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I am a Computer Engineer. This is not usually a field that is associated with restrictive grooming and dress codes. I am considering an opportunity to spend a number of months at a technical college in China. It would be an interesting experience and it would give my career a huge boost. But here is my doubt. For the first time I must acknowledge that my long hair really could hold me back. I have no idea what the dress codes are in Chinese colleges but I wonder if they would accept a male staff member with long hair. I can actually visualize myself getting my hair cut to take this position, something that would otherwise be unthinkable. The job situation for computer engineers is extremely tough outside of Bangalore, India. The work I have been getting for the past year has done nothing to further my career. My resume once consisted of nothing but interesting and cutting-edge jobs. Now they are buried behind mundane and routine work that can barely be called engineering. This opportunity in China could be the break I need to move my career in a productive direction. But to get it I might have to cut my hair. I welcome your advice and analysis.
China has come a LONG way in recent years. Intel, Microsoft, and many other tech firms are doing business there. Intel has an assembly plant there.
I haven't been there myself, but I know people who have gone. I can tell you that a number of them have relatively long hair. None had any issue with it. In fact, many told me about compliments and general curiosity from the people there.
The most important thing is to know the customs and traditions and follow them. Learn about what to do and what not to do. Some things that are normal and acceptable here are offensive in Chinese society. Learn about that (which I imagine would be a requirement through your company) and you'll be just fine.
There is no need to cut your hair. Many a long-haired westerner has been there.
Long hair is common in modern China and revered by many.
My advise is this, I did cut my hair once to keep my job, I thought the $ would make everything ok, it didn't and I was very unhappy, and sometimes took it out on others, because I was so frustrated. I have since grown it back, and recently was laid off. I know it will be hard to find something, but I will just have to be persistant. I suggest you see if you can get the job, don't bring up the hair and see what happens. If the hair becomes an issue, either live under somebodys thumb or do what makes you happy. I bet if you kept your self very neat, and all that, youd be ok.
When people from other countries work in the US, their cultural choices & habits
are usually respected, especially when they are well-educated.
Ask around; question those who have worked and studied in China,
how those people actually feel and react toward non-Chinese
students and employees with LONG HAIR!
Who knows, they may actually be in awe of you...
"you will be a 'foreigner'..."
That's exactly what I was thinking!
Most of my work as a European patent attorney is for Japanese clients. Contact is generally by fax, mail or e-mail, but I do a promotional visit to Osaka and Tokyo once a year. The Japanese seem to expect foreigners to be bizarre, so I'm hoping that will get me by as my hair grows longer. I expect the situation will be similar in China.
And I suspect Longhairs may be seen as 'bizarre' in many places on this planet.
It would depend upon where in mainland China you live/work. Any large city tends to be more cosmopolitan and therefore tolerant so approach it from that point of view. Besides, you would be bringing valuable skills and expertise to whatever organization you end up working for and I suspect they would overlook your hair length for the chance to glean important computer enginnering techniques (whatever those are). Most likely you would be a curiosity at best, an oddity at worst...and who knows, you might even start a long-haired trend :-)
A suggestion: NEVER refer to a Chinese woman as "little chicken."
I went to school with a lot of guys from Hong Kong when I was 16-18, whilst our schooling was in Britain, they Chinese guys seemed just as prone as the Europeans to try growing their hair. Admited like most of us teenagers they never got passed chin length bangs, but they seemed to go through the same "hair rebel" phases.
This leads me to think their philosophy in adult life towards long hair will be much the same as in Western Society.
Gollan,
I've recently been to Korea, not the same as China but it is in this
respect - you will stand out no matter if your hair is short or
long.
What Rokker said is the key - learn about their customs and you will
do just fine. Worked for me in Korea and hair length never came up.
Good luck on your decision!
they wont care