Size does matter......

I was just offered, and accepted, a great new job as General Manager of a
large beautiful new Marriott brand hotel opening this summer in
WIlliamsburg, VA. The pay is 1/3 more than at my current hotel, and it has
better benefits -- not to mention a much more desirable area in which to
live. The company called me to see if I was interested; I had two telephone
interviews and one in-person interview, and they offered me the position two
days later.

By contrast, four years ago when I was looking for a new GM position, I sent
out more than 30 resumes and went to more than 20 interviews before I was
hired. At that time I had the same basic qualifications that I have now;
the four years that have gone by really don't make that much experience
difference in a nearly 20 year career.

The difference in geting hired so quickly this time? Someone who knows me
very well told me that it's my weight loss that made the difference; that I
present a much sharper, more confident image now. I was at my heaviest
weight 4 years ago (270 pounds), and looked puffy, pasty and unhealthy. At
6'3", I carry the 219 pounds I weigh now pretty well. Driven by the
self-confidence I've gained from the weight loss, for the interview I got a
new very short, modern haircut. In addition, I let all my gray hair grow
out for a more natural look -- which I had been covering up for 20 years. I
bought a new silk white shirt (had to, the old dress shirts were getting too
big and sloppy) and a crisp bold "power tie" to go with it. I felt
extremely confident and comfortable in my professional appearance when I
went to the interview, and I really believe that this made the difference in
getting hired right away this time.

I don't believe that I had a harder time getting hired when I was 50 pounds
heavier because of weight discrimination. It's too easy to blame our
shortcomings on others. No, rather it was my own self-consciousness of
being fat and that kept me from projecting the ease and confidence that I
needed to convince the employers that I was the best person for the job.

Thank you Dr. Atkins, wherever you are. What you've given me is much more
than just a weight loss program; it has changed my quality of life and
raised my standard of living.
--
Peter
270/219/180
website: http://users.thelink.net/marengo

marengo wrote:
:: I was just offered, and accepted, a great new job as General Manager
:: of a large beautiful new Marriott brand hotel opening this summer in
:: WIlliamsburg, VA. The pay is 1/3 more than at my current hotel, and
:: it has better benefits -- not to mention a much more desirable area
:: in which to live. The company called me to see if I was interested;
:: I had two telephone interviews and one in-person interview, and they
:: offered me the position two days later.

Cool!

::
:: By contrast, four years ago when I was looking for a new GM
:: position, I sent out more than 30 resumes and went to more than 20
:: interviews before I was hired. At that time I had the same basic
:: qualifications that I have now; the four years that have gone by
:: really don't make that much experience difference in a nearly 20
:: year career.
::
:: The difference in geting hired so quickly this time? Someone who
:: knows me very well told me that it's my weight loss that made the
:: difference; that I present a much sharper, more confident image now.
:: I was at my heaviest weight 4 years ago (270 pounds), and looked
:: puffy, pasty and unhealthy. At 6'3", I carry the 219 pounds I weigh
:: now pretty well.

No doubt -- how about those new pics? BTW, I told Myra how great you were
doing on the weight loss. She was happy for you, and she's doing well, too,
BTW. Got a new job at a law firm and everything...

Driven by the self-confidence I've gained from the
:: weight loss, for the interview I got a new very short, modern
:: haircut. In addition, I let all my gray hair grow out for a more
:: natural look -- which I had been covering up for 20 years. I bought
:: a new silk white shirt (had to, the old dress shirts were getting
:: too big and sloppy) and a crisp bold "power tie" to go with it. I
:: felt extremely confident and comfortable in my professional
:: appearance when I went to the interview, and I really believe that
:: this made the difference in getting hired right away this time.

Absolutely....baggy clothes my feel good, but they don't make you look
sharp! First impressions are important. Good on you!!

::
:: I don't believe that I had a harder time getting hired when I was 50
:: pounds heavier because of weight discrimination. It's too easy to
:: blame our shortcomings on others. No, rather it was my own
:: self-consciousness of being fat and that kept me from projecting the
:: ease and confidence that I needed to convince the employers that I
:: was the best person for the job.

Absolutely.

::
:: Thank you Dr. Atkins, wherever you are. What you've given me is
:: much more than just a weight loss program; it has changed my quality
:: of life and raised my standard of living.
:: --

Yes....

Peter,

Hola. Congratulations on your new job and new you!!!

Yazaira
Member since Oct 03
265/230/154
http://geocities.com/yazaira/dieta

I was just offered, and accepted, a great new job as General Manager of a
large beautiful new Marriott brand hotel opening this summer in
WIlliamsburg, VA.

Congratulations! Way to go!

Williamsburg is a beautiful area.



The difference in geting hired so quickly this time? Someone who knows me
very well told me that it's my weight loss that made the difference; that I
present a much sharper, more confident image now. I was at my heaviest
weight 4 years ago (270 pounds), and looked puffy, pasty and unhealthy. At
6'3", I carry the 219 pounds I weigh now pretty well. Driven by the
self-confidence I've gained from the weight loss, for the interview I got a
new very short, modern haircut. In addition, I let all my gray hair grow
out for a more natural look -- which I had been covering up for 20 years. I
bought a new silk white shirt (had to, the old dress shirts were getting too
big and sloppy) and a crisp bold "power tie" to go with it. I felt
extremely confident and comfortable in my professional appearance when I
went to the interview, and I really believe that this made the difference in
getting hired right away this time.

