Studies in America state that you are more likely
to get hired for a job if you are tall and slim than if you are
short and overweight. Now, I have to say that I think that is a
little ripe coming from the world's most obese nation! Indeed
one survey actually found that the taller you are the higher
your starting salary is likely to be - amazing isn't it?
Fortunately, I do not believe this is such a
factor in the U.K, and it is not something you should be
paranoid about if you are a little on the short side. I firmly
believe that you do have to be severely shorter before it
becomes even noticeable, and even then I believe that most
hiring companies are more scientific about their recruitment
than to let such a small (sorry) thing get in the way of a
hiring decision. For the ladies, I do not believe it is an
issue at all.
I honestly believe it is the personal "presence"
that you generate when you walk into an interview, and the
energy you generate once the interview gets underway which is
more important.
If you still believe it is a problem for you, I
suggest that dressing in, and acting in an authorative manner
will overcome this perceived handicap. Dark suit (expensive
looking), white shirt, eye contact and act confident.
Unfortunately though, weight is a different
proposition. Again, do not take this personally, but being
grossly overweight can prejudice your chances at interview. I
clearly remember a situation I came across in 1999. I had a
senior executive visit me looking for a job. He was due to be
made redundant in the near future, had been out on a number of
interviews without success. He wasn't desperate, but couldn't
understand why he had not been offered jobs he considered he had
interviewed well for, and was obviously suitably qualified for.
In the end, we did a role play interview on video
and then sat down to analyse the role play. As soon as the
screen flicked into life my candidate stood exclaiming,
"Oh, my God, what do I look like?",
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"My God, I am so fat", came the
reply.
Quite simply he hadn't realised that over the
years he had, shall we say, accumulated a couple of michelins!
"That's the problem, and those spare tyres are
going", he said. He then watched the rest of the role play in
silence. It was the experience of seeing himself on video that
made him realise that his weight was holding him back. In
essence, he didn't like what he saw, and probably,
subconsciously, decided he wouldn't hire himself!
"Thanks very much" he said as he left
shaking my hand vigourously, "please, do not put me on anymore
interviews for the moment, I will come back to you soon".
Three months later, and nearly two stones
lighter, James walked into my office one morning. I didn't
recognise him at first. He looked absolutely superb, had
sharpened himself up on the dress front as well, and was raring
to go get a new, challenging job. So, did the story have a
happy ending? You bet!
James went out on a series of interviews over the
following four weeks. He got offers from over two thirds of the
companies he went to see, and in the end, took a job that
offered a rise of some £20,000 over his previous package.
It is nice to tell a success story, but the
message is clear, there is a bias (whether intended or not).
I'm not defending it, but overweight people are paid less, do
not get the best jobs, and suffer in the competitive world of
job hunting. As I said I am not defending it, but I will tell
you why.
It is simply that overweight people are perceived
as both unhealthy and lazy. It is also seen as a sign of a lack
of self-discipline or, possibly, even the sign of psychological
problems. It will nearly always prejudice your chances, sorry,
but that's the way it is. You should know by now that I tell it
like it is, and that is the way it is. My apologies if you are
offended, but I tell you because you need to know.
If you are overweight to a noticeable degree (and
I don't just mean a few pounds), then the obvious thing to do is
go on a diet. If you decide you are serious about losing
weight, go and see your doctor, and get put on a proper program.
If you are not prepared to do that, your only
alternative is to put up with the prejudice, and interview in a
manner which gives you the best chance of overcoming the
situation. The best way to do that is stress how hard
working you are, how disciplined you are, tell them how good
your attendance record was at your last job. Have examples
at the ready which back up your claim. Maybe a project that
required a high degree of discipline to deliver on time that you
brought in on time and to budget. Let them know that you
regularly worked late, etc.
Finally on this subject, don't be obsessed by the
situation yourself, do not mention it for the sake of it, and
make sure you exude energy when you are interviewed.
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Health
