I am a self mutilator. And my mom said that I might not get hired because of that. Is that true? HELP!?

Question

My scars are somewhat fading, but they are still very visable. I'm really worried that I won't be able to get a job somwhere (like wendys or mcdonalds) because they have shortsleeved shirts. Does anyone have first hand experience self-mutilators and have actually been hired?

I'm so worried that I wont. =(

Answer 1

I am a cutter with my entire forearms covered with many deep scars, and I am a cocktail waitress at a biker bar (appearance matters for the job I'm doing). My boss asked me about it once, and I told him "it is a long story", and he dropped it. I have about 50 people ask me that everyday when I serve them drinks. I tell them the same thing, and If they still don't drop it I tell them I had an accident, and walk away.

I was nervous getting the job, I thought they wouldn't hire me for the same reason as you, but knowing that my attire was going to consist of halter tops and low cut sleeveless shirts. I decided to try to get the job anyways. The thing is, my boss hasn't fired me, and I have been working there 4 months, because I am a very hard working employee and he feels that he can trust and count on me to do my job and more. As long as you think you can do that, I think you will be fine

Answer 2

I know people who have what you have and who have gotten jobs. I am sorry that your Mom isn't being more positive about this. Perhaps she is trying to scare you into stopping. I don't know how bad your scars are. Bu a lot of the managers at McDonalds are young and probably know about self mutilation. Know somebody who does it.

What you might have to deal with once you are hired is a lot of questions about the scars. Be prepared for that. Just have neutral comments and say you don't want to discuss it or something like that. If you are seeing someone professional get them to help you with the answers.

Good for you for wanting to get out there and works. Glad the scars are healing. Hope the rest of you is too.

Answer 3

I wouldn't worry too much; places like McDonald's are often lenient about appearances so long as you do what they require to to do. This could mean long sleeves, wrist bands(to the scars) etc. Though, I think that it would be a bigger issue to have tattoos than scars. I personally, have several large scars on my under arms and I have never lost or been prevented from getting a job because of them.

I mostly tend to think that this is a ploy by your mother to prevent you from harming yourself in the future. I say this only because I'm not sure where are in regards to handling this problem. (i.e. are you still dealing with it, or are you over it but left with the scars)

If you are still 'cutting' please try to join a support group or similar activity. I know that I never did and it took a good long time to stop (early to mid twenties) so getting help is always a good thing. ;)

best regards

Answer 4

You have many different answers. Nobody has mentioned that McDonald's has a very hard time keeping good employees. Wear long sleeves to your interview. Once you get hired you will show them what a good worker you are and they probably won't even think of firing you. If someone asks about your scars, you don't have to tell them. Just tell them that you would rather not talk about it.

Worrying won't do you any good. All you can do is try, if you don't try then you will never get hired. I hope that you are continuing to get treatment for your problem.

Answer 5

I hope you don't do that any more. You will never know until you try for the job. Worrying will not help. You might be able to find a better job than burger flipping. Have you ever considered florists or jobs like that. I have seen people with scars at some of those burger places but I usually don't give it much thought so I really don't know.

Answer 6

i'm uncertain approximately scar removing creams I easily have in no way tried any. in spite of the undeniable fact that being a cutter i understand what it is like. it is not criminal for them to hearth you because of the fact of scars. it is discrimination; because of the fact self mutilation is a psychological illness. as long as your movements are not affecting your artwork in any way it is quite none of their corporation. that's not some thing i might say for the time of an interview, and so on. I consistently tried to maintain my cuts coated mutually as at artwork, so interest would not be attracted to me for that reason. i actually desire your are a minimum of getting counseling of a few type. it quite is not some thing which will bypass away on it is own. additionally, while you're being dealt with/advised for this and somebody might refuse to hire you or hearth you because of the fact of cuts or scars then you definately might have a valid discrimination tournament against them and a doctor or expert to lower back up your declare.

Answer 7

I think that would concern most employers. Since virtually all jobs in the US are employment at will jobs, you can even be fired after hiring on, once you out the scars. The only prohibited reasons for firing or not hiring are race, religion, national origin, etc. Cutters are not a protected class, and anyone who tells you differently is clueless! Cover up with Dermablend if you can.

As an employer, my concern would be that you would cut at work, and either bleed out, or worse, expose others to your blood and blood-borne diseases, like HIV. I definitely would not hire you to work around food.

Answer 8

Sadly you are a victim of either a mis-spent youth or you have an imbalance in your brain which makes you do these strange things to yourself.
Unfortunatly it is possible that you will be rejected by most employers once they discover your scars.
Scars are ugly and a sign of an unstable person, no one wants to see them and no one will want to hire you, if you hide them and get a job, once your employer discovers them it probably won't be long before they fire you.
The best thing you can do is to seek plastic surgery, which can be expensive and some type of psycological help to prevent you from mutilating yourself further.
At the end of the day, you only have one body, if you abuse it then sadly you have to pay the price.

Answer 9

Go to the interveiw wearing long sleeves. Once they hire you, you can wear a tshirt if you are comfortable and tell them your scars are from an accident or wear a long sleeved shirt underneath and just tell them you are cold or that you've got old scars from an accident (maybe a fire or a car accident) and that you are embarassed about them.

Answer 10

If an employer sees the scars during a interview, they can not hire you. They may think you are too "unstable" for the job. However, if they do not see the scars until you actually start working, it would be much harder to dismiss you.

My suggestion is you see and dermotologist to see if there is help for healing the scars, and a mental health professional if you are still hurting yourself.