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The corporate point of view by Razor X on 05 Jan, 2008 18:24
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One of the concerns we hear rather frequently from fence-sitters is that they're unsure if a shaved head will be accepted in a professional work environment. The corporate world tends to be conservative when it comes to personal appearance, unless it is an "artsy" field of business. Things have loosened up a bit since the advent of "business casual" dress, but a conservative appearance is still pretty much the norm. I started thinking about how attitudes have and have not changed as to what is "acceptable" in a business setting.
I can only judge by the types of places where I have worked, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that things haven't changed all that much. The rules about facial hair have been relaxed a bit, but long hair on men is still pretty much a taboo, as are visible tattoos, piercings and earrings on men. Interestingly enough, the one trend that has become completely accepted, no matter how conservative the environment, is the shaved head. Mohawks, and "extreme" hair cuts/styles are still verboten, but a shaved head -- once considered the ultimate extreme haircut -- is now mainstream and commonplace.
So the moral of the story is, if you want to shave your head, but are concerned that it might have a negative impact on your career, don't worry about it. Guys from all walks of life, from CEOs to policemen to construction workers are sporting shaved domes these days. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone who got into trouble at work because of it.
I'm interested to hear what other guys have noticed or experienced in the workplace as far as "personal appearance" rules go.
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#1 by SLYinKC on 05 Jan, 2008 19:27
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This was a concern of mine also. I've not had any negative comments from clients or coworkers. I got one of my first compliments from one of my "SLY" clients.
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#2 by mosin1891 on 05 Jan, 2008 20:18
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Yep. I work part time as a cashier at a Hallmark store. I haven't received any negative comments since going sly. One of my coworkers even asked if she could rub my head.
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#3 by Timmay on 05 Jan, 2008 21:43
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There we go....another youngin.....Mosin....i just wish i had the guts to do it when i was that young. But at 17 i think i was sporting that sorta mullet look...oh thinking aback to 1987 what were we thinkign?
lOL
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#4 by warhawk on 05 Jan, 2008 22:06
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razor....gr8 topic. as most of ya know i work as a registered nurse at the local hospital. we have a handful of sly guys in all departments from nursing, dietary,transport, housekeeping, physical therapy, heck we even have a few doctors who R sporting the sly dome. we have this one doctor who sports the skullet. i rarely see him on my floor but when i do ....i just want 2 give him a SBG CARD.....however....i won't because he is not very friendly with the nursing department.
all in all....the smooooth noggin' is definitely accepted in my hospital.
WARHAWK
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#5 by Stu on 05 Jan, 2008 22:23
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I too work in a conservative environment even though things have loosened up... i.e. guys with earrings, longer hair, etc. (all of which I would never have dreamed could happen), but the shaved head is now quite popular and looks great either in a suit or business casual. The goobers (sorry if I offended anybody) are the ones sporting the dreaded combover or longish horseshoe. So I agree, Razor, don't let that shaving worry you, career wise. It's all about how you carry the rest of yourself.
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#6 by andrew on 05 Jan, 2008 22:23
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This was my biggest area of apprehension when deciding to go sly or not. Since going sly, I've only worked with one customer, a large corporation, and my slyness has been well-received. But, this place is definitely less conservative than many other places I've worked. I typically work for each client about 6 months to a few years and then move on to another, so I get around alot.
I'm hoping future customers will be as open-minded as my current. Actually, maybe it will be easier arriving sly, as compared to "going sly" while working in a place. -
#7 by theebaldguy on 06 Jan, 2008 01:18
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I work in radio, so having a shaved head doesn't matter one bit in my line of work.
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#8 by Tyler on 06 Jan, 2008 02:43
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I believe I started getting more respect from customers after shaving my head. Especially from people at the executive levels. Though, this is probably more to do with my confidence going up than the length of my hair.
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#9 by D.A.L.U.I. on 06 Jan, 2008 11:22
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Shaved head was no problem at all for me as a lawyer, no adverse comments, just compliments [at least at work, now the wife--that's another matter but I think even she's learning to at least accept it in the face of so many compliments when she's there!], and lots and lots of comments that it made me look younger [those visibly piss the wife off!]. Of course, I've not been carded but still younger. I agree that the Sly look is not "counter-culture" now, if it ever really was except for the "skin head" business in the UK. Earrings, visible tatoos and spiked or mohawk hair are still pretty edgy. Slyness is just another way these days. Too bad we can't move the combover into the "out" look. Makes me cringe to see some poor b_stard w/ a few hundred strands laid out and painted down. I wish I could understand the motive to be in public looking like that--that really has to take nerves. No, anxiety about business and corporate culture reaction is a non-issue-, hear that fencers?
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#10 by Nick912 on 06 Jan, 2008 12:29
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It wasnt hard for me at all since I am in the service. But I am a recruiter and do alot of public speaking and talking to high school kids. Sometimes there will be a smart alleck who pokes fun, but that is the fun part of my job is I turn it right around back on em!
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#11 by BaldRob on 06 Jan, 2008 13:18
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It wasnt hard for me at all since I am in the service.
But you are wearing an Air Force uniform...
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#12 by Razor X on 06 Jan, 2008 13:22
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Too bad we can't move the combover into the "out" look.
I thought we already had? That look has generally been relegated to older MPB guys who've been wearing them for a very long time and haven't updated their look yet. It's very rare to see a combover on a younger guy these days.
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#13 by Nick912 on 06 Jan, 2008 13:37
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It wasnt hard for me at all since I am in the service.
But you are wearing an Air Force uniform...
HAHA Whoa Robbie!!
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#14 by herronm on 07 Jan, 2008 06:25
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I also work for a very conservative corporation, but our environment is very mixed with employees that have been here 30 and 40 years, to new graduate Engineers. I have never felt that my shaved head holds me back or has been a negative in any way.
I wasn’t the first and there seems to be many of us (there are almost 6,000 employees at this site). SLYness gives me an edge that is hard to describe, but too good to give up.
Max