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Why is it so hard to find a job with long hair? My hair is really long, but I keep it very neatly tied back and am clean shaven. I feel, or maybe I imagine, that I am not getting work because of it. I get looks from some guys that want to fight and looks from old farts that have a U.S.flag pinned to their lapel as if they want to shoot me. Is it not your short hair three-piece dirt bags that are really evil doers and not the long hairs.
Question: How do I market myself for work and not cut my hair? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Bob
what kind of work are you looking for?
I have a degree in English Lit.. I thought I was going to get into teaching but blew it off after substitute teaching for awhile. I am trying to get into a job with the goverment, either working in a youth correctional facility or something with Parks and Recreation. I love to be outdoors, but I also need to start making money in a really job. Even though I am 44 I only graduated from a university two and a half years ago. The problem I have been having is that I do not have a job title in mind and that leaves me open to anything. I hope this makes sence to you.
well... being open to anything would seem to enhance your chances of landing something... i don't know how you carry yourself... relating the words of a conversation with an interviewer only tells some of what's communicated. your problem (as well as that of any long-haired job hunter) is that it's perfectly legal for an employer to enforce a uniform policy that imposes a traditional haircut on its male employees. fortunately, there are some who realize that such repression of personal expression can have a detrimental effect on morale.
my best advice is not to make your hair an issue. if it is brought up, be polite but firm... don't carry yourself with an attitude- if you don't- a more enlightened hirer will see past the hair and judge you for what counts. what is your work history? a lack of recent work might not be helping you at 44. your biggest asset right now might be patience... and a temp agency. they might be able to place you somewhere where your talents can be put to good use. that way you can show a company what you can do without being subject to a repressive dress code.
You say that you blew off teaching after a stint substituting. I am a teacher, second career, for 12 years now. I am 41. I can tell you that your experience as a substitute is no way to judge. Substitutes are sitting ducks for kids. Its the old pecking order, and believe it or not, subs are lower in the order than the kids. (That there is such an order in schools is awful, but that's the way most work). Did you do any practice teaching while in college? Why did you think you wanted to teach? Do you like kids? If you are willing to go into corrections surely you might give teaching another shot, only this time as the real macoy. And for what it's worth, first year teachers are not much further up the pecking order than subs. If you like kids, if you can remember what it was like to be a kid, if you see yourself as an adovocate for young people, then give teaching another shot. Give it five years, and then decide.
B
I have been in Human Resources Management for nearly twenty years and, unless I have been misinformed all these years, a company cannot enforce a restriction on men's hair unless they do the same for women with long hair - such as safety or health reasons. A perfect example is the women who enter law enforcement work. They are required to have it secured such that someone could not grab it in an altercation.
Personally, I think long haired men are incredibly sexy and only wish there were more of you out there. Stand your grounds, my friend. And know something about theorganization before you go into the interview. Capitalize on your strengths and best of luck! And please send some of these middle aged long haired men to MY part of the country!!
Hey Bob,
This question comes up from time to time. I've had long hair for over 3 years, and my hair is mid-back right now, and I've listed below the advice that helped me the most from other board members.
Don't make any concessions about your hair during a job interview. If you are asked about your hair length, be prepared to give them a firm answer that you don't consider it either a qualification or a disqualification for the position, and then go right into your assets and skills which make you an ideal candidate for the job.
The type of work you are in seems to make a difference. I'm in computers, so it's not an issue for me, but I've heard other guys say that legal and banking jobs can be more difficult. But here's some food for thought -- I just got a major promotion at work, out of the computer stuff and into management -- so that goes to show that once an employer gets to know you and your skills, that's all that counts.
Be the best at what you do. Do your job really well, and no one will care about your hair. And like you said, you keep yours neat and tied back, so your appearance definitely shouldn't be an issue.
When you get turned down for a job, be sure to ask *exactly* why -- say something polite like, "Gee, it would really help me out in my job search if you would tell me what skill I was lacking, that you were able to find in the successful candidate." They might say more experience, lower salary requirement, or might even be honest about your hair. If so, then good for you -- you didn't want to work there anyway!
Most of all -- don't give up! Stick to your convictions, keep your hair, and keep looking for the perfect job. Let us know how it goes!
Steve
I feel that you should dress very conservative and be well groomed. To me its not how long your hair it is but how nice it looks. I would rather hire somebody with nice long hair than someone who has terrible looking short hair. Best of luck to you.
