Dec 06 2008
Fat and Age Prejudice when Looking For A Job
I have been looking for a job for more than 1 year and have had several temp jobs, but nothing that I have gotten on my own. With temp jobs, its easy, they choose you for the employer, so its like you are chosen “sight unseen” . I have received excellent feedback from the temp companies on what a great job I did, I even got a few call backs from businesses who were happy with my work and would like for me to work for them again while their admin is on vacation.
I have found that employers have certain prejudices when looking for new employees that they don’t even realize they have. When a person comes in for an interview, the employer has in his/her mind exactly what they are hoping for, and in the forefront of this image is a young, cute and thin woman-child. I have gone to so many interviews, resume in hand after the employer has already said, “Well your resume looks great! I would like to meet with you for an interview, when can you come in?” , and as I walk in, I can see it in their eyes, although they try to hide it, the disappointment that I am NOT a young, slim desk ornament that they can proudly display in their office is right there in the shock that races across their faces. We go through the motions of the interview, they ask their questions, I answer them intelligently, show them my track record, letters of recommendations, past reviews showing that I am reliable and work well independently as well as a “great team player” only to walk away knowing that I will never receive that call advising me that I got the job. The problem is that I am over 50 and weight over 250 pounds. Why can’t they see through that? Why can’t they just hire me on my merit?
The toughest part is that most of these employers don’t even realize what it was about me they didn’t like, just that they couldn’t picture me sitting at their front desk. If only I fit into their little cookie cutter world, life would be so much easier.
I comfort myself with the tiny little knowledge that I would be a great employee and they don’t know what they’re passing up, but, unfortunately, this knowledge doesn’t pay my rent.
For me, as a man, it’s easier. They don’t expect a good looking individual. I can understand how frustrating it can be. But as long as you look inside yourself and know that you can do everything - show them a part of your hand and be sorry for them to loose a good employee.