Have you ever been judged negatively because of your size?

[RusPA81]

I am graduating college in December with a degree in marketing and many people including my parents are telling to get smaller because people will not want to hire because I am big. I am not freakish big, but still bigger then most people. Non the less, I am wondering if people have experienced this in professional fields or in life in general. I must admit that I myself have been guilty of stereotyping large people as being dumb meatheads only to find out that they are doctors or something like that. This is just something that I have had on my mind for a while and just wanted to see what other people have experienced.

 

[jeremys]

umm...the cooks at school usually give me less food than the small kids in the lunch line. does that count? lol

 

[RusPA81]

umm...the cooks at school usually give me less food than the small kids in the lunch line. does that count? lol

Hahaha. Not quite what I had in mind, but that must suck too.

 

[Devastation]

no

 

[louden_swain]

I wouldn't worry about this.

Employers are much more concerned about experience and credentials rather than judging a candidate based on size.

To me that seems silly. . . hell if that were the case, B Fold would never get a job.

This is all a bunch of craziness. . .stay big bro. . it won't affect your employment opporunities.

 

[RusPA81]

I wouldn't worry about this.

Employers are much more concerned about experience and credentials rather than judging a candidate based on size.

To me that seems silly. . . hell if that were the case, B Fold would never get a job.

This is all a bunch of craziness. . .stay big bro. . it won't affect your employment opporunities.

I hope so, because I sure wouldn't want to quit lifting.

 

[papucho]

Most of the time... at the clubs, there's always an asshole trying to impress his G friend by pushing you or just trying to get something out of you, like you were a challenge or some shit, then in a bad day (night) with the wrong company (my friends from the gym) and at the wrong hour plus the booze and my own girl asking: "why is everybody always trying to get in trouble with you guys?" it's Muay Thai time...and it's the girl who impresses the guy showing him how strong she is when it comes to help him walk away...

And in my work....
I only had a couple of arguments...

 

[NWinters]

yes.....in fact, i went golfing saturday and the guy i golfed with said i sucked cause i was muscle bound....lol

 

[IronLion]

ok then....moving on

I remeber seeing studies that show taller, better looking (and this includes body) people usually do better in business and get promoted more often. i mean if you were going to hire someone and the two candidates had similar resumes and or experience wouldn't you pick the one who was more physically presentable (provided they both had decent personalities).

 

[NWinters]

my problem is driving...i slice every damn time!!!!!

 

[IronLion]

yes.....in fact, i went golfing saturday and the guy i golfed with said i sucked cause i was muscle bound....lol

lol....i am about an 8 handicap, if I play more than once a week i get pretty close to scratch golf....I wish this guy would play me for money...lol


i guess being bigger has effected my swing but I have just learned to work around it, I am still flexable and still have plenty of snap so about the only thing that has gotten hard is to find shafts that can handle my clubhead velocity

 

[tuc biscuit]

Casavant recently said that he finds that some people believe that body mass and intellegence are inversely correlated, I also find a lot of people that believe this. Yet for every situation I have been treated badly in there will have been ten situations where I was treated much better because of my size. I tend to find that people are a lot less dismissive of you (whether it be in the workplace or not) and your ideas when you are of a certain breadth.
Papucho was saying about people in bars trying to rile you; I found at a certain size of about 175-225# people will try and score points with their buddies of of you, but then when you are hitting 275-350 people leave you the fuck alone again.
Lastly I totally agree with Ironlion aout the golf thing, the only thing that changes as you get bigger is the amount of funny looks and double takes that you get.

 

[JOKER47]

Someday I hope to be big enough that this happens......

 

[makedah]

I am graduating college in December with a degree in marketing and many people including my parents are telling to get smaller because people will not want to hire because I am big. I am not freakish big, but still bigger then most people. Non the less, I am wondering if people have experienced this in professional fields or in life in general. I must admit that I myself have been guilty of stereotyping large people as being dumb meatheads only to find out that they are doctors or something like that. This is just something that I have had on my mind for a while and just wanted to see what other people have experienced.

I knew a biochemistry postdoctoral researcher who called himself "Dr. Meathead" because people would assume that because he was built, he was a dumbass. And he wasn't freakishly big, either. Just more a lot more buff than the average guy.

