I recently had someone ask me if I thought his smoking might be a problem in his job search. This person has a strong employment history and has been getting job interviews, but he hasn’t been getting job offers.
Smoking can affect your job search and your career. It is unhealthy, and it can be a red flag for potential employers.
If you smoke, the smell of the smoke lingers on your clothing. Since a diminished sense of smell is one of the possible side effects of smoking, you may think no one can tell you’re a smoker. A nonsmoker, however, may pick up the smell of cigarette smoke.
The smell is part of the issue, as are the smoking breaks. If the company includes wellness programs, your habit also could indicate health is not a priority for you.
There may be a variety of reasons you aren’t getting job offers, but it helps to examine any habits that aren’t healthy.
A recent New York Times article said roughly one in five Americans smoke. And on average, employees who smoke cost employers $3,391 more a year for health care and lost productivity, according to federal estimates.
You could have the best skills and a winning personality, but the increased costs in health-care benefits you may incur likely will overshadow your value to the employer. Companies not only have instituted smoke-free workplaces, they have instituted hiring policies regarding candidates who smoke, as well.
Smoking is one hiring criteria that may be part of the company’s published hiring policy or it may be a hidden factor. Either way, it can take you out the running.
