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I may have a job opportunity coming up. It's for a position as a network administrator for a large company. I do not want to cut my hair, but I really need a better job. I have three options:
1. Keep my hair long, tie it back, and hope for the best.
2. Cut it to collar length, slick it back with gel, and let it grow back out after getting hired.
3. Cut it short and grow it again from scratch.
I really want to go with option 3, and the person hiring may very well have nothing against it, but I need a better job, this is the first opportunity I've had in almost 11 years, and I don't want to take any chances. Hair can always be regrown, but this job won't be available for long.
I'd welcome any advice at this point.
Oops... I meant to say I want to go with option 1.
Wow, That's a difficult one! You are really the best person to decide on that.You have youth on your side and you hair will regrow. If you do cut for the job, it'smuch easier, once you're established, to let your hair grow with you - and you collegues will hardly notice! I've had mine cut in the past to get a job and then regrown. It can be a painful choice. But whatever you decide, good luck and best wishes.Ian
You just answered your own question imo
Dunno about the US but in IT in the UK a lot of people/men have long hair and there is no issue nor should there be - and, as people have said you may or may not get the job anyway or you may get it and hate it after 3 weeks. Wear something nice (amart/casual whatever is appropriate over there), ponytail, be clean and you'll be fine.
Always remember you are interviewing them too so dont let yourself get into a panic - and good luck!
Option 1 is the only one. Cutting it off won't be a guarantee that you'll get the job. One time I had hair around shoulder length and I took a job that was temporary that may have become full time if they liked my work (but it required me to cut my hair). I cut my hair to around chin length, took the job and after about an hour of working, they determined that I was taking too long to learn the job so they paid me for only an hour and let me go.
p.s. This temporary job was with Eastern Airlines around 1985 and they went bankrupt a few years later (Karma can be a real 'B' sometimes (lol)).
Michael,
Try to find out more about the company, in stealth mode if necessary. You mentioned this is a large company ~ is there any way you (or a friend of yours) can go into their building and walk around, looking at the hair on the male employees? Do they have a cafeteria where you can observe the employees and possibly talk to a couple of them? Have a friend or family member call (but use a different phone - you don't want their caller ID to show YOUR last name or anything that connects the call to you) and pretend to be interested in the job, and ask about written/unwritten policies on male grooming. Does this company have a web site with a "hiring" section that lays out dress and grooming expectations for employees?
You definitely need more information before you make a decision to cut your hair. Also, how attached to your hair are you ~ will cutting it be "only" a major bummer, or will it seriously affect you in an adverse way?
Wishing you the best of luck in both the job and being able to keep your mane.
I totally agree with Laura's advice (below). You really need to suss out the firm.
In my own firm (in the UK), long hair is so commonplace in the IT dept it's almost mandatory! In fact, the boss is actually MORE likely to hire a guy with long hair as with his mentality he wouldn't take a short-haired guy so seriously. Silly perhaps but that's the attitude here.
I guess to my boss longhaired guys LOOK the part!
Damon
Not an easy choice!
Is it possible to find out in advance what the policy is? Do you know anybody who already works there?
Nothing (well, not much) would be worse than taking option three and finding that the interviewer has a waist length ponytail and beard.
I can't help but agree with this. There's also a fair chance that you'll cut your hair and still not get hired because they picked someone else. That would also be a major bummer.
That reminds me of a law firm where I used to work. Cue annoyed recently hired lawyer "Damn, I cut my hair to get this job, and then I meet you!" (meaning me), LOL!
No 1 is the best option. However it is more measured that "hope for the best".
What evidence do you have that hair is even an issue?
Why is your hair being interviewed.
Are you going to be meeting crusty old farts in the course of the job who would be biased simply because you do not comply with their idea of the norm?
If you consider yourself to be a strong candidate then those strengths should show at interview.
Turn up in a decent suit, shave and then go for it.
Your greatest concern is that if there is genuinely a stronger candidate and you do not get the job, you will blame your hair.
You don't say whether you're working now or if they've made an
official offer. I'd point out if you've been unemployed there
are jobs where they specify no unemployed may apply.
Even if you cut your hair are you guaranteed the job?
Could they hire someone who is related to the boss and/or
will work for less?
