Trivial topic time . All of you in hiring positions... do you care at all if the guy interviewing has facial hair? I shaved for my first call-back interviews because the career services office at UT Law told me, too... but I'm really starting to miss the beard. Most of my fellow students are so frickin' scared of making the slightest mistake (breath mints... but no gum!), that they're all doing stuff like that... but I can't help but wonder if it's really all unnecessary. I can't imagine caring if I were doing the hiring. Other random tips would be nice, too .
Get rid of the facial hair. The last thing you want to do is come off looking like some kind of mountain man in an interview. When I screen for potential candidates, I want to see somebody who can make a good impression in front of clients, not somebody who still has the look of a student.
Could be taken so many ways... but... yes! And I already have shaved. And it's reminded me why I grew the beard in the first place. I hate my weak chin .
although appearances do count in interviews, facial hair shouldn't be as relevant today as it was five to ten years ago. The goatee has become an accepted part of american culture across the age groups. As long as you are presentable and your facial hair is well groomed, I believe it goes more along the lines of how you handle yourself in the interview. If you feel less confident w/o the beard, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. Yes, we all should be confindent in ourselves no matter how we look, but everyone has their comfort zone w/their appearance. IMO, if you like it, keep it.
I think it matters, but I don't think it should. I shaved my goatee off before my first client meetings when I started my current position. But now it just pisses me off - it's my facial hair - so I've grown out my beard. If there really is a problem with it, I'll get fired - oh well.
Always better to be on the conservative side, haven than to take a chance. Go to the interview, clean-shaven, and get the job. If it means that much to you, ask them what their policy is on facial hair. Unless, they are Marge Schott (who had a policy against it), they probably don't mind it, as long as it is well-kept. I had to meet one of my groups for a project I have in this union class yesterday on campus, and we saw all these people, who looked to be in their early 20s, wearing immaculate business suits and dresses. I told this one guy, "They must be having interviews today or it is career day." And none of them had facial hair.
Shave before the interview. After you get the job, grow it back. As long as you're not dealing with clients, you should be ok. I went through a period of not shaving for 6 weeks recently. My coworkers and bosses jokingly told me I looked like a terrorist, yet I was finally forced to shave last weekend after having a meeting set up with a client on Wednesday. As long as you do your job well after you get it, your facial hair is the least of your employer's worries (unless you meet with clients, of course). Hell, I now go to work in jeans and a wrinkled polo shirt everyday (yes B-Bob, a polo shirt!!!!!)
As an authority figure with hiring responsibilities, I can tell you that it is imperative that you shave your beard. If some mountain man came into my office for an interview with a beard, I would give him a verbal reprimand and send him on his way. It is an indication that they are not a team player. They value their own personal appearance over the professionalism that comes with being clean shaven. Lawfirms are often stodgy, white shoes places. As an applicant, you don't want to rock the personal hygiene boat.
This type of thinking is why the corporate world / white collar jobs in general is messed up. First, how does being clean shaven imply professionalism? Because it just does? What's the matter with a well-trimmed, professional looking beard? Second, how does having a beard imply that "mountain man" values his appearance over others. More likely, mountain man just likes having a beard and even more likely it is a sign that he might be a somewhat liberal, free-spirited guy who actually does care about what other people think...unless I'm wrong - I just get that vibe from guys with beards - they're always happy.
I currently have a Fu Manchu and the law firm with whom I am doing some contract work has both offered me a full-time job now and has guaranteed me a job after I graduate law school. Some people need to check the calendar and realize it's 2003. Plus, I've seen how some of you dress.
In an ideal world people shouldn't judge based on appearances alone. Unfortunately, we do not live in that world. First impressions are largely based on apprearances, and many times people associate certain traits and values with facial hair. I'm not saying it's right to do that, but it's reality.
ok then, based on this quote..... If it is appearance first and you look better with the beard.......
When I went for my first interview in college to get my first internship, I shaved off my goatee. After I got the internship, I noticed that most people really didn't care about your facial hair so I grew it back while I worked. When my internship turned into 3 internships, and my 3 internships turned into a full time job, I kept my facial hair for each of the following interviews. When I interviewed for my current, full time job, I made sure my goatee was neat and trimmed and the rest of my face was clean shaven. Didn't really have an impact since I got hired. I think it all depends on where you work. I work in IT, so appearance isn't all that stressed. I do however, try to stay as well dressed and clean cut as possible at work. I think it shows respect to your co workers to at least make an attempt to be well dressed. When I see some guys come to work in shorts and a t-shirt, even in IT, I think its just kind of disrespectful. Depending on what your interviewing for, it MIGHT matter. It is always safer to go clean shaven...if you get the job, then they probably don't care at all if you have facial hair later on.
Beards If a beard's neat, then "Hey, sweet." If it's a mess, shaving's best. Keep it trimmed, edged and clean... Never shape it to "come off mean." If it scraggles, curls and strays... Only grow it on "off" days. The best advice concerning your chin, is grow it how you feel best within. If your heart is set to "rock," Your beard may cause a little shock. If your mind is set to "just look nice." Then whatever your decision, you won't think twice. original floetry by IROC it - @2003
As an authority figure with hiring responsibilities, I can tell you that I have hired men with beards. Other, more conservative places would more than likely be different. Speaking for my own situation, it's no big deal unless you show up looking like ZZ Top or Mountain Dan the Gorilla Man. If you have a beard and it is well-groomed (like mine), I have no problem with it.
