Facial disfigurement, how to handle at interview?

Turbulent Bill

Would appreciate some feedback on this, particularly from people in recruitment.

I may be looking for a new job next year, but have some recent facial disfigurement as a result of illness and surgery. This has zero impact on my work (will never be a male model...) and my health is good now, but I'm wondering how to handle it at interview. Make no reference to it? Give a brief "I'm healthy, don't worry about it" spiel? Subtly joke it off?

I know people try to be objective, but it's understandable they may be uncomfortable with what they see, so I'm trying to help manage this. I'm entirely comfortable talking about it, really just a question of what (or not) to say.

Saipanne

There is no obligation on you to mention it at all. It would be like a person from "Foreignland" going to an interview and saying "don't worry about my foreign features".

My point is that it has nothing to do with your looks, they simply want the best person for the job. So be that person and make no excuses. Be positive.

Best of luck with your search.

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Turbulent Bill

....... wrote: »

Does the nature of it suggest its an ongoing problem or is it just that its unsightly?

A little bit of both. My concern is that it might be perceived as an ongoing problem, even though it isn't. Therefore clarifying it might be of benefit to me, just to show I'm as healthy a candidate as anyone else.

It's slightly unsightly, but my current colleagues adjusted to it quickly.

Jim79

Your surgical wounds will be completely healed and interviewers will not know when the surgery was; they might think that you were born with disfigurement.

Don't mention it; focus your efforts on your preparation, C.V and interview technique and you will do really well.

Good luck.

Turbulent Bill

Saipanne wrote: »

There is no obligation on you to mention it at all. It would be like a person from "Foreignland" going to an interview and saying "don't worry about my foreign features".

In my mind, a better comparison would be two evenly-matched candidates on paper, where one arrives looking healthy to interview while the other appears sick. There's a natural tendency to favour the healthier looking person, even though it has no bearing on how they can do the job or their actual health.

Thanks for your input, and I'm not making excuses, just trying to understand how to approach things.

Turbulent Bill

Jim79 wrote: »

Your surgical wounds will be completely healed and interviewers will not know when the surgery was; they might think that you were born with disfigurement.

Good point, hadn't thought of that!

Saipanne

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

In my mind, a better comparison would be two evenly-matched candidates on paper, where one arrives looking healthy to interview while the other appears sick. There's a natural tendency to favour the healthier looking person, even though it has no bearing on how they can do the job or their actual health.

Thanks for your input, and I'm not making excuses, just trying to understand how to approach things.

Ok, I can amend your analogy a bit.

Imagine two candidates. Both are you.

The first one walks in, makes no reference to his face, sticks to the task at hand and delivers a confident interview.

The second you walks in, makes a few references to his face and appears anxious and distracted by what people think of his looks. You still do well at the interview part. You answered all questions well, etc.

Have a think, which one would you hire and why?

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keeponhurling

Just say at the end "I trust there will be no discrimination due to my appearance in the selection process" and leave that linger.
Will put the fear into them...

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Saipanne

keeponhurling wrote: »

Just say at the end "I trust there will be no discrimination due to my appearance in the selection process" and leave that linger.
Will put the fear into them...

Under no circumstances should you drop a subtle threat at an interview.

Jim79

Personally when i see people taking on challenges and over coming obstacles that the majority of the population don't have to overcome i really admire them.

I suspect a lot of people feel the same way (including those that sit on interview panels )

Jimbob1977

keeponhurling wrote: »

Just say at the end "I trust there will be no discrimination due to my appearance in the selection process" and leave that linger.
Will put the fear into them...

That would be a terrible idea. Blackmail almost.

Gael23

keeponhurling wrote: »

Just say at the end "I trust there will be no discrimination due to my appearance in the selection process" and leave that linger.
Will put the fear into them...

Don't ever do this.
I'm visually impaired so I've some knowledge of these issues. My advice would be not to draw attention to it . If they ask you something along the lines if what has been your greatest challenge? That's where I would mention it. Do what' you can to put a positive spin on it.

Turbulent Bill

Saipanne wrote: »

Ok, I can amend your analogy a bit.

Imagine two candidates. Both are you.

The first one walks in, makes no reference to his face, sticks to the task at hand and delivers a confident interview.

The second you walks in, makes a few references to his face and appears anxious and distracted by what people think of his looks. You still do well at the interview part. You answered all questions well, etc.

Have a think, which one would you hire and why?

Thanks, that's a better spin on it. Concentrate on the job in hand, demonstrating that you're the best candidate etc.

It's funny, I've been an interviewer on multiple occasions, but it's difficult to put yourself in their shoes when you're the candidate!

Saipanne

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

Thanks, that's a better spin on it. Concentrate on the job in hand, demonstrating that you're the best candidate etc.

It's funny, I've been an interviewer on multiple occasions, but it's difficult to put yourself in their shoes when you're the candidate!

Exactly, be the best you. Don't worry about other candidates. Best of luck.

Mrs OBumble

keeponhurling wrote: »

Just say at the end "I trust there will be no discrimination due to my appearance in the selection process" and leave that linger.
Will put the fear into them...

Fear of hiring someone who's an ass*** and will keep an army of HR people busy with bogus claims.

Enough fear that they will put in the work and find a totally objective, legal way to not hire you, and document it very, very carefully.



Discrimination of the basis of looks is totally legal, unless those looks are due to a disability or nationality.



