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Hey Everyone,
The time has come for me to go job hunting again. I need a part time job for the weekends. I hear alot of people saying that: alot of employers get turned off by applicants with long hair. But I don't believe this, my personnel opinion would be once your qualified for the job, who cares how long your hair is. My hair has not yet gotten long at present, i supose it will be soon. Most of the interviews are due in about two weeks or possibly longer than that. If my hair is alot longer by then could this decrease my chances of getting a part time job.
Oppinions negative and possative are welcome.
Keith
I have only had one proper job, and they have no problem with me having long hair. In fact, there's another guy there who had hair approaching his mid-back, although he trimmed it to shoulder blade length. I work with medical products.
I'd imagine that employers would only really be discouraged by longhairs if they were to be involved with clients/customers personally, and wanted to maintain a professional image to anyone they did custom with. But, I have ZERO experience, so who am I to say really.
Either way, if your avatar photo is a recent one, there'd be nothing to worry about...your hair growth will be pretty much unnoticeable in two weeks, and will be easy to neaten up for an interview.
Good luck with the jobhunting.
Matt
Thank you for all of your opinions and inputs. Very much appreciated.
Keith.
Personally I think it might just depend on the employer..but for reals Im with you on your stance regarding it, where as some people had issues regarding getting work with long hair, I worked for a nice resturant, even if the boss was an ass, he hired me when I was dead smack in the middle of the awkward phase probally at the worst part and with facial peircings. Hed even hired a long hair man once, and it wasn't like a burger joint around here :p. I think as long as you go in with a good atitude and be nice and show them you want the job, they're more then willing to give in or even work with you a little if you dont suit what theyre ideally looking for at first. Cuz..its like this..would they rather someone who they dont like appearance wise..that gets the work done..and exceeds the other workers..or someone who fits the mold and slacks off..? granted it could go either way, but none the less, you get the idea. A persons a person regardless of appearance, hopefully employers will take that more into concept.
I'd love to be positive about this topic, but unless you are working in the arts and entertainment sector, or some minimum wage-type position (e.g., Pathmark, McDonald's)...I'd expect people to definitely look down on you for having long hair.
But, if your current picture is what you look like now, then you have nothing to worry about.
I'd say it was more likely the other way around. I think you are more likely to have a hassle in a lower level job. I'm sure most employers have other things they are more worried about.
I beg to differ. Although you have valid insight to this matter, it is not true that most employers would look down upon any individual for merely being a long haired male. In all the years I have had long hair, I only ran into discrimination once. The woman who interviewed me told me I would have the position if I would cut my hair. I laughed and told her she can hire someone else. It was only a bartending position, anyway.
For every interview since then, I've gotten many compliments for my hair. How you convey yourself to the interviewer is more important. Long hairs tend to exude confidence, which is something that impresses employers. I currently work in Information Technology in a relatively conservative atmoshpere, but I am well respected, regardless of my hair length.
Keith,
This is a misconception. I am about to attend a second interview with a corporate employee's representative organisation. It is not your hair that is an issue, but your skills and, more importantly, your attitude. Just wear your hair neatly, length is irrelevant.
Now I understand that there are a few bigotted companies out there, especially in the USA, (I form that opinion purely by what I read on this board) but you don't really want to work for such as they, do you?
Good luck.
Huey
From the jobs I've held I would say hair length in the corporate world can definitely be, and usually is, an issue. How much of an issue depends upon your superior(s). It -should- be related only to job performance but we live in an imperfect world. Unfortunately a lot, if not most, corps these days will have potential employees sign aggreements that basically say they company can fire/lay off the employee for just about any reason.
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Splat
There will always be some bosses who will reject somebody because of their hair, but most will be more interested in your suitability for the job.
Be confident, be polite, impress them with your knowledge, and hair is less likely to be an issue.
Depending on where you live, some of the members of this board may be able to tell you which companies are longhair friendly.
It should be this way, but a lot of interviewers still think the initial stereotypes that longhairs are lazy, do drugs, etc. I think if you can stress your good points and steer/stay away from the hair topic then you're better off. IOW, make your hair and its length a non-issue. If, however, you're going for a job in the food prep/server industry then you may get questioned straight away about it. Good luck and let us know your experiences.
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Splat
I suppose it differs. I was at an interview thursday of last week, for a job as a cashier in a supermarket, and I got the job.
I currently have sort-of long hair and around 3-4cm of beard.
The only thing they asked me to change, was to take my earrings out while working.
