Beard for job interview?

Pestilence · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:26

Greebo said:
True but why add one more thing that they may not like into the mix?

That's it! Turn up naked and hairless!

jack.mitchell · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:36

I shave mine for interviews and then slowly build it up if and when I start the job

However, mine is more like slightly exaggerated stubble, rather than a trimmed and shaped beard.

Greebo · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:39

For this reason I always remove my ear ring at job interviews and then start wearing it when I start the job.

Abraham · 2 Mar 2011 at 15:35

Pestilence said:
That makes a beard no less worse than anything else, then, really.

What if the interviewer doesn't like fat people? What if he hates crocodile leather and you happen to have worn "those" shoes?

What if they seriously dislike dark blue, and hey!, guess what colour your tie is?

But more people take an aversion to people with beards than any of those things, and a beard is easy to lose for an interview and regain shortly after (unless it's a PROPER beard, but then you wouldn't be thinking about shaving it off anyway)

Skidder · 2 Mar 2011 at 15:38

I have a beard - that doesn't change now depending on where I am going or what I am doing because I'm sufficiently old and experienced now to look how I want and people can just live with it. I've always liked having a beard but when I was starting out in my career I shaved for about 5 or 6 years. There is an anti-beard lobby!

arc@css · 2 Mar 2011 at 15:40

DJMK4 said:

Don't turn up like that mate, you'll get sectioned.

MeganL · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:01

A beard is fine, as long as it is neat and tidy, and not too long!

Marvin · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:34

But what if the interviewer likes beards - your chances improve!

Ahhh - didn't think of that one didcha?

loltim · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:41

I hate shaving, and often go into work unshaven. I'll get the "scruffy" comments, usually from the guys that can only grow ginger patchy stubble

But for an interview i'd personally shave it off.

Pestilence · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:44

Marvin said:
But what if the interviewer likes beards - your chances improve!

Ahhh - didn't think of that one didcha?

OOOH, FRIEND! BEARD FRIEND!

apeZ · 3 Mar 2011 at 12:17

I'd probably shave mine off, sadly. I trim it regularly but if I went for a job as a teacher (currently training) it would go. People tend to jump to conclusions when you are a primary school teacher with a beard, I think.

Abraham · 3 Mar 2011 at 12:47

Marvin said:
But what if the interviewer likes beards - your chances improve!

Ahhh - didn't think of that one didcha?

I think there are far less people who view people without beards dimly than there are that view those with dimly.
And even if they like beards, they might not think your beard is good enough.

Greebo · 3 Mar 2011 at 12:47

Marvin said:
But what if the interviewer likes beards - your chances improve!

Ahhh - didn't think of that one didcha?

The odds are unlikely though. However I once had a friend who went to an interview and the guy noticed that her hobbies included campanology which was his main hobby as well. The whole one hour interview was spent talking about that only and she got the job.

VFM Addict · 3 Mar 2011 at 13:07

Greebo said:
The odds are unlikely though. However I once had a friend who went to an interview and the guy noticed that her hobbies included campanology which was his main hobby as well. The whole one hour interview was spent talking about that only and she got the job.

I've closed a few deals over the years by researching potential clients' interests and then ringing their bells, so to speak, too. Funnily enough I've also been doing a fair bit of research recently on one particular forumite and have noticed that he has recruited an individual into his company who's personality traits/failings very closely mimic his own.

Re this thread though - If the interviewer also has a beard it may help. If not then shave it off. And, if you know who the sole/lead interviewer will be then its always a good move to find out as much as you can about him/her as well as about the company.

Greebo · 3 Mar 2011 at 14:15

VFM Addict said:
I've closed a few deals over the years by researching potential clients' interests and then ringing their bells, so to speak, too. Funnily enough I've also been doing a fair bit of research recently on one particular forumite and have noticed that he has recruited an individual into his company who's personality traits/failings very closely mimic his own.

Re this thread though - If the interviewer also has a beard it may help. If not then shave it off. And, if you know who the sole/lead interviewer will be then its always a good move to find out as much as you can about him/her as well as about the company.

Stalking works a treat and so easy with facebook and the internet. I once researched the head interviewer and discovered his hobby was a small local radio station. Always gives you something to talk about to give you that edge over several other equally competant candidates.

bhavv · 3 Mar 2011 at 19:24

I havnt been clean shaven for 3-4 years now.

If people dont like it (which a lot of people dont), I simply ignore them.

The funniest thing was when an obese uncle of mine who I hadnt seen in a while that dresses like a 12 year old chav, with trackies, sports t shirts complete with a baseball cap laughed at me after he saw me with a beard.

I thought 'Erm, yea, ever looked in a mirror recently and seen the state of you'?

My beard:

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/734/dsc00809ac.jpg

Go ahead and laugh. Photoshops please!!!!!!!

Lethagized · 3 Mar 2011 at 19:43

Keep it. You'll look like a proper computer geek, and this is what the company is looking for.

Serpantine · 3 Mar 2011 at 19:51

Tidy Beard shows more effort than clean shaven and remember, man points still apply - even in interviews.