Sly Bald Guys Forum

Confidence and Success => Business/Work => Topic started by: WesM on November 02, 2015, 11:04:11 AM

Title: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: WesM on November 02, 2015, 11:04:11 AM
Hey guys,

I was just wondering what your thoughts on going to interviews for white collar jobs with a good size beard are? I'm currently letting my beard grow for about 6 weeks before I trim it up and make it look more "professional". I still have a semester left in college so I have plenty of time.

I'm prior military so the idea of not shaving for a job interview is counter to my nature. Also my field is in accounting which makes it even more counter culture. Most people would agree that the accounting field is one of the most conservative industries possible. A shaved head with a beard is a fairly aggressive look, especially on a young guy.

Ideally I would shave for the interview and just grow it back after I got the job, but I feel like that's sort of lying/deceitful behavior. I really like the idea of a professional looking beard with a shaved head though.

Any thoughts? Or better yet any actual experiences in this area? Am i just screwed?
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: Cave Dweller on November 02, 2015, 11:49:53 AM
I have had a beard at every interview since I graduated college. It never was an issue.

I think, however, that it has a lot to do with the attitude of the company. I interviewed with a firm once that rejected me during the interview because I wore a pair of expensive loafers with my suit rather than wingtips. One of the interviewers had a full beard.

My last two interviews were with the smooth dome. (I had a bushy goat and a scruffy, three week beard at more recent of the two.) Got both of the jobs.

I don't see anything dishonest about shaving for the interview, however, if it gets you past any appearance perceptions/biases of the interviewers and lets them consider just your abilities and qualifications. You probably will be dressed much nicer for the interview than you will be  for every day of the job. I don't think anyone would call that dishonest.
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: Sly Red on November 02, 2015, 12:04:20 PM
I what city are you interviewing?

Red
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: Semi-Sly on November 02, 2015, 01:05:15 PM
There are only a couple of places here in Chicago where the beard would not be acceptable:
- a couple of arch conservative blue blood law firms
- one or two of the banks that hold the money for these folks, (e.g. the Northern Trust.  At the Northern you would be sent home if you wore colored socks!)
 
In almost any other setting a beard is acceptable. However, it needs to be very well groomed and trimmed.  It can't be more than an inch thick at the greatest and it can't be "scruffy".  No wooly necks.  No lumberjack beards. No Hipster looks.  When people send out their accountants or bring them to meetings they want their best corporate image out their!

So not worry about the 'deceitful" thing.  Do whatever, is going to GET you the job and then KEEP  the job based upon your performance, (not your appearance).  If you are either more comfortable going into interviews clean cut and athletic looking, or if you think that look might be more appealing to potential employers, then I would counsel you to do that.  You can always grow the beard back if you discover that it is accepted in the workplace you get into.
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: Razor X on November 02, 2015, 01:10:22 PM
I'm an accountant. Had a shaved head and a goatee when I got hired -- and I was hired by a guy with a shaved head and goatee.  I later grew out to a full beard and it's not been a problem.
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: SlyMike on November 02, 2015, 02:50:55 PM
I work in accounting and have a full beard and shaved head, and have had no problems regarding it.
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: Sir Harry on November 02, 2015, 05:10:15 PM
Welcome, Wes!

First, thanks for your service. Secondly, unless specified, beards should not be a detriment to getting a job. I work in a plant, and the rules on beards is that they are permitted as long as it doesn't interfere with the wearing of a dust mask. As far as the corporate world, I don't think they can deny you a job just on the basis of having a beard, but any decent employer will tell you about beard restrictions if there are any. Good luck!
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: tobler1 on November 02, 2015, 05:21:10 PM
Provided the beard is neat and tidy, I don't think it should be an issue.  I've worked as both a lawyer and a teacher, and it's never been a problem for me.
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: slybeard on November 02, 2015, 07:20:44 PM
I would not think of it as an issue, but check out the companies you interview with ahead of time to see if they have a policy.  You could call their HR departments and ask the question anonymously or if you know any current or former employees they could give you some incite on the company.
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: Razor X on November 02, 2015, 07:28:14 PM
Also, go on LinkedIn and see if you can find the people who are going to interview you -- it's a good way to prepare for whatever questions they might ask you.  If there are pictures and if one of them has a beard, you know you have nothing to worry about!
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: Laser Man on November 03, 2015, 04:38:22 PM
My company is fairly conservative, but neither shaved heads nor beards are uncommon in our white collar / professional staff.  The main thing is to look neat and professional and come across as poised and confident. 

If you decided to shave before the interviews and then grow your beard back, I don't think you're being deceitful.  It's not much different than a guy getting a really good haircut just before going for an interview, then letting his hair grow after getting the job.
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: wpruitt on November 03, 2015, 04:53:06 PM
Also, go on LinkedIn and see if you can find the people who are going to interview you -- it's a good way to prepare for whatever questions they might ask you.  If there are pictures and if one of them has a beard, you know you have nothing to worry about!
Good idea ... Had never thought about trying to blend into the corporate culture with looks.
Title: Re: Beard in the workplace?
Post by: ThePangolin on November 07, 2016, 07:16:34 AM
Ive found it interesting that in my field (private contract Officer), we are not supposed to have any facial hair. All documentation includes policies that reflect the need for a clean shaven face, not only to prevent a non-professional look, but also to keep the uniform look between officers.

When I first started in this field, my first interview i decided to keep my facial hair, but trim it well and not say a word about it. The best way to avoid an issue is to keep your mouth shut. Thankfully, i didnt say a word and the interviewer brought my beard up on his own, and asked "are you willing to remove your facial hair if we offer you the job?", to which i replied "well Sir, i will do what i need to do to obtain and retain this job."

After a few weeks of hiring processes and training, i still had no shaven my beard and mustache. My interviewer (now boss) mentioned in passing about three weeks after hiring "you need to get that beard shaved off, or at the least do a small short goatee like mine." I replied "yes sir, i will trim it." (Notice i said trim, not shave)

I worked under that captain for six months and never altered my facial hair. It was never brought up again.

Now i have worked in a position under a new captain for 8 months, and have never been asked to shave my facial hair at all, even during the interviews and training. About six months into this job i had formed a great relationship with my captain who happened to be a Christian like me, and i asked "sir, why hasn't my beard been a issue?" And he said "Well, when you walked into my office for your interview i knew i needed you to work with us, and the beard never bothered me a bit. If bending that rule is what it takes to have you with us, i can make that exception. Just dont rub it in to anyone else that im letting you keep a beard!"

So all that to say i suppose having facial hair depends on your job field, and on how people perceive and value you. If you are humble and authoritative and prove you are an asset, your minor discrepancies will likely be overlooked. Besides, unless there is a strict rule against facial hair that cannot or will not be bent, or you have a horribly unkept (or any beard larger than half an inch in length) you shouldnt have any issues.