Job interview. To cut or not too cut the hair?

[cassanova]

I was recently contacted by a residential counseling facility from a resume I submit a long time ago. I've never working in that type of environment, so I'm not sure what to expect as far as their acceptable grooming standards are. Didn't think to ask them about it either. Nonetheless, the job sounds fairly promising so far. I'll find out more about it in a couple of weeks when I interview.

Someone (my mother) put it in my head that my long hair might be an issue and keep me from getting the job. As far as I know, it hasn't prevented me from getting a job in my field in the past. The reasons I usually got was "you're qualified, but we have other applicants that have much more experience than you do." I'm also well aware that some employers are stuck in the stone ages and consider men with long hair to be unprofessional in appearance.

I haven't had a haircut in almost a decade now and really don't want to cut it. Don't get me wrong, I would cut it if offered the job as a stipulation for employment, but don't want to cut it, in case I don't land the job.

Some of my close friends are saying play it safe and cut it. There are only 2 of them that are tellling me not too. One of them is also very rebellious and with his attitude wouldn't be able to land a job at McDonalds, so I'm not taking his too seriously.

Just curious to see what the community here would do in the same situation.

[MatticusMania]

I have the strangest sense of Deja Vu right now...

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I have the strangest sense of Deja Vu right now...

Yeah, me too, cause I cut it all off once when I was younger and didn't get the job.

[Jazz Ad]

Originally Posted by cassanova

employers are stuck in the stone ages and consider men with long hair to be unprofessional in appearance.

Unless you're in IT or show business, men with long hair are indeed unprofessional in appearance.
It doesn't prevent you from doing a good job but all things equal they will go for the short hair dude.
It doesn't make sense but that's how it works.
Fortunately for you, hair can be cut. A lot of employers apply the same kind of prejudice to blacks, portoricans or women.

[mrpackerguy]

tie it back in a way that looks professional.

[MJ5150]

Don't cut it for the interview, but mention that you are willing to do so if it means you get the job.

-Mike

[Jazz Ad]

+1. That's the right way to approach it.

[over_the_moon]

Go mullet. Business in the front...

[elgecko]

I remember asking one of my geology professors the very same question. He asked me if I wanted work for a place that wouldn't hire me simply because of the length of my hair. I'm still a long hair!

[Phendyr_Loon]

No pix, no hair.

What kind of length are we talking here?

Neatly groomed and an unkept mess are two different things.

I've seen men in professional positions with long hair. But they looked more like a tied back hair Billy Sheenan instead of an '80 tourbus bender Tommy Lee .

Also, MJ5150 has the right idea.

[RosieB]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Don't cut it for the interview, but mention that you are willing to do so if it means you get the job.

-Mike

This.

My son cut his rather long hair when he was looking for a job because he thought it would help. Really regretted it afterward, and it didn't matter to the people who hired him. Long would have been fine.

Though now he's getting ready to look for a more professional "corporate" type job and I think the short hair will help him more for that.

With counseling, it's hard to tell. I worked for a counseling center for 8 years and hair length was not an issue when it came to who they hired.

So, I still say "this." Pull it back, look professional, offer to cut it if you get vibes about it. And good luck with the interview!

[bottomzone]

The less of a distraction that you are, the better the impression that you can make. I'd say cut it-you can always grow it back later. Which is more important-a job or your hair?

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Fortunately for you, hair can be cut. A lot of employers apply the same kind of prejudice to blacks, portoricans or women.

"Portoricans?" What's a "portorican?"


: D

[MEKer]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

"Portoricans?" What's a "portorican?"


: D

I am not too sure, but I think it is a salesman of portable things like briefcases, umbrellas, etc. ?? Maybe?


As to the hair thing: either
1. tie it back and offer to cut if necessary OR
2. get a Bieber "do" but with plenty of gel OR
3. do the whole Farrah Fawcett "windblown" thing---maybe they'll think you're hot


In any event-I hope you get the job.