In fields like marketing, your image can be very important. If I were you, I would see what reactions I got from firms before I counted myself out. You could be an asset to some firms, depending on the vibe there and who their clients are. Also, you can try to fend off any intimidation you think they might feel by doing all you can to present yourself as an intelligent and gentle person.

 

[RusPA81]

Re: Re: Have you ever been judged negatively because of your size?

I knew a biochemistry postdoctoral researcher who called himself "Dr. Meathead" because people would assume that because he was built, he was a dumbass. And he wasn't freakishly big, either. Just more a lot more buff than the average guy.

In fields like marketing, your image can be very important. If I were you, I would see what reactions I got from firms before I counted myself out. You could be an asset to some firms, depending on the vibe there and who their clients are. Also, you can try to fend off any intimidation you think they might feel by doing all you can to present yourself as an intelligent and gentle person.

Thanks for the advice. I think I will do that. I did manage to get an intership this summer, so things are bad yet.

 

[makedah]

Go for it Rus!

One more thing: You may want to see if you can get a brief chat with someone in the athletic director's office of a local/nearby college. They can tell you about the non-sports post-college careers of their athletes and maybe give you some advice about this very topic. I had a student who was a lineman for our football team (Big 10 university). He was HYUGE! and just as sweet as he could be. He wanted a career in marketing. However, I haven't seen him since that class so I don't know how things panned out for him.

Good luck!

 

[JollyRogers]

75 more pounds to go ..lol

 

[Toozee]

ok then....moving on

I remeber seeing studies that show taller, better looking (and this includes body) people usually do better in business and get promoted more often. i mean if you were going to hire someone and the two candidates had similar resumes and or experience wouldn't you pick the one who was more physically presentable (provided they both had decent personalities).

I remember seeing this study as well. A healthier person presents attention do detail and shows off your work ethic.
So actually you may do better than the average "donut eating" office worker.

 

[bigstve12]

people say i look like a dumd jock...they are usually surprised when i tell them i dont even play any sports. I dunno though, im in school to be a chiropractor, and if people continue to judge my intelligence based on my size....i will go bankrupt right out of school....so im a little worried.

 

[Exodus]

my life has presented this........ people as a general are quite ignorant......... so i could either try to live my life and cater to it, or have it cater to me. ie....... the world will not lay down and change for me. but people will tolorate me, get use to me, like me, love me, or hate me. but i could live life for someone else.

what i do in the gym, its not something i do, its part of who i am. i couldnt just throw that away for some bonus........... that may be silly, but i wouldnt ask you to give up something you love for a bonus or a job, so i dont expect people expect me too either. if they do, then i would look for another job. thats just me.

i hope nobody does this too you though Rus..... i just makes me loose more faith in people.............. aint that a shame.


X

 

[Backlash]

I also hope to get big enough for this Joker - then I'll know I've really increased.

 

[MeatHead57]

i get that alot! like im not big like you guys but im 15 short and i weigh 150 some pounds! so i get the tipical jock shit form people!

 

[Scotsman]

Well I have to say that I get treated like an idiot stepchild when most people first meet me. Especially in the professional world the all have a hard time believing I am a geologist. I think it has held me back with my job as the head of the company is about 5'6" and 140lbs. I think he is intimidated that not only am I more than twice his size but i graduated from a more prestigious university than he did. Oh well life is mostly what you make of it. If people think you are dumb they won't watch what they say around you and you can use it against them. I refer to this as the meathead paradigm.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[BodybuildingUniverse]

I think the GENERAL perception of people in good shape/big muscles is BIG EGO. Most people assume you will be an egotistical jerk based on your looks.

Recently I was called into a meeting at my office and I merely raised my voice at a supervisor and I got people coming up to me telling me they hear I almost punched him. Gimme a break...and I aint very big at all...its all about impressions I guess

 

[mordy]

Well, I migth be gaining an interesting perspective on this subject in the next few months. I'm 6'3" 270 with wide ass shoulders, barrel chest, but i am not yet ripped. Meaning, i am working on it. By the end of the summer, i should be in excelent shape. I tell people i weigh 270 and they don't beleive me.

I will be/have been transferring from being a lazy nerdy looking guy to a buff-works-out-a-lot type guy. I am curious to see how people treat me differently. I have a computer engineering degree, so i am no dummy

More importantly i'm more interested in how the ladies treat me differently

 

[Becoming]

I think it all depends on the person.... some people you interact with will give you extra props while others will look upon it negatively.... It probably won't matter to a large degree to the majority (other than the chicks will like to flirt with you).

