new thread
Hi,
Wondering if anyone has advice for getting hair under control for job interviews?
I am interviewing for a couple of companies, (as an engineer). I don't believe long hair will be an issue at at least my preferred company (several of the higher-ups have hair significantly longer than mine), however presentation is always a concern. Looking scruffy won't help me.
Are there any ways to get fly-away's and the like under control? My hair is well long enough to go up in a tail, but still has the shorter hairs that love to get all messed up.
Also any suggestions on how to treat comments related to hair would be appreciated, I don't want to come off the wrong way.
Cheers,
Matt
I have the occasional problem with short 'strays' as well. Suggest put it carefully in a tail and then tidy all the strays to where they should lie and use hair spray. That should ensure that you are not troubled by them during the interview. If the interviewers have long hair they may be familiar with the problem and not even notice!
Yep - I have a small can of "ultra hold" hair spray I keep in my briefcase for those bad hair days when I have important meetings. It means spending the next morning vigorously washing it out again but it keeps you from having hair malfunction.
AndrewB
That's what I do as well and only to add after a short first spray gently smooth the strays down barely touching them, that is to say sue an extrememly light touch. you'll avoid that hair spray look to some degree. Then spray again to keep them in place.
I hate hair spray but have made the best of it for my job. I have many strays and the gray hairs really stick out and have a mind of their own.
Good luck on the interview.
Kevin
Hair that is the same amount of messy outdoors and indoors will seem much messier to others indoors. This means, before reporting for your interview, arrive early enough to go to the men's room in the building, take out your pony tie, and comb your hair. (This applies anywhere your looks are important, not just at job interviews.) If some hair strands won't lie down, a small dab of water on them will do the trick long enough to get you through an interview.
Also, if the interview is to happen at a restaurant (yes, they do sometimes - I got interviewed for one engineering job at a restaurant), by all means sit inside. You don't want the wind blowing your hair around and getting some of it in your mouth while you are eating! Hair with globs of food in it definitely does not make a good impression.
Good luck!
Bill
Only mention your hair if they bring it up, or if it is apparent they are having thoughts about it.
You can name important previous clients who didn't give a damn about your hair because you did good work for them.
First impressions reign for about five minutes. After that, a client is interested instead in what kind of work you will do for him.
A bank teller works all day but he seldom spends more than five minutes with each customer, so his entire day is one of making first impressions. An engineer may work on a project for a month or even much more. My clients often asked for me instead of some of the pretty boys in the office because they knew I'd deliver their job on time, within their budget, in compliance with codes, designed so it actually worked, and described in the contract documents in a way that all the bidding contractors knew exactly what was required and thus would turn in bids very close to one another. One of my employer's clients once threatened to take a project of his to a different firm if my boss didn't reassign it from one of the pretty boys to me. Another client told my boss that he wanted me at a meeting, not my boss, because he wanted someone there "who actually knew something about the project".
Therefore, if a concern is expressed about what "impression" you will leave, mention items appropriate to you such as what I just said about me. Point out that clients may care for about five minutes what you look like, but for the rest of the project they will be much more interested that you don't design buildings that fall down.
Also, clients, supervisors, and co-workers care very much that you respond promptly and clearly to their queries and always leave it clear after each communication in whose court the ball now lies with regards to every item discussed. And never tell anyone, "I don't know". Instead say, "I don't know, but I'll find out." This way of working is true for any job, not just one in engineering. Point out that you are aware of this, and this is how you work.
Bill
Hi Matt,
I would have to agree with Bill and the others they have some great advice about being neat for interviews.
Like most people with longhair I gave the frizzies and a bit of hairspray does the trick. With my job I meet alot of new people everyday in my job and I really can't remember the last time that anyone mentioned it. Sometimes on a windy day I have to put the frizzies in order but I think that happens to most of us.
Good luck with the interview and hope it goes well.
Cheers,
John.B
Cheers for the thoughts,
/hoping :)
When I interviewed for my recent job about two months ago, my hair was pulled back in a tail, but being at the end of the "awkward stage" I had a few stray sections that weren't long enough to tie back and tended to hang behind and below my ears quite visibly. Just try to neaten it up as much as possible, like others have said, and it shouldn't be a problem. You can still look neat and professional even if your hair isn't picture perfect!
Mine was for an IT position at a Japanese-based automotive related company, and I was chosen over other candidates for the position. Just knock 'em dead with your personality and skills and it'll be in the bag. Good luck to you, I'm sure you'll do just fine!
Good news,
I got through the first round of interviews, one more to go, with 1:3 or so competition.
My interviewer was a guy I met before, and fellow long-hair, so it was better than expected all around - he was just as fuzzy as me :)
Well done on getting through the first round.
Just proves you never know who you might meet at the interview and well we all have the frizzies.
Good luck on the next one.
Cheers,
John.B