Cant get a Job beacause i am big (overweight)

tamf419

this is more of a moan than anything else, i have been trying to get a driving job for the last five months after passing my hgv 2, i have over twenty years experience in driving around the u.k., because of my size people dont want to give me a chance, i am fit and healthy (except being overweight which i have been all of my life) i dont want to live on benefits i am trying to get a job, i have been to about twenty interviews, when i leave i think i have the job then i hear nothing, no wise cracks about dieting as i have been on a diet most of my life, becase you are overweight dosent mean you are lazy,
i dont know if i can put this thread on here, i am just fed up with another letter telling me sorry you have been unsuccessful

K9cuddles

Hey.. I don't believe you can be fit, healthly and overweight!!! I've been overweight most my life and there was no way I was fit! I am assuming (and could be wrong) that you must be very large/obese for job to be refused because of this (if that's why they have been refused). I'm not lazy.. and I was overweight.. but I defo wasn't healthly either!!!

I agree dieting isn't for all and is only short term for most, TBH if your a long distance driver then that's half your problem.. like me working in an office sitting on my bum 8 hours a day does you no favours (plus a car that takes me everywhere!)! So no I make sure I get my 3 hours min a week of excercise.. means I can eat what I want and still run the for the bus with out having a coronary!

There really is not magic cure to weight loss (that is achieveable by many even with particular disorders that make it difficult) burn off/use more calories then you consume. It's not easy for everyone... but it is that simple. This of course is assuming if you didn't get the job because of your weight... maybe there are different reasons.. .have you asked for feedback? Maybe the weight it low selfesteem and that's what your blaming???!!

mclaren_2

overweight and fit - yeh, you can be.

see, the problem is, that if you are driving a HGV - if you have weight, then you have more chance of having a heart attack than if you are thin and have no high colestroal. this is the reason i assume on why rejections come through

I go out every day, walking for miles and im still fat. i cant seem to shift it - ever since i was in my early teens, its been like this and tbh i dont like it but it dont matter how much i try to lose, i just cant manage it.

btw - it dont matter if you are 12 stone or 22 stone - it depends on your physical build - ie you might have huge muscle mass - which adds weight

Murtle

Try asking for feedback following your interviews as to why you haven't got the job. Not everyone will provide feedback or for it to be useful, but maybe someone out there will be able to provide guidance as to why you aren't getting the job. Good luck in your hunt though and keep positive. If you attend an interview thinking they won't give you the job they'll pick up on it.

Why do you think you are fit if you are overweight? If you are overweight you are putting stress on your organs, and therefore aren't fit. The same applies to those who are underweight as they also put stress on their organs. You may be fit for your size, but their are other factors of being fit, if that makes sense. If you have spare time now, it may be the perfect opportunity to be out in the fresh air getting fitter?!

All the best

M

K9cuddles

I do agree it depends on your physical build.. and I agree the "average" BMI is a load of tosh most the time! It's not about having weight..it's about being OVERweight...and I'm talking about overweight for your build not the "techincal" analysis.

Walking miles doesn't really prove your fit.. specially not on our tarmaced, paved lifesytle.. hiking might be a whole different kettle of fish mind! I'm overweight.. and I wouldn't say I'm fit but I can run 6.5k.. fit is when I can do it and not break in to sweat!!!

mclaren_2

what is the "average" though? nobody is average - we are all individual and we ahev different bone structure, differetn muscle tone and different medical problems - thyroid can be a problem for weight gain.

to know if you are "fit", can you walk up and down say 3 or 4 flights of stairs without a rest and not be brethless or panting at the top or bottom? - if you can do this then you seem to be ok (not medial test)

also, the "average weight" is xx what a load o garbage. as i said, there is no such thing as the average person

mclaren_2

K9cuddles wrote:

I do agree it depends on your physical build.. and I agree the "average" BMI is a load of tosh most the time! It's not about having weight..it's about being OVERweight...and I'm talking about overweight for your build not the "techincal" analysis.

Walking miles doesn't really prove your fit.. specially not on our tarmaced, paved lifesytle.. hiking might be a whole different kettle of fish mind! I'm overweight.. and I wouldn't say I'm fit but I can run 6.5k.. fit is when I can do it and not break in to sweat!!!

to be fit, you should really beable to run a mile easy - each person is different though

thyme_2

If you cannot be fit because of being overweight - then how come i have always been skinny until recently and still have times when i have been unfit. The two dont really go together -- it depends how overweight you are and what blood pumping exercise you take. It also depends on genetics and environment factors. I have seen some pretty fast movers who still have been overweight and I would have said they were quite fit.

The reason I have put weight on this year is because I have not been walking so much (I dont dawdle!) and I have been eating the dreaded chocolate, :eek: food consumption generally has gone up! And some of that food has been the cakes and cream type ergo weight increase!

Russ66

tamf419 wrote:

i have been trying to get a driving job for the last five months after passing my hgv 2,

Am I right in thinking that you only passed your HGV five months ago?

If so then maybe you are not getting job offers due to lack of experience. You would have probably needed a medical for your provisional licence so that would show that you were fit enough to drive. :j

Have you thought of joining an agency?? You would get the experience you need and possibly a full time job if you were any good (and flexible). There is loads of agency work in my area.

If I'm barking up the wrong tree then please ignore me.