I’m not sure what’s the right place to ask this but since entrepreneurs often have people working for them I thought I’d ask it here
I’m about to graduate which means I’ll have to start looking for a full time job. Now I have an eating disorder which I’ve been struggling with for years, and at this point I’m stable but visibly underweight to the point that it’s clear I’m not just ‘naturally skinny’. I have been fired for that reason once and now I’m afraid no one is going to hire me because they feel it’s too much of a risk. So my question (and please answer this honestly, no need to be scared to hurt my feelings or anything like that), would you hire someone who looks ill/underweight or would it be an absolute no? I’d just like to know what I should expect and if it could be (part of) the reason when I keep getting rejected
Would you hire someone who is visibly ill?
byu/Glamour-Ad7669 inEntrepreneur
Posted by Glamour-Ad7669
6 Comments
What is the answer you want to hear to help incentivize you to keep on caring for your body in a healthy way?
That’s the answer.
I’m so sorry you’re struggling with this. The truthful answer is that no, most employers do not want to take the risk of hiring someone who is visibly ill. Employers are often concerned that the sick person will be unreliable. They worry that ADA and FMLA red tape will entangle them in regulation when they just need a stable employee. They’ll suspect something is wrong but not want to risk being inappropriate by asking about it, so the easier thing is to pass and find another employee in most situations.
Again, I’m sorry this is the brutal truth of hiring and glad you’re on the road to recovery so hopefully won’t have to deal with this in the future.
People naturally judge others on a number of things. You do. I do. They do. Everyone has a different criteria for judgement. Let them judge. I have an invisible disability. I will never return to before.
Focus on maintaining confidence in your own body. People react to your body language in a way that gives you the respect you deserve. You’re overcoming challenges that no one will know and no one will see. Who they see now is temporary you are in control and you’re a badass.
Don’t seek out the what-ifs that have not yet occurred. You will handle it when it comes. You deserve confidence and respect.
Being skinny is not the same as being ill. I don’t mind hiring anyone skinny, fat, trans etc.
If someone is apparently ill, like coughing, has a fever, the person probably didn’t want to miss the interview, but it’s okay for me. I would give him/her another appointment for next week.
You said, you fired. Does this condition affect your job performance?
I remember, once I was about to hire someone who has MS. His movements, like walking started to affect already. He was good on the technical side of the job. I made plans for him to hire a full remote technical support, but unfortunately I could not convince management because he wouldn’t be helpful if we needed to install a server/storage to a data center.
I think you didn’t do many job interviews. Need to try your chances as many times as possible. Maybe you will be rejected many times, but eventually you will find a job that suits you. You shouldn’t be demoralized. Finding a job, interviews, agreements might be very long processes. Being rejected doesn’t mean you are the worst person in the world. 🙂
Nope. That is a potential problem I will not want to deal with.
You want an honest answer.. I’ll give you one.. NO. But I might hire you as a contractor and if I see you as performative maybe offer you a full time job later. You’d be on a very short leash.