I feel you, man. Right now, I'm in the same situation. I am waiting on a government agency that I applied for a job with to begin the hiring process, too. It is in the State Dept. of Education here in Oklahoma City. I worked as a temp in another office in the same building not too long ago. I was there for about a year and definitely know that option #1 will work in that building--at least it has for a number of people I know of. I'm glad of that, because I haven't even reached my length goal for my hair yet, and won't consider cutting it. I hope you have good luck in your situation.
Steve
i worked for state government in Florida many years ago, don't even consider going into a job interview at any government agency. with long hair especially the southern U.S. James/Tampa,Fl (i guarantee it will affect your being hired)
First off, where do you reside?
If it's on the West coast you probably could go with option #1, but here in the south you would probably have a better chance with option #3 getting hired which is unfortunate.
I don't think it would be an issue in the New York area, but I could be wrong.
good luck regardless of which option you choose!
OK, I look at it this way,if you were a woman this wouldn't even be an issue so with that said I'd just go with option #1.In reality if you are qualified then who gives a hang if you hair is long.Personally if it were thrown up to me that yes, you can have the job but only if you cut your hair I'd walk away because I would hate that person during my employment making me give up something that means A LOT to me for no good reason whatsoever.Maybe you would feel differently but that's how I feel.I'd just walk into that interview with confidence and not even thinking my hair being an issue because it shouldn't and if you make it one maybe it would be.I wish you the best my friend.
Mark
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I say keep your hair. What guarantee is there of getting that job? There are probably several other applicants trying to get that job too. It's like throwing dice. Odds are probably high that someone else will get that job, even if you cut your hair.
Scott
Only you, and you alone, can make whatever decisions you feel are best to make re. your own life.
After having said the above, however, it might be helpful for me to share a conversation I had with a longhaired contractor I met shorty after I cut my own hair short in Y2K. I was working in the garden right across the street from his construction project, and the topic of hair came up (because he noticed that I had cut it back then).
He told me that the only time he had ever cut his hair short for a job was 25 years ago; but a few weeks after working at that job, he could tell the job was definitely not right for him -- and then he vowed never to cut his hair short for any job ever again...
This conversation happened in the summer of 2000, and it was one of the reasons I felt inspired to make a commitment like that to myself as well. The bottom of his braid reached his belt at the time I met him -- probably his terminal length. He also mentioned the fact that his wife would not be happy if he ever cut it, and that no job was worth doing that...
Wise words from a long-time longhair -- words that have continued to this day to keep me on "the straight & narrow" of being true to myself, if nothing else.
Don't be fooled by this "dilemma": you should be hired because of your skills & ability, not your hair.
I hope my comments have helped!
- Ken in San Francisco
Lots of good advice here. You've all given me quite a bit of food for thought. I guess location could make a difference. I'm in Michigan, which tends to be more liberal about hair than the deep south, but not as much as the west coast. I am working now, so if I didn't get the job I'd still have my current income and it wouldn't be a total loss.
Looks like I have some research to do.
Thank you, everyone!
Cutting before you know the job requirements ???
seems like you would tie it back and do the interview and see if it will be a problem or deal killer then make your decision
Hi Michael. I guess I am a ratehr fortunale one who 1. is on the west coast where longhair is more common place, and 2> I am in a profession where longhair is even more common. .. You might approach it like this. I assume you have not had an interview. Most important is to of course dress correctly for the interview. I would ask the interviewer with out them even bringing it up if your hair is an issue for getting the job, and at the work place?, This way they know your awae of it adn are addressing a concern they may or may not have b ut its looks better that oyu are aware of it and it shows you are interested in the job adn even appear to make some dsort of comprimose or consession of getting the job. I have never had a problem and I work with clients and internal customers adn external customers and have never been even approached at work about my hair. I actually asked my boss a number of years ago if my hair was an issue in anyway. Lucky for my he said no, not at all, but I think he appriciated that I asked. So I would go that route. After hired no matter the hair, your work will speak the volumes anyway adn tats what they will look at. I wish oyu the very best. Take care and good luck!
Before the interview, tell your interviewer about your long hair and how important it is to you. Tell also how much the position mean to you. Your assertiveness can only give the interviewer more respect for you. No one likes a wimp. If you show yourself to be wimpy to your boss, then your boss will not respect you either. People appreciate those who exude confidence. It helps getting the ladies too. I know. Be who you want to be a winner at life.