new thread
Hey, I was wondering if any of you have had any significant troubles while searching for a job during the "bad-hair" stage of growth. I know that most employers prefer short hair and that many have few or no problems with long hair, which looks nice, but the awkward stage just looks terrible all around, at least for me. I've gone almost 5 months without a haircut, and while I'm not into the awkward stage yet, I will be when summer hits and I'm looking for a job. I'm leaning towards Borders because they're a nice indoors place and I've seen people working there who have long hair, nose piercings, etc. in other words I don't think they discriminate at all. Does anyone have any experience with awkward-stage job-hunting? Thanks in advance.
i'm also going to be job hunting soon...and i'm in the awkward stage unfortunately, and that for me is terrible because of my extremely wavy hair :(. hopefully i'll be able to get a good job and let my hair keep growing. hope the same for you mark!
not in the awkward stage after 5 months!!!
ive been growing mine for about 3-4 months and it is terrible it is not helped by the fact that my hair is wavy/curly but i am aslo job hunting and the few i have applied for i have decided to get my hair layered to help it look more presentible because believe me employers will discriminate they wont actually say anything but if they can get someone who looks more presentible who can do the same as you then they will its happened to me before
I've been a longhair for most of the last 12 years (so I'm years beyond the awkward phase), and the hair has become an issue with potential employers for the first time in about 10 years. Full disclosure: I'm a soon-to-be-attorney in the mid-west, and my difficulty in finding a job is increased by what I'm told is the worst market for law school graduates in several years. However, I'm not cutting my hair for a job and neither should you if you want to grow it out! I've always lived by the rule that if someone does not want to hire me because my hair is a little shaggy, then we're likely going to clash on many more important things so I probably don't want to work for him/her anyway. Good luck.
Agreed totally and good for you ! Live by one's principles as money doesn't even come close :-)
But bad as the job market must seem isn't it possible to set up somehow on your own ? Hey !! If you're forced to hang around for a bit why not try starting out by researching and promoting long haired men's Civil Rights ? You've already got a whole load of clients right here lol !! :-) And a lot are, or will be one day looking for a non-discriminatory job too....
How long is your hair anyway ?
Luck....:-)
Thanks. As to the length, I cut the hair about four years back and started re-growing about three years ago, so it's about midway down the back. As to starting out on my own, I'm brave enough to stand my ground on my hair, but I'm not brave enough to hang out my own shingle with no experience in a saturated market! LOL!
Moreover, the courts have ruled against us so many times that our only viable recourse toward the intolerant is to not patronize their establishments and tell them why. Theoretically, laws could be passed to protect us; I don't mean to be pessimistic, but I don't foresee that happening.
Later!
Understandable of course :-)
First and foremost I am not a lawyer (!) but I am wondering if the following might be of some interest ?
I recall seeing an article about The UK's recent Human Rights Act 1998 in particular Article 10. I've copied below a BBC's journalist's interpretation of it (halfway down page) as she seems to raise the possibility at least over here anyway that denial of any man's right to wear his hair long in the workplace is now challengeable in the UK Courts, rather than going to The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg as used to be the case before this Act was passed.
Whilst I accept that what happens over this side of the pond is of no direct consequence in the States, these sort of developments sometimes have a habit of subsequently being analysed and used to considerable advantage by directly involved and affected action groups whether originating in the USA or Europe etc.
I’m just wondering if any of this could somehow be employed via say for example the "United Nations Declaration of Human Rights" ? I would feel safe I think in assuming that the USA is a full Signatory to this back in 1948 ? If not this specifically then similar Declarations....old and/ or new ?
Obviously none of this is going to make a jot of difference in the short and mid-term but perhaps an indication of long term trends perhaps ? ….for what it's worth ? :-)
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Article 10 - Freedom of Expression
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas.
this could include the right to "expressions" like body piercing or tattoos
dress codes which use different rules for men and women (eg long hair allowed for women, but not for men) could be challenged
gay employees should also benefit; in a recent case, four army personnel who were sacked for being gay appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, which uses the same rules that are in the HRA, and won their case.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/work/life/humanrights.shtml
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 22.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html