Some of you may know or remember me and i know i'm going to get rapped here but oh well, i'm a realist lol I do take a persons physical appearance and weight (especially obesity and morbid obesity) into consideration when it comes to employment and it also depends on the job. I've actually asked people about their weight to determine if it's medical or it's just their lifestyle because it can reflect upon their self confidence and their ability to take control of certain situations. It tells me something about them. Now it's hardly the ONLY criteria i base it on, but i do consider it. A company also does have the right to be concerned about the image it's employees reflect.

Also, if you're too intimidated or afraid to go to a job interview because of your size, then you probably shouldn't have applied in the first place. If you can't face the person who may hire you, how are you going to face anyone else you may work with ?

Wear black.. LOL...

I remember one job interview where they went on and on about how they had a gym on site and how everyone used it on their lunch breaks. That made me not want the job even if they had offered it to me. It was the way they brought it into the interview conversation...how I felt about exercise during my lunch hour. I felt that was an unnecessary question to ask during the process. I figure that I am blessed right now to be working full time at a bank and am interviewing as much as possible for jobs in the accounting field. I would love to be able to use my accounting degree and I worry too that weight is sometimes an issue.

I just tell myself that the right job for me will come. It isn't easy but it keeps me going. Thank you so much for starting a discussion like this. I feel it is very relevant to so many of us here.

This reminds me of what my mother used to say about getting a job. She said, "if two people are equally qualified for the position, they will hire the one who has the better personal appearance." Sadly, that's usually the case.

When I was a very obese secretary (and a well-qualified one), I sometimes got a good job this way. First I applied to a temp agency. I was tested there. Because I did well on the tests, I was sent directly to a job. The place where I was sent usually gave me a chance to show I could do the job. This often led to an offer of a permanent position!

I can certainly understand your indecision. There is a lot of emphasis on being thin and fit these days, however, there is also a trendous emphasis on positive personality characteristics like strength, faith, honesty, loyalty, dedication, etc. I know first hand how being overweight affects one's confidence and their confidence in their abilities, but I try my hardest not to let my weight rule me if I can.

You mentioned that your weight is like a "prison" and I can understand why you would feel that way, but you also have the control over how much of a prisoner you are. I would imagine you applied for the position to fulfill a need and there is nothing wrong with that. Have confidence in your ablities and let the interview play out as it will. Take control over those things you can and let the rest fall into place. There is no way to predict how the interview may go, but at least you can tell yourself that your tried and gave it your all.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

I have come to the conclusion that interviews are a stupid way to hire someone. Even for average/skinny types, they are ridiculous. They ask silly questions, and all of it is based on the sort of person who is boastful and good at thinking on their feet and remembering what script to parrot. If you are quiet and work hard but slowly like me you have no chance. They may already have someone in mind for the post and be doing the interviews for show,. They may go against you just because of what you wear or if they are annoyed, or the train is late, or you are the one right before lunch and they are hungry. It is not a fair way to do things IMHO.