Wondering whether you should shave your beard?
With the recent beard uprising - this is a question we get asked about all the time, particularly from undergraduates and those starting brand new jobs::
“Should I shave my beard for a job interview”?
The short answer: well it depends.
I know probably not what you’re hoping for but here’s the long answer:
Their story usually follows a somewhat similar scene: they’re gunning for a brand new job and have just landed an interview.
All’s good.
However, they’ve just managed to grow a glorious looking beard (or sometimes even just heavy stubble) and are worried it might make a bad first impression.
So they are rather literally faced with the following problem:
Do they shave and improve their chances of landing the job (but lose that precious beard they’ve spent months growing) or do they run the risk of not getting it, but get to keep their beard (and a bit of their identity).
We might come across slightly biased here (being a bearded fellow myself), but I think we’re going to nail this question right here and now. For good. And the answer is pretty simple.
A better short answer: If you’re going to keep it, keep it nice but sometimes you just have to shave it for the job.
As long as you have a good looking, well groomed beard - then the impacts it will have of you getting or not getting the job will be minimal at best. In fact being bearded could even potentially swing the interview in your favour.
Where employers will have the issue is where you haven’t kept it in good shape. Just like if you turn up to the interview with your dad’s suit that is one or two sizes too big/small and have matched it with a pair of white socks and you haven’t had your haircut in six months.
You get the picture.
Bottom line: Keep it looking sharp.
The business world is changing. Disney, had a pretty strict clean shaven ‘company policy’ but after sixty years even they have let their employees finally kick the razor (albeit under tight strains). Equinox, a health based company, have even come out and stated:
“We are a trend-and-lifestyle fashion company, and it’s a good complement to what we represent to our members” and Greg (Vice president of human resources) goes on to echo our exact thoughts that “shaggy and dirty is still shaggy and dirty, so if you have anything that doesn’t look appropriate, that would be an issue”.
But if you look for it there’s proof all over the spot that bearded guys are getting hired, promoted and getting on incredibly well.
All that said.
There are times when it does just make sense to shave.
There are certain industries where it’s just not accepted yet, even with the recent boom (although a fairly misguided thought). Think lawyers, financial advisors and so on - there are of course cases where if you require a mask then you pretty much have to get fully shaven.
It depends on the company and the industry.
What we thought was a pretty neat idea, that we recommend beardsmen who email in - is to bring up the company on their social media platforms (twitter, instagram, facebook, linkedin etc.) - then check the male employees, see if any of them are sporting any facial hair. If you they are, then bingo, you are probably fine. If not, then obviously it exudes a certain culture.
However.
If it is bothering you.
And it keeps playing on your mind, debating whether “should I keep it or should I shave it” - then shave it.
No, not because of what the interview might think, but because you need to go into that interview with a clear head - ready to the nail the interview - and if you are stressing about whether the interviewer will like you or not (because of the beard) then you’ve just taken your attention off the real game that’s in front of you.
You need to be thinking about the aspects leading up to the interview. So shave it, eliminate the sticking point, ace the interview and grow it back.
So should “You” Shave for an Interview?
Of course, it comes down to you.
Judge firstly the type of job you’re applying for, their culture, do they play by the traditional clean shaven rules. If you’re going for a banking job, you should probably shave. If you’re heading to be an engineer, you’re probably alright. Do you actually even want to work for a company that bases their hiring policy on whether you have facial hair and not on your skill level? That’s probably a question for another day.
Secondly, do you want to play it safe and are really keen on the job - then shave, maximize the chances of you getting the job (even if it is minimal at best). However, if you aren’t willing to bow down to conventionalism (*hats off*) and aren’t willing to shave your beard on the chance that you might or might not land the job, then my bearded fellow. Beard on.
All this still means you’ve got to get appropriately ready for the interview. Nails clipped. Tailored suit. Hair cut. If you are keeping the beard - it’s probably worth heading down to your local barbers to get the beard trimmed too, balmed up and shaped. P.s. Watch what you are eating on the way to the interview too.
Almost forgot. Here, have some good luck from us at the Robin Hood Beard Co. team.
Let us know how you got on.
Did you manage to land the job with or without a beard?
Like always if you have any questions, concerns or issues when growing your beard - we want to hear about them, whether that means.
Get in touch let us know if this article on whether you should shave your beard has influenced your decision or not.