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Hi - I read the board occasionally but have never posted much. I'm looking for some advice regarding hairstyles when interviewing for jobs - I've been looking for a long time (6 months), and just got my first two interviews, both of which are scheduled for next week - so basically, I can't screw this up. One is for an academic research group, which I figure wouldn't care much, and the other is for a position in marketing, which I figure would care. The marketing interview is just a phone interview, though if everything goes well I'm sure I'd be there in person at some point. I have shoulder-length hair and haven't had a trim in a while, so it looks layered but not ratty/bumish. I was going to go with a ponytail, but IMO I look horrible with a ponytail - it just really doesn't work for me at all. So, I was thinking of just neatening it up and tucking it behind my ears. I was also considering cutting a lot off, and going that route, simply because with the state of the economy plus my soon-to-be unemployed-ed-ness (I'll be a grad student for another month), I really can't mess up the interview. I've even gotten a few books just on how to interview to make sure I get offers.
So, any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
IMHO reading about how to interview is a waste of time. Just try to look your best and put your best foot forward, and everything else falls into place. Nobody is looking for employees who are good at job interviews.
LOL, yes, very true statement there, electros! The sad part, though, is that I have been told that it unfortunately IS the people who are good at interviewing that DO get the jobs, --- and that those are usually NOT the most qualified people!
I took a 3-day workshop / course from EDD (Employment Development Department) once when I was briefly unemployed (when still in my 20s). The teacher that I had for this class here in SF I felt was very helpful, and gave out some great info & tips that I feel helped me in many ways that I didn't know about before. It's all about coming across confident and capable and eager to do the job, --- in essence, "selling yourself" (while at the same time, coming across as still humble - LOL)....
They say that aggressive New Yorkers, for example, are always the best at getting a job. Now, as far as being able to KEEP a job.... Well, I guess that's an entirely different story (ROFL)!!!
- Ken
Damn, must of been that "humble" thing that kept screwing me up!
Hi Dave25,
A decision to cut your hair that's solely based on fear and desparation is just that: a haircut that happened because you listened to fear and desperation!
The constant, "What IF...?" questions that can parade through one's mind whenever anxiously unemployed are easy to give into (as well as totally understandable, considering your stated circumstances); but, looking at a job from a more rational viewpoint, what you *really* want is: a good job MATCH!!!!
Jobs that are not a good match with your current general knowledge/education, standard of ethics, job qualifications, and personality are not going to last long (TRUST ME when I say this, --- I speak from a lot of experience on this issue - LOL)....
A boss that will only hire you for whatever your exterior image presents is not a boss who will be looking for your true INNER capabilities.
During your upcoming interviews next week, as long as you show up neat & clean in appearance, all you have to do after that is simply convince them of your enthusiasm, your eagerness to do a good job for them, your honesty, trustworthiness, dependability, reliability, teachability, etc., etc., etc... A good & fair boss already knows: HAIR LENGTH DOES NOT MATTER!!!
They might ask you to tie your hair back for the job, --- and that's OK, because it's only for those 8 hours that you are working. Where I draw the line is when/if they mention cutting. I will no longer do that for a job. I did that for many years, and those jobs never were quite right for me.
I usually wear my hair tied back in a bun, and am required by law to wear a hairnet or hat (I cook and supervise in a small kitchen at a nursing home). In California, I'm grateful to say that we have very fair state laws that are longhair-friendly (the only jobs that can require haircuts for men have to also state the same hair-length requirements for women).
Try, if you can, not to make a rash and sudden haircut decision based on feeling too desparate. I realize that this is, "easier said than done!" But, unless you are feeling totally financially destitute and under somebody's gun to have that job by "yesterday", than just try to hang in there and show up for those interviews as yourself.
Having said the above, if you still feel that a modest trim (AKA "dusting") would make you look just a little bit neater and feeling a hair bit more confident, then by all means, do whatever it takes to make you feel your best before walking into that potential boss's door! Other than that, I see no reason to put undue emphasis on your exterior qualities, when the real gold of a great employee always depends upon the qualities that one brings to the job from WITHIN.
My best to you!!
- Ken in San Francisco
Dave,
I don't think you'll find any advice better than what Ken has just given you.
--Val