General

I'm currently looking for work, a new job. I am a big woman and I wonder if that would affect me for getting hired. I also have a mobility issue as well. Or is this hurdle just in my head.

Do you struggle getting hired as a bigger person?

I actually did a paper on a topic that touched on this, I'm in HR and I'm fat lol so here:

I personally, to my knowledge, have not been discriminated against during the hiring process due to my obesity (now technically morbid obesity but I'm only in the 290s).

Legally speaking, you cannot be discriminated against during the hiring process for being fat and the employer is responsible for making reasonable accommodations. *However* if in the job duties on the posting they list a Bonne a fide occupational requirement where the person must be able to perform certain physical tasks (I.e. lifting, being on feet, etc) then the employer is allowed to discriminate candidates on those grounds.

Further, it is incredibly hard to prove during the application process if you are dropped because of a real reason or if it is because of discrimination. It does unfortunately occur at times.

In some ways being the fattest woman on team has benefited me not only with people always sharing treats to me first and sending me home with leftovers, but because I was not perceived as threatening it helped me click faster and gain the trust of the team quickly.