I am in the scientific field, and I have gotten both types of responses....

If someone is going to dis on you or be jealous cause you are jacked, then why the heck would you wan't to work for them anyway??

 

[Deleted member 33117]

meathead, haha, yeah get a little bigger and you'll have problems. When I was about 185-190 about 10% bf I couldn't go out in my town (College Station, TX) to a party or club in anything revieling, or with a tight shirt on without some asshole deciding "to whip my big ass" after a few beers. If I could talk them out of it, or buy them a beer, I would, but half the time you can't and if you try to walk away you get hit from behind. I don't have this problem anymore though. It has only happened once in the last year and when it did a couple my friends were with me and they started laughing. One them said to the other "Have you ever seen Jason beat the fuck out of somebody before? Just watch man... this dumbass is going to on his way to the emergency room in about 30 seconds...." he just backed off and walked away.

 

[needsize]

I get this all time time. Professionally I'm a social worker, and I work with extremely high needs kids. When the kids are only on track for me, its because I'm big, not because I'm skilled and was once one of these kids. People automatically assume I'm not very bright, but then I hand them my resume; graduated with an honours degree, highest average out of the entire program. So people can think what they want, it usually only takes 30 seconds of conversation to convince them how far off they are

 

[RusPA81]

I get this all time time. Professionally I'm a social worker, and I work with extremely high needs kids. When the kids are only on track for me, its because I'm big, not because I'm skilled and was once one of these kids. People automatically assume I'm not very bright, but then I hand them my resume; graduated with an honours degree, highest average out of the entire program. So people can think what they want, it usually only takes 30 seconds of conversation to convince them how far off they are

The part that worries me is those first 30 seconds. If you walk into an interview and the person think, wow, just a dumb meathead, the rest of the interview will reflect that and they will not give you a fair chance.

 

[fastgain]

I'm not really very big yet, 190 at about 10%, and I haven't really had any problems. Girls seem to like it and most of my friends are cool with it, although I have had a few people ask me what the point of working out is. I guess they'll never understand.

 

[makedah]

Exactly. You might want to even say, in response to some question that "sometimes I think people judge me because of my size, but..."

 

[Toozee]

The part that worries me is those first 30 seconds. If you walk into an interview and the person think, wow, just a dumb meathead, the rest of the interview will reflect that and they will not give you a fair chance.

If that person cannot see past the first 30 seconds of seeing you and not make a clear decision on your creditials, would you want to work for them anyway? If an employer cannot look at your qualifications logically, upward mobility would be inhibited anyway. I'm sure there are several employers who will let your qualifications and work speak for itself.

 

[needsize]

The part that worries me is those first 30 seconds. If you walk into an interview and the person think, wow, just a dumb meathead, the rest of the interview will reflect that and they will not give you a fair chance.

I find the bodybuilding thing actually intrigues people, I've had lots of interviewers ask all kinds of questions about it

 

[Toozee]

I find the bodybuilding thing actually intrigues people, I've had lots of interviewers ask all kinds of questions about it

Exactly.....and that will make you memorable....which is always a good thing.

 

[needsleep]

I find it handy when my boss wants to have a go at me about something and wants to try and appear intimidating. You can just look at them and they know how little they are effecting you.

 

[jerkbox]

having people think you are dumb is not neccessarily a bad thing....it can often be used to your advantage - if you are smart enough to realize this.

 

[Mike_Rojas]

having people think you are dumb is not neccessarily a bad thing....it can often be used to your advantage - if you are smart enough to realize this.

That's true... it's always fun to play dumb and get out of shitty projects.

 

[benchmonster]

I am a lawyer, and I am, for this profession quite young. I go out of my way to let people assume I am a meathead. The dumber you think I am, the better off I am, cause you will slip up, and I won't.

On top of being five eight and 240, I am also a country boy, and talk like one too. How bright do you think that makes you sound?

When I tell people I had a full ride to college, they usually ask me how a person my height gets a full ride to play football, or "where did you wrestle?" It is funny to see their faces when they find out it was a full academic ride.

But then I love to shock people. I am in a profession where the heaviest thing most of these geeks pick up is a briefcase. They work all day beside me, then go home and veg on a couch or go to a bar and drink, while I go home, grab a bite to eat and then head to the gym, every day.

