Long hair and the workplace (looking for advice)

[kmanick]

It really all depends on what field you are in.
Test the waters , try and go visit some of the places that you might inteview at and observe the environment (if you can).
I'm a senior software developer here a firm right outside of Boston and I can pretty much dress how I want (very little customer interaction) BUT
our software is in the healthcare arena so all of our clients are Hospitals , doctors offices etc.
when we (our company) needs somone from development to go to a client site guess who gets to go? Me, because I still look like a freaking banker (my last job was at a consulting company it was very old school).
My bosses know my appearance "conforms" and it will never be an issue.
there is no wrong or right answer here, you need to feel it out.
good luck!

[dg]

Pretty interesting... reading back through the thread it looks pretty much like folks from the blue states & Canada say it's no big deal, and us red-staters think it can really be a problem. All I know is that here in Va., things have gotten more conservative in the workplace if anything over the last 10 or 15 years, even in IT. People here are seriously uptight about almost everything.

[fett]

If you are just starting out, play it safe and get the cut. You will be competing against straightlaced people who will look the role with their business haircuts. I know, I am old but look through the HR person's eyes. You with long hair and a biz-cut guy. I will guarantee you that the HR person will look more favorably at the "nerd". Here's why. Your long hair indicates that you are a non-conformist. Mano y Mano, short hair will always win at a job interview.

[charvelguy]

I've had long hair since high school. Trust me, it unfortunately can have overtones of being viewed as a issue in about anything,...women, job, police. It really depends upon the person, but, profiling does exist.

When I was in High School, you had Goth people, punkers with colored mohawks.. most of these people were like this as a social statement, or they just plain didn't give a rip and liked themselves just as they were and didn't think anything of it. I still have long hair after being 'in the world' for 25+ years..and I have some stories to tell about being treated differently.

In fact, I was just discussing this very topic yesterday with my girlfriend.

It is the same as anything else, you can be as you want as long as you are compliant to safety standards or dress standards, the law does protect you ( but, again, the law doesn't always protect itself from itself and there are plenty of employers who abuse the law) but some people may consider it an issue and you should be prepared for that. Pay your taxes, don't speed 'much', have a savings account, pay off your credit cards every month, try not to step on toes that don't like being stepped upon.

If you keep it, always wear a video camera on your person at all times.. trust me, you'll make a ton of money just by that alone.

[FusionFarmer]

Bottom line, if you're serious about getting a good job, the logical thing for anyone, is to improve their chances of getting that job by what ever legitimate means they can come up with.

[dg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHd6m_cirrU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bwpqlX1n8c

[fett]

Bottom line, if you're serious about getting a good job, the logical thing for anyone, is to improve their chances of getting that job by what ever legitimate means they can come up with.

Yeah, but do his parents have enough money and/ or pull:ROTF: :ROTF: :ROTF:

[FusionFarmer]

Yeah, but do his parents have enough money and/ or pull:ROTF: :ROTF: :ROTF:

actually the best way to get a good job is have your dad own the company, you know what they say "It ain't what ya know, its who ya blow"

[Shawn Lutz]

unfornuately since you are fresh in the job market you shouldn't reduce you chances by not cutting you hair or screening companies on their codes of employment. It tough enough to get a job and I'd cut it but the choice is yours.

I've had long hair my entire life. It wasn't an issue in my line of work but I cut it off when looking for new work back in the late 90's. I can have hair down to my ass right now if I wanted to....I just dont miss it enough to grow it back.

[HoWheels]

I was bald when I started working at my present employer. Now my hair is ~ 20" long

-a

[bonghits]

Or you could donate it to Locks of Love.
It's only hair. It'll grow back.

That's exactly what I did when I cut my hair. It was pretty long when I cut it. All the way down my lower back. Bangs and all! In fact, I got mistaken for a chick a few times! An ugly chick! Was called "ma'am" at Journey's once but I ended up hooking up with the chick that made the mistake anyways. Talk about an ice breaker though, huh!

[chrisgUK]

Just thought id agree with most thats been said.
I work for a big proffesional services firm and all you really get told is "modern business dress, but we do recognise that people wish to dress more casually at work"
Like most have said already it depends on your role. Day to day i just wear a shirt and trousers but if I had a meeting with a client I would put on my jacket and have a raid of every1s draw for a tie!
yes long 'metal' hair could give the wrong impression to some impressionable people, however the sad fact of life is that not everyone you come accross in business is understanding to how people look and dress. If you are going for a job in marketing where sales and image are everything maybe its time to have chop and look the slick businessman part.
End of the day, hair grows back. IF you start work and find its all relaxed then grow it back, 12in shouldnt take that long.

[Norton]

I think you shouldn't cut it.If you keep it in a pony tail it shouldn't be a big problem.Yes maybe you'll look for a job for 5 months instead of 3 months,but in the end,it's gonna work.

And the pony tail looks cool with a suit,imo.(even tought I never do the pony tail thing .it's just uncomfortable for me )

[fett]

Jesus, he ain't Jesus. (Slap me if you must). Just get a haircut and get the job. Once you are there, you can dress like Klinger on MASH. That is, along as you do the job.

[jgcable]

Avoid the mullet at all costs.

Given today's business structure, you're apt to find many aging hippies running the show, especially in a progressive business environment like computers. Traditional businesses may have traditional dress/appearance codes, which means you lose the hair or you lose the money.

The acceptance of long hair is spreading, as long as it is not a distraction. You may have to keep it in a tail while on the clock, for example.

Check with the prospective employers before making a decision, though. You may find they will accept the hair but not the tatoos, unless the hair can cover tats on the back of your neck.

The above statement is a bunch of crap unless of course your dad owns the company.

Seriously.... the acceptance of long hair, piercings and tats is not spreading in the corporate world. Not even close.
A business corporate climate demands a business corporate look.
What does that mean??
Well, you can surely go for the interview sporting your nicely groomed long hair. If its a mailroom job you might get it. If its in the office with the rest of the clean cut college grads who all have big goals making it in corporate America you will be going to the interview with 2 strikes against you.
Now sure.. there are exceptions to this rule at some companies but the vast majority all have SHORT hair, no visible tats and NO PIERCINGS of any kind. I ride the train with hundreds of them. I used to be a long hair and I wouldn't even hire one in my office. Why?? Because a longhaired tat covered pierced kid usually has different goals that don't blend well in my corporate world. They also don't go with the decor in my office.
It sounds harsh and I sound like a crap head but thats the way it is.
After you make it really big in corporate America you can do anything you want. You can go to work with long hair, ripped jeans and sandels and nobody will say boo.