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I have always wondered about this. Do you think physical fitness play a role in you getting hired?
Yes, it plays a huge role in the hiring process. Just like age, physical appearance is a big factor - too old, too fat or too ugly and you will have a hard time finding a new job.
I think it does. And if it doesn't then it should.
I personally think being in good physical shape shows a lot of parts of a person's character. For example - discipline, work ethic, not being lazy, etc..
Sure. Plenty of research shows that overweight and obese people are more prone to health issues, less productive at work, etc. So rationally, it often makes sense to hire the weight appropriate candidate over the overweight candidate.
I'd guess what the OP was really trying to infer in a round about way was, does looking like you are fit (read: young, good looking, and in shape) increase your chances of getting a job and all that.
And of course the answer is a big yes, as would be obvious to anyone that's followed how psychology like this works.
It's an odd thing I noticed working for a very large pay TV company. Supervisors and middle managers all tended to have spare tires, as if unable to find time to be physically active. The top execs, by contrast were usually trim.
Yes, and pretty much across the board for all professions. A healthy person will always look more "attractive" than the same person when they are not healthy. I don't mean actually sick, just not in shape. And we all know (and studies have repeatedly shown this to be true) that the more attractive candidates have a way better chance of getting "the job" than those who are less attractive.
As being fit - not necessarily "ripped" - adds to the perception of attractiveness, it of course adds to one's "marketability" as well.
1: They come in for an interview for working in an office, sales, and other public contact jobs. I have seen them come for an interview with a tee shirt with an inappropriate printing on the front, old worn out jeans, and flip flops, as a worst case example. For a position of this type, men you want to wear a suite, or a lady in a suit, or in a nice dress along with a blazer. The rule is, if you want a good job, dress for 2 levels above the position you are applying for. This shows you are above the others that apply, and you are a possible person to be looking for a promotion in the future. It gets jobs.
I always wonder if people who go to interviews dressed like you are describing really don't want the job, they are just fulfilling the requirements to continue getting unemployment. People can't really be that clueless can they? Even if I was applying for a job at McDonalds, I wouldn't go to an interview dressed like that.
Yes. Fat people can be fit. Not everyone is genetically predisposed to have a trim body type, regardless of fitness level or diet. Just like some skinny people can be terribly unfit. Body size/shape and fitness can have virtually no correlation in some people.
To answer your original question, it matters sometimes. It depends on who is hiring. However, just like any other possible stereotype, the best person for the job should be hired. I've seen very productive fat employees, even in physical jobs, and I've seen worthless 'fit' (aka skinny) employees in all types of jobs. Honestly, I've seen more of an abundance of the latter. Maybe that should be the new stereotype.
There have been studies done that prove people who are more traditionally attractive are more likely to get hired. So I would think being physically fit would fall into this category.
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