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I just graduated with my degree in computer science. I have been looking into working in a govornment job. I had a professional level job (ie. high responsiblities) with low pay before i graduated, and they seemed to have no problem at all with long hair. Though now that I'm looking, I seem to get the brush off even though I'm prefectly qualified. I was wondering if it would be reasonable for me to assume it was because I have long hair. Is long hair just a minor disadvantage or a huge roadblock?
The hair style is the kind where about at the temples, it's very long on the top but on the back and sides it's shaved very short. With the hair down, you can bearly tell that I shave the underside. When tied up, it looks tidy and I have a pony tail with the shaved part showing pretty good. When tied up, the end of the tail only reaches a few inches below my collar. I've always thought that when I tie my hair back, ie for interviews, that it looks very clean cut, but maybe I have been underestimating other people's perception of long hair.
I had really never thought about it until my friend suggested I cut my hair short until I find a job. I've had long hair forever and it just never occured to me it might be a setback. I just dont think that way. Any feedback would be appreiciated. I live in Austin, often considered one of the most liberal cities.
Don't blame it all on your long hair. Right now it's the most competitive job market out there since the Great Depression. Employers are currently being flooded with qualified applicants and have plenty to choose from. And having a degree is no guarantee that you'll find something right away, as I myself am finding out.
From the way you describe how you keep your hair during interviews I don't think that's a factor in their decision. So don't cut your hair. In fact in the corporate environments I've worked in, the computer professionals often do have long hair; in the same manner that people often perceive artists, they're expected to be a bit individualistic. Keep your hair and keep on looking.
Neither, you just had the misfortune to graduate when the economy is in the can. I'm an engineer with the federal government, graduated in 2000, haven't heard a word about my hair, which is about mid-back length. Check around with different agencies, there is still a shortage of computer people in many parts of the government from what I hear.
Listen, I have many years in the software development field (degree, blah, blah, blah.) Right now the H1B program (and L1 which lets in floods of immigrants from India), the great tech depression, a rather lousy hit in retirement requirements has wrecked the industry. There are a certain very few companies who will not accept you, and then only some divisions. Honestly, it will cause problems with certain people (I have always had long hair...) but it is probably not your peril (ask your fellow short-haired graduates about their job offers.) This is a desperate time in the software development industry for myself and many of my collegues (remember Russia with pHD's driving cabs?)
You should dress very well on a personal interview. If it looks professional I suggest hair gell to limit poofiness. Try contracting, they tend to hire over the phone, hehehehehehhehe.
I have been unable to find an exact development position myself or some time now. For a while it was possible to do web development but that also died. Be creative, right now I work for the military (which is very interesting in itself with long hair.) If you are going to cut your hair, join the marines (I would join the navy/army if they did not require a haircut...)
Hang in there. Consider contributing to a shareware project or another career (masters degree in something that is not easily globalized.)
Thanks for the input. I know well about the H1B program. I had done alot of reasearch in the job market before I graduated, and I thought about changing gears, but was too far into that degree path to do it.
Anyway thanks for putting me at east about the hair. I was pretty close to cutting it, its actually not that important to me (though I think my GF would be kinda pissed ;)