new thread
Just wondering what some of you guys do for a living. Now that I'm in college I would never want to major in something that would have me working at a uptight job where long hair isn't welcome. I don't know what what yet but forest ecologist seems cool.
Id say the only real solution is to start your own business, atleast thats what it seems like for me. Since I dont plan on cutting my hair after college it seems the best way to avoid rejection is to start my own business where im the boss and i set all the rules.
i work as a truck driver. no hassels there. alot of truck drivers with long hair. atleast you dont play baseball for the ny yankees george steinbrenner makes every yankee cut there hair and no facil hair, he made jason giambi cut his hair when he first came to the yankees and he had shoulder length hair
You have to realize though, that you have to interact with people who have a direct influence on your business. What type of business? What is your customer base. Will you be working with bankers and finance people. Will you be attending trade shows? There is much more to it than just being the boss and setting the rules.
Big George
Forest ecology seems like it would be a longhair friendly field. Pretty much any science field isn't going to care if you have long hair. That is one of the many reason I am going into pharmacy. Long hair is a non-issue. All they require is that you have it tied back while working.
I work as a midrange collector for a credit agency. Large office room with rows of desks. They didn't even ask me about my dreads when I interviewed.
That "Ball" Guy
www.thatballguy.com
Helgast,
Your report of your first day at college was a hoot. Did you way Queens College? All the divisions of NYC University system are suprior, and you will do well. Just put up with the bureaucratic BS and you will learn to work the system.
What Jobs?
I believe we have turned a corner, and that it really does not matter as long as we dress appropriately for the situation.
I am a clinical psychologist and we are expected to be a bit non-conformist. There is lots of long hair at APA Conventions, but worn by folk who are dressed neatly, clean, speaking standard english if with a variety of accents, and interacting with people of all strips with open curiosity, politeness and acceptance of diversity.
I interact with lots of physicians and lawyers in my work, and there is no shortage of long haired men there, including folk like myself with bi-lateral earrings: but repeat: dressed neatly...etc.
There are a few situations when you are going to be blackballed because you have long hair, but there are as many situations in which you will be given a leg up for your individuality as long as you are, repeat: dressed meatly...etc.
Friendsm The future is ours.
Caledonian
Hello,
I work as a computer tech at a Montreal University. Academic milieus (esp. higher learning) have no problems with long hair. It can be in research, libraries, or teaching, long hair is very visible in the university milieu.
Have a nice day,
Georges in Montreal.
Computer Science. I've found that being a computer nerd, you can get away with long hair quite easily. I one bothers me at work about my hair.
It is my experience that it seems in Taiwan longhair isnt an issue (due to some politics involving hair in the past..?) but some jobs require VERY conservative look....
Banks... Okay I seen some bankers here on this board but the general consensus is that banks are very anal about hair and it is likely they will enforce it too. Many banks in Taiwan requires almost a militaristic haircut.
Armed Forces... Okay this is bloody obvious.... dont even think of starting any kind of political activism about this, because they just don't care. If you enlisted they can kick you, and if you're drafted they can either court martial you for disobeying orders, or leave you in the brig until you cut your hair.
Law Enforcement... Almost same as Armed Forces... image is more important than anything else.
For other jobs like office type jobs you can just look for better bosses, cause some office jobs require haircuts, other might not. I haven't seen any computer jobs that requires haircuts, however due to its popularity it is a VERY competitive field. If you plan to work IT make sure you got what it takes cause IT employers have very little patience for learning curve, and they will fire you if you don't know what you're doing in less than a week.
I work in the medical records department of a hospital. It's great because I have my own desk, can listen to whatever music I want during the day, and can have my hair as long as I want.
Avoid anything that's "customer facing". Sales is something you want to avoid, unless the business is known for being longhair friendly (e.g., guitar salesman, art dealer).
Location is probably as important as what the job is. As a general rule, don't work at a bank and do be a computer programmer, but if the bank is in San Francisco and the IT job is Kansas City, then the tables are turned.