I don't believe that I had a harder time getting hired when I was 50 pounds
heavier because of weight discrimination. It's too easy to blame our
shortcomings on others. No, rather it was my own self-consciousness of
being fat and that kept me from projecting the ease and confidence that I
needed to convince the employers that I was the best person for the job.




I think it's a combination of both.

Yvonne

AWESOME, Peter! Good luck in your new job!

--
Linda
296/237.5/160
LC since Oct. 13, 2003


"marengo" wrote in message
s.com...
I was just offered, and accepted, a great new job as General Manager of a
large beautiful new Marriott brand hotel opening this summer in
WIlliamsburg, VA. The pay is 1/3 more than at my current hotel, and it
has
better benefits -- not to mention a much more desirable area in which to
live. The company called me to see if I was interested; I had two
telephone
interviews and one in-person interview, and they offered me the position
two
days later.

By contrast, four years ago when I was looking for a new GM position, I
sent
out more than 30 resumes and went to more than 20 interviews before I was
hired. At that time I had the same basic qualifications that I have now;
the four years that have gone by really don't make that much experience
difference in a nearly 20 year career.

The difference in geting hired so quickly this time? Someone who knows me
very well told me that it's my weight loss that made the difference; that
I
present a much sharper, more confident image now. I was at my heaviest
weight 4 years ago (270 pounds), and looked puffy, pasty and unhealthy.
At
6'3", I carry the 219 pounds I weigh now pretty well. Driven by the
self-confidence I've gained from the weight loss, for the interview I got
a
new very short, modern haircut. In addition, I let all my gray hair grow
out for a more natural look -- which I had been covering up for 20 years.
I
bought a new silk white shirt (had to, the old dress shirts were getting
too
big and sloppy) and a crisp bold "power tie" to go with it. I felt
extremely confident and comfortable in my professional appearance when I
went to the interview, and I really believe that this made the difference
in
getting hired right away this time.

I don't believe that I had a harder time getting hired when I was 50
pounds
heavier because of weight discrimination. It's too easy to blame our
shortcomings on others. No, rather it was my own self-consciousness of
being fat and that kept me from projecting the ease and confidence that I
needed to convince the employers that I was the best person for the job.

Thank you Dr. Atkins, wherever you are. What you've given me is much more
than just a weight loss program; it has changed my quality of life and
raised my standard of living.
--
Peter
270/219/180
website: http://users.thelink.net/marengo

"marengo" wrote in message
s.com...
I was just offered, and accepted, a great new job as General Manager of a
large beautiful new Marriott brand hotel opening this summer in
WIlliamsburg, VA. The pay is 1/3 more than at my current hotel, and it
has
better benefits -- not to mention a much more desirable area in which to
live. The company called me to see if I was interested; I had two
telephone
interviews and one in-person interview, and they offered me the position
two
days later.

Congrats Peter!! Good for you

"marengo" wrote in message
s.com...

I don't believe that I had a harder time getting hired when I was 50
pounds
heavier because of weight discrimination. It's too easy to blame our
shortcomings on others. No, rather it was my own self-consciousness of
being fat and that kept me from projecting the ease and confidence that I
needed to convince the employers that I was the best person for the job.


First, congratulations on the new job!

But...
as an independent software consultant, I interview a lot. I can often tell
whether I'm getting a contract or not as soon as I shake the hiring
manager's hand. I walk in with a big smile on my face, wearing a nice suit
that fits well. That doesn't help the disgusted look that I often get in
return on the first glance. I can impress them with my technical knowledge
and personality, but that doesn't change that "this is a lazy, fat,
disgusting slob" first impression.

By contrast, on a lot of software consulting jobs there is no
person-to-person interview, just a series of phone interviews, often
conference calls. I really don't believe there is any difference in how I
do a phone interview as opposed to an in-person interview, but I am very
close to 100% hire rate for phone-only interviews but under 50% for
in-person interviews.

There are a lot of people who just won't hire a fat person, even in software
engineering where weight doesn't make a damned bit of difference. They
might not even realize what they are doing, might not even realize they are
discriminating, these beliefs are so deeply-ingrained.

The feedback is always the same; "Your technical knowledge is great but we
found somebody else who is a better fit for the company." Better fit.
Funny in a way, and perhaps more telling than they realize.

--
Mark S. J.
316/239/155
--Pull the weeds to reply by email--
--

Right on. Body shape descrimination is out of control.

No, your body shape is out of control

--
Most people are dumb as bricks; some people are dumber than that. -- MFW


"Cubit" wrote in message
. com...
Right on. Body shape descrimination is out of control.

That is amazing. Wonderful Peter! At 219 and 6'3", you probably look quite
"average" weightwise...

Congratulations...on everything! Job, weightloss, renewed confidence..

Becky P.