[Papa Dangerous]

I really dig the idea of not cutting it, but telling them you are willing to do so if you get the job and it is required. I cut my hair after 3 years for job interviews. The job I got... one dude has dreads down to his lower back, manager has a long pony tail, a few others have long hair too. They did not drug test either.

My hair is slowly growing back... I regret cutting it! It was so powerful!

[arbitrary]

I worked in a residential facility at a very prominent mental health hospital with a full sleeve. I wore a suit in the interview & then asked my supervisor my first week. He didn't have a problem with them being visible. There's some comparison & tattoos are way worse than long hair. I'm for tying it back, making it look professional & letting them know you'll cut it.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by Phendyr_Loon

No pix, no hair.

What kind of length are we talking here?

Neatly groomed and an unkept mess are two different things.

I've seen men in professional positions with long hair. But they looked more like a tied back hair Billy Sheenan instead of an '80 tourbus bender Tommy Lee .

Also, MJ5150 has the right idea.

Oh, it's pretty long. I usually wear it pulled back in a tail like in the one pic, when I'm at work, out and about, social functions, etc.

[Musiclogic]

Pulled back like in pic 2, you may get away with it, Pic 1...probably be better served as a DJ at a Kansas Suburban hiphop club...LMAO

ok...Maybe Gainesville for you

[cassanova]

My friend Lisa was helping me prep for the interview tonight and will be until I go to it. She's in the counseling profession as well, but working with children and their families. (abuse, etc) She and her husband are both saying what many here are. Don't cut for the interview, but let them know I'm willing to cut if offered the job.

The interviewer and I spoke on the phone the other day when he was telling me a bit about the job and pre-qualifying me. Through the course of conversation he found out I'm a working musician on the side. To my surprise, so is most of the staff. I can't help but wonder if he might already assume I have long hair. Most people associate musicians with having long hair, so it's not out of the realm of possibility to think, he might already suspect mine is long. (yes, I know, I'm rationalizing)

Originally Posted by RosieB

With counseling, it's hard to tell. I worked for a counseling center for 8 years and hair length was not an issue when it came to who they hired.

This is what I'm learning. I haven't had huge number of interviews since I got fired from my first job in the field. The one's I did have shot me down for more experienced applicants, but I'm fairly observant, and notice certain things, they were primarily dominated by women, a couple of men I noticed had long hair, though most didn't, some were laid back atmospheres and were wearing jeans and pull over shirts, the first place I worked for, one of the guys wore sweat pants and basket ball jerseys all the time, a couple were business casual, one place was dress pants/dress shirt, and very professional, some guys had full sleeve tats, others not a tattoo in sight. It's the most oddball profession when it comes to dress codes that I've ever seen.

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

Pulled back like in pic 2, you may get away with it, Pic 1...probably be better served as a DJ at a Kansas Suburban hiphop club...LMAO

ok...Maybe Gainesville for you

That literally made me LMAO.

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by cassanova

My friend Lisa was helping me prep for the interview tonight and will be until I go to it. She's in the counseling profession as well, but working with children and their families. (abuse, etc) She and her husband are both saying what many here are. Don't cut for the interview, but let them know I'm willing to cut if offered the job.

The interviewer and I spoke on the phone the other day when he was telling me a bit about the job and pre-qualifying me. Through the course of conversation he found out I'm a working musician on the side. To my surprise, so is most of the staff. I can't help but wonder if he might already assume I have long hair. Most people associate musicians with having long hair, so it's not out of the realm of possibility to think, he might already suspect mine is long. (yes, I know, I'm rationalizing)

I find people also associate long hair with drug use. I wish long hair was associated with something other than drug use, like 'an extreme longing for cake'. People would see a guy with long hair and say "damn, that ****er eats cake, he's on bundt cake". Mothers telling their daughters "don't bring the cake-eater over here anymore, he smells like flour. Did you notice how his eyes widened when he found out your birthday was fast approaching?"

- Mitch Hedberg -