fat is associated with things like laziness, no self control, selfishness, ugliness, etc. and even though that is untrue about the person, employers obviously make assumptions about a person based on those associations

Yes, it does matter, although in a perfect world it shouldn't. There are stereotypes associated with obesity, just like there are with race/gender. there have been studies done that show the taller you are, the more income you will accumulate in your lifetime....

^^^^^ REALLY?? I'm 6'3''- 6'4''Maybe that will negate my super-obesity! Well if I was going to stay super-obese anyway....

I had an employer hire me because I "showed well". He said that the fact that I was dressed nicely and carried myself the way well got me the job. He was impressed because he perceived that bigger people seem to usually be...well...sloppy. This employer is a friend now...and has moved to a different company, that's why it was appropriate to have this conversation. I absolutely agree with the person I quoted about the stereotypes associated with obesity. I am obese and I work in corporate America and I know it's an issue that I have to combat. Thank God I "show well" I suppose.

It certainly shouldn't, but no doubt, it does.

How many high profile CEO's do you see that are overweight?

Answer, not alot.

Actually I haven't worked many places in my life, but all of the high office guys in my office are pretty big. I am not sure if it is how they eat or that they are sedentary in an office?

When I was going for teaching in college, one of my professors told me he had hired teachers before (he was once a principal) and he would not have hired me because I am obese. He said if he was interviewing two people of the same values on paper, but one was obese and one was not, he would hire the one of normal weight.

I am just a receptionist now...but I just don't know how I would manage to do my job if I weighed more. I find that now I am smaller I have more energy and the running about the office doesn't bother me as much-most days. Of course there are days I just wish I could lay down and sleep...but if I were still obese I think it would be a challenge.

I'm sure this won't win me any friends, but the truth is fat people are seen as lazy, unmotivated and lacking self-discipline. Plus, there are issues of health insurance costs and more missed work due to bad knees, etc.

Sadly, race, aesthetic (including weight), gender, age, and disability have all been shown to influence employment and salary stats, all else being equal. We must do the best we can with what we have personally and change the system to remove prejudice against factors that have no necessary causal connection to stellar performance.

This. I'm currently working on a paper about how makeup and wardrobe can even strongly affect this. Studies have shown that attractive people are perceived as nicer, more competent, and more intelligent than average people. Weight in the west is also a class issue, and people who are born into working class families are less likely to get the job than people of middle or upper class families. Wardrobe, makeup, etc. is a factor, so is the fact that the corporate world is arranged by middle class people and carries many of their values, which can make it difficult for working class people to learn to navigate certain essentials like networking and company politics.

The upside is that everyone has different built in prejudices. I've had jobs where nearly all the employees were obviously overweight adult females. It doesn't have to be a dealbreaker. You never know why someone picks a candidate, often if the skills and pay expectations are the same it comes down to people's gut feelings about a person or really weird little things, and the job market is tough right now, with a lot of people for every open position. It's a numbers game and the best thing to do is keep trying.

In our society being in shape is absolutely looked at favorably when job hunting. Gripe all you want, it is what it is. Play the game or not, it's your choice. (This applies ESPECIALLY to outside sales positions, hence all the barbie-doll sales scum)

true. i did marketing once and they pretty much hired anyone, but i did notice that people who were working there were all average size, the females were all pretty and the males were deff not over weight. we did in store marketing and door to door, so i guess they were looking for people who looked "fit" granted, a lot of those people who looked "fit" would sleep in their car all day instead of going door to door, so i'm sure someone overweight would have done the same or better job as them