OP, you need to find a subtle way to work the issue into the answer to a question, and reassure them that the issue will have no impact on your ability to do the job. Don't make a big thing of it - but don't totally ignore it either. Your job at interview is to convince them that you're the best for the job, and that includes handling any objections which they may have.

Augme

Saipanne wrote: »

Ok, I can amend your analogy a bit.

Imagine two candidates. Both are you.

The first one walks in, makes no reference to his face, sticks to the task at hand and delivers a confident interview.

The second you walks in, makes a few references to his face and appears anxious and distracted by what people think of his looks. You still do well at the interview part. You answered all questions well, etc.

Have a think, which one would you hire and why?

What about the 3rd candidate,

He walks in, does a great interview, answers all the questions, and then at the end of the interview casually mention his facial disfigurement and mentions in a confident and friendly manner?

BabySlam

Do not mention it at all. The interview is not about you - it is about finding the best person for the role. It is NOT about you, your life, your family, your obligations, your habits, your lifestyle.....it is about the Job. Focus on what you can offer in the job. The interviewer has a problem - show you are the solution. Do not injure the interviewer's confidence in your shining in the job by raising irrelevancies. Do not put forward a "response" to objections that were not raised. Do not overlook the more basic appearance issues - clean nails, shining shoes etc
Best of Luck

pilly

Is there a gap in your CV? You could drop it in that way. Like "I had an operation but everything's fine now". As someone who has interviewed I'd probably worry more about the gap and that would be an honest and reassuring answer.

Saipanne

Augme wrote: »

What about the 3rd candidate,

He walks in, does a great interview, answers all the questions, and then at the end of the interview casually mention his facial disfigurement and mentions in a confident and friendly manner?

I would consider the first guy the best candidate. As the facial disfigurement clearly plays no part in his focus on his career. He just gets on with life regardless of his face. I like that. I hire the first guy.

Needles73

keeponhurling wrote: »

Just say at the end "I trust there will be no discrimination due to my appearance in the selection process" and leave that linger.
Will put the fear into them...

That has to be the daftest advice ever. Issue a threat...how do you think that will work out. Genius

Turbulent Bill

pilly wrote: »

Is there a gap in your CV? You could drop it in that way. Like "I had an operation but everything's fine now". As someone who has interviewed I'd probably worry more about the gap and that would be an honest and reassuring answer.

No, treatment and immediate recovery only took a short period so I kept my job.

Turbulent Bill

Saipanne wrote: »

I would consider the first guy the best candidate. As the facial disfigurement clearly plays no part in his focus on his career. He just gets on with life regardless of his face. I like that. I hire the first guy.

That's an interesting (and slightly worrying) viewpoint. So doing an objectively great interview (showing suitability and understanding of the role etc.) is spoiled by casually mentioning the disfigurement at the end? What if the interviewer sees 'great candidate, but potential health risk' and moves on, when their mind could be easily put at ease?

A lot of the responses highlight the differences between the objective and subjective in interviews. Ideally you'd like to be rated only on the things that matter in the job, but people can unwittingly bring biases with them. For example, most people grossly overestimated the impact of my illness compared to the reality, and they can be the ones at the interview table too.

Saipanne

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

That's an interesting (and slightly worrying) viewpoint. So doing an objectively great interview (showing suitability and understanding of the role etc.) is spoiled by casually mentioning the disfigurement at the end? What if the interviewer sees 'great candidate, but potential health risk' and moves on, when their mind could be easily put at ease?

A lot of the responses highlight the differences between the objective and subjective in interviews. Ideally you'd like to be rated only on the things that matter in the job, but people can unwittingly bring biases with them. For example, most people grossly overestimated the impact of my illness compared to the reality, and they can be the ones at the interview table too.

That's just my personality, but I suppose my way of looking at life is not typical. If I was the interviewer, I wouldn't consider it a bad thing if you casually mentioned just once. But honestly, I'd respect you more for not making excuses for yourself. I would judge you solely on your personality, but I concede many people are not like me. So yeah, I understand your concern.

Jimbob1977

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

That would be a terrible idea. Blackmail almost.

Well it wouldn't be a very effective threat because I'm fairly sure an employer can actually decided to not hire you on the basis of your looks without being discriminatory in the eyes of the law.

pilly

Turbulent Bill wrote:

No, treatment and immediate recovery only took a short period so I kept my job.

Right. Hard to know where to drop in then. It would seem better if it was casual rather than a big deal.

neonsofa

pilly wrote: »

Right. Hard to know where to drop in then. It would seem better if it was casual rather than a big deal.

It's a tough one.

Op I would wing it and maybe if they bring up any questions about obstacles or challenges in life you could maybe mention that you had this illness/surgery and that it took an adjustment period as your appearance changed but since it didn't impact your overall health and your ability to go on as normal with life, that you have accepted it and are grateful that you overcame it or something like that. I would only bring it up naturally if they ask a question that actually gives way for the topic. Otherwise I wouldn't mention it.

If you really feel that it needs to be addressed and will regret it if you don't mention it, you could mention it when they say have you any questions. You could say that you don't have any questions as such but that you have had different reactions to your facial disfigurement and you're aware/understand that they may have questions or concerns regarding your health or ability to work and you'd like to just clarify that it has no bearing on such as you are 100% healthy now but if they do have any questions at all about it you are more than happy to answer them openly.

Personally I feel you shouldn't mention it though but I'm not in your position so I can't say what I'd do if I was.