Long hair and the workplace (looking for advice)

[JACKSONFREAK]

You could always move to the states and work at GC in the marketing dept in sunny california. But its just a thought. Seeing as you havnt made a name for yourself in the marketing industry yet the hair may be an issue. But it may not be if you can prove yourself in the interviews. Like it was said before results are more important than hair length. Although there are some sticklers out there who insist on a Busines hair length.
Gil

[SEEGERMANY]

John just told you HOW IT IS! The End

[El_Kabong]

If you are at the top of the class from a highly regarded institution and luctrative prospects consult your department's professors regarding future prospects, you may be in luck. Otherwise, people today don't think of long hair as 'metal'. You look like a hippy to them. They may well think you probably smoke pot, are lazy and a communist.

[gort]

Dude just cut your hair and grow it back later if you want. It is so true some people can't get past it. I am a graduating computer science major this spring and know all about the nerdy jobs where people can have long hair and look like slobs. I currently work for a web development company and everyone there is a tree hugging liberal (except for me) and you should how sloppy some of my coworkers look. My old boss has long hair and used to paint his fingernails black.

So yeah some of the computer jobs you can look like a, well, a computer guy. I don't think it would hurt to look your best though. Take my father. He is in a management role where he works and is in charge of hiring a lot of people. He can't get past long hair, and has never let me grow mine out. If you interviewed with my dad he'd probably take the hair length into consideration. If you interviewed at my current job they'd never think twice. It won't always hurt you but I can't imagine many scenarios while it would help you, ya know?

This is just my ¢2.

[Shawn Lutz]

John just told you HOW IT IS! The End

+1 after reading jc's reply...really nothing else to discuss

[hammer84]

+1 after reading jc's reply...really nothing else to discuss

+2

You guys are correct. But Snow isn't even established yet. He will soon be job hunting. If you think that prospective employers, maybe not ALL, but definitely some, are not going to take appearance into consideration for a new hire, I think you are mistaken.

That doesn't make it right. I agree. Just the way it is.

Ding, ding, ding we have a winner. Once you have a track record it changes everything. Would you hire a guy in a suit with a business buzz cut to be in your band band on a one time sit down for a few minutes ??

Part of being in the corp world is CYA. So most hiring people are going to a littel on the cautious side to protect their own butts. "He looked like a nice young man and hie resume said her learnt stuuf in school" is a lot eaiser to say to your boss on a bad hire than "I thought his long hair, piercing and tats were showing his creative side "

[atomic charvel guy]

i never cut my hair for anybody, or grew it long for that matter, i just like the way it looks better long. Then again, if i went for my job in new york that i have out here, they would say "deliveries are in the back son" when I would walk in the front door.
It's true.

[circle of the tyrants]

It depends on the job. If you have to actually come into contact with the people you're dealing with, having long hair will probably affect your chances of landing it. If it's a telemarketing thing, or working in a factory or something, it may not be as important. I had to cut mine a few years back in order to obtain a promotion, but it was well worth it. I had less hair, but more income.

With that, I say get it cut, too. Then if you see that it wouldn't matter, grow it back out. The old "first impression" addage is pretty accurate. Not fair, but definitely true.

Funny thing about hair. When you first meet your girlfriend/wife and have long hair, it seems to be one of the reasons they were attracted to you in the first place. Then they want you to cut it off and be somebody. That was always the case with me!

[atomic charvel guy]

i've had customers fly in from Sweden, Denmark, Germany,
Connecticut, Jersey,Texas, it doesn't matter, when you have the best price on something you can look how you want. I got them all drunk and a bunch of lap dances along with some otherextracurricular activities and kaboom!!!!, large deal floats in on the fax. the best way to do business is monkey business.

[Snow007]

First I'd like to thank everyone for responding to this. I checked previous posts I made and I would forget to thank people for their help but I’ll do my best not to make that mistake again. I read this board frequently and I respect the people on this board and their opinions so I figured this was the best place to ask for advice and it looks like I made a great choice.

I think I’m going to get the jump on the job hunt as suggested. Not only will it look good to show interest in potential employers but I’ll get an idea of what I could be doing for employment and if I would want to work there. Also I could find out if I can keep my hair I’m still debating whether I’ll cut my hair before or after I start looking but I probably won’t decide that until the last minute. If I do decide to cut my hair, I'll definitely donate it to a worthwhile cause though.

If it’s any help, here is some additional information: I have no piercings or tattoos. I will be looking for a job in Ontario, particularly the greater Toronto area (GTA). I have no previous experience in the marketing/sales/business administration fields and I’ll be a fresh grad at 22. I think being bilingual (English/French) will give me more opportunities than the average graduate but I don’t want to be overconfident in that aspect.

[NextInLine]

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

That would be great if people could also say this for their monthly salary. But noone would donate his salary thinking he'll get one more the next month! Or maybe it's just the statement about the hair being wrong

[charvelguy]

Locks of love will only take 10-12" I believe.. from what Snow says.. he'd be bald. People can very judgemental upon appearance. They just had a segment on TV.. my girlfriend got me to watch a portion of 'wife swapping' last night. The guy with the mohawk and tats who previously was having difficulty finding work.. cleaned up his look, shaved it off to stubble, hid all his tats under a suit, and wallah.. got a job.

Even if you are a janitor, if you are interacting with company suits.. they'll want you clean cut or 'styled'

btw.. long is a style

I'd say, if you like the way you are, then keep it, but thats just me. I didn't want to compromise or change because I felt it had nothing to do with my abilities, and I still do not-but thats the hard road.

[Norton]

Long hair doesn't mean bad and dirty.You can look clean,respectable and styly with long hair.It's just the way you shape your look.

[Flatpicker]

That would be great if people could also say this for their monthly salary. But noone would donate his salary thinking he'll get one more the next month! Or maybe it's just the statement about the hair being wrong

I have dealt with some childhood cancer patients.
Hair can grow back for most of us anyway. Not for them at a time when social acceptance is part of them learning who they are.
I cut my hair after telling my employer that I was growing it for that purpose.
I went to 16 inches and gave it away.

Do what you will, of course, but never think that anything in this world is as important as seeing those kids when they get the wig.

[charvelguy]

A former co-worker with whom my g/f and I were 'worker' close to just passed away this last weekend. ( we worked at the same company for years) We attended many work parties with him, he was a good guy who worked up till about two weeks before he passed on.
Its amazing how the final stages of cancer hit so quickly and hard, not that it isn't difficult to manage, but I can't imagine.

I have cut it off and given in the past.. I'm really thinking of doing it again.