Whiskers

[UKRay]

I just had a distressing email from a friend in Boston MA. We had been discussing a vague and almost impossible idea of me moving home to the US, but I have now been told that I'll never get a job as long as I have a beard.

Okay, this guy was talking about the sort of corporate job I'd rather avoid, but the question remains - are blokes with beards treated differently in the US to those who 'ain't got 'em?

Is there really some kind of uptight whiskery social stigma in the US that I'm not aware of over here in the laid-back liberal UK? :wtf:

I gotta know!!!!!

P.S. Why don't any of these emoticons have whiskers?

[David]

It all depends what sort of job you are applying for..... lawyer in a big corporation?? you better shave. Factory worker for the same company?? you're ok.... at some place on the food chain is an invisible wall that requires a razor to pass.

Dave

[ClayB]

So that's why I am still a construction worker!! I'm not so sure that holds true across the country. A lot of people out west have beards especially in the winter, and even more have moustaches all year long. Some of the jobs in the oil field require you to be clean shaven in case you have to use a gas mask and need it to seal on your face. But there are bankers and lawyers around here that have beards. I have a brother that runs several companies and they used to even have contests to see who could grow the best beard in a set amount of time with cash prizes.

[CitizenKate]

Candidates for professional jobs are often advised to be clean-shaven, at least for the interview. I wouldn't say you would never get a job if you had a beard, but facial hair is a slight turn-off for some potential employers.

On the other hand, I don't know of any company (other than what Clay mentioned) that prohibits facial hair, so once you've got your job, you can always grow it back. I know at least a few guys who took that route.

Kate

[ArtS]

There wouldn't be anything formal stating that you couldn't have a beard. A lot depends on the person that is doing the interviewing. It also depends on the person's qualifications.

We've hired engineers that were very qualified and had beards. If it were a novice with a beard they would probably lean towards the the clean shaven person. It really depends on the person interviewing you. What kind of job do you want?

ArtS

[Timd]

I haven't shaved since 1977, and while i've never applied for a suit n' tie job(I'm a wood butcher...) I don't think my beard has cost me any jobs. Now back in my wild days as a welder, my long hair was a problem for some, but that was then, and now I'd look silly with a pony-tail...lol

Edited August 31, 2008 by Timd1159

[DCKNIVES]

Well I've had a full beard and ponytail since about '72 but I have always worked in "blue collar" jobs.Trimmed nicely I would think you would be good anywhere except where it might be dangerous.A group of us sheathmakers got together at the Blade Show in Atlanta this year and we got many fun comments about the connection between having hairy faces and working leather.Dave

That's me in the black hat and shirt 2nd from the right

[Windy]

I found this interesting on beards in America.

http://www.flakmag.com/misc/beard.html

WINDY

[Tina]

Personally,

The world would be a rather boring place without facial hairy men:-)

[JRedding]

Where I live there are so many people walking around covered it tattoos and wearing fishing tackle in their face who'd notice a beard. A guy with a neatly trimmed beard is todays equivilent of clean-cut. You'd have to look like Grizzly Adams to even get a second look.

Edited September 1, 2008 by JRedding