Freaks them out when I am eating tuna and chewing gum for 3 days before a meet to make weight, or when I am drinking Ensure Plus all day to move up a weight class. But my boss thinks I am quite the novelty, and goes out of his way to brag on me to people we meet, telling them about my athletic pursuits, and records and so forth.

So in the right environment it can be a very good thing.

With the femanina's tho, getting bigger has not made me the chick magnet I was expecting. I get discriminated against by women all the time. I guess the bald head and Fu Manchu don't help much in that regard tho.

B.

 

[spatts]

With the femanina's tho, getting bigger has not made me the chick magnet I was expecting. I get discriminated against by women all the time. I guess the bald head and Fu Manchu don't help much in that regard tho.

Nah, it's the pretty girl that's already on your arm that wards the others off. lol

 

[jeremys]

speaking of 'femaninas'..they suck. at my age, you could even be lean as hell but if you're big at all...you're counted out. it's bullshit. you got all the little justin timberlake types getting mad tail, but all the big guys are ignored

/end rant

 

[spatts]

At your age, boys shouldn't be getting tail. Go get big, and payback will be hell when you all get to college.

 

[jerkbox]

The dumber you think I am, the better off I am, cause you will slip up, and I won't.

precisely.


it's also amazing how dumb people will reveal themselves to be if you just kinda keep your mouth shut, and let them do the talking.

 

[DBCooper]

One part of town the women like the bald/goatee look, another side hates it, then lately I haven't had anyone start shit with me when I go out, matter of fact a couple people bought me drinks this last week, and a hot little women I haven't seen since high school came up and said 'hey what's you been doing besides getting fuckin big? ' lol.

 

[IronLion]

speaking of 'femaninas'..they suck. at my age, you could even be lean as hell but if you're big at all...you're counted out. it's bullshit. you got all the little justin timberlake types getting mad tail, but all the big guys are ignored

/end rant

thats because girls your age are scared of anything that resmebles a man, I mean come on Justin Timberlake would be a prison beauty queen.

Hey, things worked out ok for me and I am big and ugly....lol

 

[Scotsman]

I'd rather be big ugly and single, than little pretty and fawned over.

Shit I already am

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[SlavikHavik]

getting ahead in business requires presence. Added size will only help with this. Why do you think tailors are always trying to make your shoulders look bigger?

 

[BlkWS6]

I actually enjoy being judged negatively in initial encounters. In fact this last semester I had a profesor approach me at the end of the semester and say that he was truly amazed with my performance in his class and he said he knew it was wrong, but when he first saw me come to class he figured "oh great here is another one that is going to blow off my class." As it turned out I believe I had one of the top grades in the class. I enjoy exceeding people's expectations.


Oh and Ruspa you have nothing to worry about little fella.

 

[Mike_Rojas]

People that don't workout don't realize the discipline and dedication it takes.

 

[Mike_Rojas]

That's just sad

 

[JOKER47]

thats because girls your age are scared of anything that resmebles a man, I mean come on Justin Timberlake would be a prison beauty queen.

Hey, things worked out ok for me and I am big and ugly....lol

Word.

"Ripped noodles" are the "in" thing right now for younger girls.


Joker

 

[The Red Dragon]

People that don't workout don't realize the discipline and dedication it takes.

It also takes some degree of anatomical and biological and biochemical intelligence.

 

[makedah]

I'd rather be big ugly and single, than little pretty and fawned over.

Shit I already am

Cheers,
Scotsman

Dude! Can I steal that?

 

[Scotsman]

Of course I usually don't copyright any of my material.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[mr. sparkle]

Keep workin' out man!!! The only reason someone might not hire you is because they're intimidated by your physique. But if you present yourself in an intelligent manner and dress well there's no telling how far you can go.

I'm looking a good amount bigger than I used to and, even though I'm not very close to my target weight, I guess my physical structure makes a little improvement look like a big one. I've noticed that people respect me and treat me as a very intelligent person because of the way I act and speak, but they have an added degree of respect for me because of my stature.

I think, if anything, that being big is not going to affect your chances at getting a good job. And I think that people who work out have higher levels of self-confidence, which is extremely important in an office enviroment, not to mention when going for an interview.

Keep at it and good luck!!

---Mr. S---