As a general rule, in the US, stick to the coasts and avoid the middle of the country--unless it's a college town. Most, but not all, college-level academic environments will be friendly.
If you are good at what you do, and are patient, you can "break the rules". I've seen doctors and lawyers with ponytails. Police, firefighter, and military is probably the only career path that's off-limits (with the exception of undercover assignments in police work, or "blending in" as part of a special force, which I'm not counting because it's an exception).
eh, not so sure about that part. I bet Minneapolis and Chicago and Cleveland are okay for long hairs and they aren't on the coasts.
You're absolutely right about that. I haven't ever had a problem with work in Minneapolis, and I know from friends and family that there are even better opportunities for people in Minnesotan towns further up north like Duluth, Two Harbors, Virginia, etc. where there is a higher percentage of scandinavian immigrants. I know that many of the conservative norse immigrants in Two Harbors look up to long hair, while sometimes even frowning on short hair :)
I work in retailing, and it's been no problem.
Most of the natural sciences: Geology, Archeology, Oceanography, etc.
....and of course there is always, Klingon Warrior,
Dean of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry or
“Pro” Wrestling !! HA!
You can pretty much get any job where there isn't a uniform! It may take longer to get hired, but it won't stop you. I have even seen a male bank teller with waist length hair.
I am a patent agent and I work in a law firm. I have known a couple of attorneys with shoulder length hair, and one of them is a partner in a fairly large firm. I can't say I've met male attorneys with hair as long as mine, but there was a male paralegal with even longer hair in one firm where I worked.
why don't you tell us what country you are in? it does no good for us to tell you about jobs in Canada for example, if you are in New Zealand.
I work in a library, and find it to be pretty long-hair friendly. Only positive comments from my co-workers, and it didn't seem to be any obstacle towards my getting hired there.
I really couldn't be happier with my job, working at a library is great!
I'm in the Library Field also and I've never had a problem. I attribute it to being among books and knowledge...and "knowledge"... says that a person's hair has nothing to do with anyone other than the person who prefers to wear their hair in anyway they so wish ...I hope the rest of the employable world would follow that sane example!
Back on the board for the first time in 5 weeks since moving house - good to be back!
I work as an IT Support & Development Technician for an insurance intermediary in the UK. I didnt have long hair when i started working for the company in 2004 but I've never had a bad word said about it. I regually have to visit the Managing Director and I work in what we refer to as the 'management office' where the HR manager works and we have a director in there too, so im pretty sure its not a problem.
Hi
helgast
Hows things with you now a days ???
Actually Im between jobs at the moment so I can answer from my previous works place which was a foundry, working for an America company anyway alot of company sold and bought my actual place of employment but when this America company took over they decided to bring some rules in that all workers should be smartly dressed with the logos on the tie-shirts and jumpers also all the male workers should have Short hair I at the time had long hair and I got asked if i would agree to say yes at first i did agree until a Supervisor I didnt like because he was a grass requested the same thing, so I did the opposite and kepted my long hairanyway they couldnt do anything about the facted i had long hair because it wasnt retroactive ( Nothing was in the current contract to say the male work force had to wear there hair short at all times )you see I had the last laugh as I wasnt going to sign a new contract unless they bought my old one of me haha !!!
Axel
Just keep growing your hair and as/when you get a job if there are issues with dress code don't bother with the job.
PI.
I'm a student but I work in a computer store parttime, I repair, build and sell computers. I do wear my hair in a ponytail when i work though.. Haven't tried going to work with my hair loose but i dont think my boss will like it.
I'm majoring in physics. My hair has had no bearing on this decision (I decided long before I started growing my hair), but scientists are laid back people. Except for the uptight ones. :)
http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/e/fotos/einstein.jpg
http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/e/fotos/einstein.jpg
Some people would consider that long.
And this is just off the top of my head. Go watch some science documentaries. :▬P