I'll be soon receiving my degree in marketing and am very excited about it but as I get done with all my classes I am realizing that maybe I should shave the goatee I've been wearing pretty much my whole college career. Now I dont really know how the business world looks at or feels about facial hair. I keep mine pretty short but have noticed more and more business students around me are clean shaven as are my professors. So tf fans here that are in the business world or that maybe hire in their company, would I be more professional looking/welcome in a company clean shaven? Obviously if I got a job for a steel mill or maybe logging company or something my facial hair would be welcome but I want your opinion... Thanks!
A moustache maybe(I have one, but it's kept very trim), but otherwise shave it. I've met maybe 1 or 2 people over the years in a "white collar" job such as marketing that had something like a goatee, and even then it was very very short(and they still shaved it off before taking trips, having important meetings, etc). There's also weird cultural things involving facial hair that can influence peoples opinion about you. The last thing you want is someone in a position above you thinking you're a filthy punk kid in a suit, just because you have a beard you can shave off. The business world does not like facial hair.
Thats what i've been perceiving even from other business students im with. Its like im in those classes with them on accident and need to head over to the automotive school. I like the goatee as does my wife but career is more important.
I'd echo the "shave it for the hiring process and then you can always grow it out later" sentiment. My wife has seen my chin once since I met her in 1999. I didn't tell her I was going to shave and I walked in on her when she was half asleep. Freaked her the hell out. I think I vaguely remember seeing my dad's chin once...29 years ago.
It all depends on what company you work for. I work at major corporate HQ and have a goatee, and so do a lot of other people that work here. It isn't frowned upon in the least here, but we are a progressive company that mostly employs younger people.
For the most part if it is well trimmed and LOOKS proffessional, you're fine. If you have any doubts at all about the look of your facial hair, then I agree with shaving for the interview and growing it back out later.
It also depends on what you do at that major corporate HQ, and what's perceived as acceptable to the rest of the company, and other people the rest of the company deals with. The one exception to our clean-shaven-ness where I work is NHL playoff beards, but only if you're a Sharks fan. But in general, it's still not a good idea.
Agreed. I think that if I have doubts about it that will show as not being as confident as I could be about myself and could hurt any interview..
All that matters is that you're clean and presentable. I've never had issues myself. Just don't let those sideburns turn into big bushy pork chops and you'll be fine...
Goatees are starting to feel 1990's to me. I've had one for years but lately I've been feeling it looks dated. I've been clean shaven for a little while now. I say shave it off.
I remember when my dad shaved his beard off. Must have been about 15 - 20 years ago (jeebus...) Was the most freaky thing I have ever seen. Since he's had his beard he's only shaved it off twice that I know off. Once was the time above and the second was when his mum insisted he shave it off for his wedding.
Yeah, like you're going up on the roof to play roller hockey if the boss calls in sick. Here in Minnesota, facial hair is widely accepted during hunting season for some reason.
Man, get a job in the creative arts. I have hair growing down to my ass and a goatee longer than my neck and it is awesome. I remember when that happened to me. I was even younger. All I knew was that there was a strange man picking me up and I cried.