Hello,
I don't know what kind of job you are looking for. From my experiences I can say they looked if I have the skills to manage the job, if I am motivated, if I could be integrated into the stuff and if I match their needs.
It was very important to answer the questions clear and without trying to hide something, to give an impression that I will be a reasonable coworker.
I came to the interviews with flowing shoulder length hair and failed at the first one, I think I have violated the above mentioned rules, I couldn't answer a question resonable and I went a little bit outsite their needs. The second interview worked, although it is a job related to a very short haired and security relevant environment. My boss from the personal hiring firm begged me to put my hair into a ponytail, I do so.
wolfgang
Hi Robert,
You asked “How do I market myself for work and not cut my hair?” Good question.
My hair has averaged shoulder length to mid-back for the past 25 years. I’m here to tell you that in all reality that there is no good marketing strategy when it comes to a man that has long hair and is seeking employment. No matter what his qualifications are. However if you stand your ground and believe in yourself and what you want to accomplish in life then there is hope. Actually it isn’t you or your hair that is the problem rather then the company in which you are seeking employment. There are still a lot of employers out there that are willing to pass up hiring highly qualified individuals for positions within a company for someone with less or even no experience just so long as they fit their company “IMAGE.” When are these people going to wake up? Long hair on a man has been around since his existence and will continue to do so until his demise. Some people need to stop judging one another by what they see on the outside and start judging by who we are on the inside. In other words “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Over the years I’ve cut my hair to what I felt was a respectable length for employment. But only after knowing that I was hired for the job and that my hair was an issue within their company because they had an IMAGE, there’s that word again, to uphold. This only happened if I felt very positive about the job in which I was accepting. In reality every job that I had ever cut my hair for wasn’t worth it. Those jobs lasted anywhere from one hour to one year. The best and longest lasting jobs were those where hair was never an issue.
My previous employer had offered me a senior position with a $10K annual increase in salary. Providing that I’d cut my hair, wear more appropriate attire (because of their image) and commit to staying on as a long-term employee. It is said, “Money talks and Bulls__t walks.” If this is true then I must be made of bulls__t because I refused their offer due to their demands. While still maintaining my current position, weeks having passed by, my employer offers yet another position. This one consisted of not only a senior position but also a managerial one as well with an increase in salary greater than what had been previously offered and with no mention of length of employment, attire or hair. Truthfully they still didn’t like the hair, they just dealt with it.
E.O.E. = Equal Opportunity Employer
What does this really mean?
Here is a true story:
During an interview and tour of a company I was informed that I would need to cut my hair substantially if I were to be gainfully employed within their establishment. Well, having grown tried of hearing comments like these for so many years I just had to give a reply that would definitely give him something to think about that night. Having stated to the interviewer that during the tour I had noticed several women within their employment that had long hair. He asked “what about it?” I stated that it is discriminatory that a company would hire a woman with long hair and not a man. What if I were a woman with short hair. Would I have a better chance of gaining employment? Interview ended.
It’s your hair, your choice.
Good Luck.
You've had good advice Bob. Just be you and don't take any discriminatory crap.
I work as a therapist in the counseling business where agencies are hooked on image stuff. They think long hairs don't look professional.
When I first grew my hair out my bosses' bosses' boss had a fit. We negotiated out a pony tail, which I decorated with leather ties, beads, whatever fit.
Then I went to an agency where my boss had a pony tail too. Then left them for an agency where the owner had a long pony tail and cuffs it with expensive cuffs, barrets, etc.
I'm looking to move to still another agency where my would be boss also has a pony tail. Look around, you'll find wider acceptance than you think.
One trick I learned years ago when I was hassled for having a beard was that after the interviewer made some negative comment about my having a trim beard, or asking me to shave it, I'd act as if I'd forgotten to put something on my application and ask him for it so I could add it. When he handed it over I'd put it in my pocket, excuse myself, and leave.
They usually bluster something about needing to have the application for their record. I'd just politely tell them I had no interest in working there and the information on the application is private and I don't choose to release it to them any longer.
Bottom line, you don't want to work for anyone that would hassle you about something as petty as the length of your hair. Believe me, they'll hassle you about much more. The same boss that first hassled me about my hair tried to get me to submit my resume to an insurance provider for a client so the agency could get reimbursement for my services.....I don't think so. I'm state certified, if they can't accept that too bad.
Stand tall. When I'm doing a job interview I like to put my hair back in a tail with a fancy tail cuff, or American Indian jewelry with an elastic tie attached. Looks better than a simple elastic tie and conveys the message that I'm serious about my tail.