Stupid question



  • A very stupid question, but I figured I would ask this to hopefully get a good answer in this forum.

     I'm looking to get into Network Security, getting my CCNA, CCNA Security, and etc through the Security Certifications.  Assuming that this is definitely an IT job, or career, I was wondering if people absolutely look at how long a persons hair is over the rest of the appearance and also skills of the applicant. I'm not saying that I am the best, hell I know I suck at Networking as of now, but I was just wondering about this.

     I've been told a few times that the length of my hair isn't suitable for a male and that a lot of people would not look at it as being professional. No piercings, no tattoos, nothing else to really stick out.

     

    Thank's for the advice.



  •  Other than CPound, most of the members of this forum seem to agree that a non-conforming look does not have an affect on the chances of getting hired at a decent employer who actually knows how to find technical talent.  However, IT security is pretty far removed from Programming, so they might expect different from you.



  • looks around the office



    Only engineer with longer hair then myself is female.



    The question you should be asking, "If my looks didn't get me the job, would I want to work there?"

    I'm pretty sure I didn't get trough 1 interview because of my looks when I was looking for a job. But I didn't mind, because I didn't feel at my place there.

    I dress and look how I feel comfortable, which isn't suited up and with < 2 inch hair.



    Just make sure it's well cared for, if you look like a mess you definitely have no chance.



  • It's a sad thing, but it probably will affect your ability to get a job.  I held out for a long time cutting my hair, and the day after I cut it, I got a job offer for an internship. 

    Most people (idiots I know) see the hair and think "oh I bet he's in a rock band and gets high all the time."  I wish long hair were associated with something besides drug use, like an extreme longing for cake.



  • @belgariontheking said:

    It's a sad thing, but it probably will affect your ability to get a job.  I held out for a long time cutting my hair, and the day after I cut it, I got a job offer for an internship. 
    The day after I cut my hair, I won the lottery.  Scientifically speaking, the short hair made me win.  That's how science works. @belgariontheking said:
    Most people (idiots I know) see the hair and think "oh I bet he's in a rock band and gets high all the time."  I wish long hair were associated with something besides drug use, like an extreme longing for cake.
    Now we've hit upon the real reason you couldn't get hired: you smell of flour and you get too excited when you find out that someone's birthday is fast approaching.

     



  • My afro says that hair has little to do with employment. The last time I got a haircut was January.



  • @Welbog said:

    My afro says that hair has little to do with employment. The last time I got a haircut was January.

    You have to cut it?  I sorta figured it had gained sentience and just stopped growing when it was satisfied with its own size.


  • @bstorer said:

    @Welbog said:

    My afro says that hair has little to do with employment. The last time I got a haircut was January.

    You have to cut it?  I sorta figured it had gained sentience and just stopped growing when it was satisfied with its own size.

    I assumed it paid random bikers to break into Welpog's house and cut him, just to show him who is in charge.



  •  Yeah I was just wondering about it. I've been told that even if I have it well kept - which I planned on doing for an interview either way - people would look at me and as someone else said, think I'm in a rock band and get high all the time. Really there isn't too much different besides my hair going past my ears and just about to my shoulders.

     But, I guess I'll try my luck for the first few interviews and if it looks gray, I'll cut it.

    Thanks for the info everyone.


  • Garbage Person

    @Bobby22 said:

    I've been told that even if I have it well kept - which I planned on doing for an interview either way - people would look at me and as someone else said, think I'm in a rock band and get high all the time.
    These people are typically called "HR Goons" and a company using them as first-line-of-defense (or more typically ONLY line of defense) screening against useless candidates are never good places for programmers to work.

     The best positions will be the ones where you're screened by technical people, who really couldn't give two shits about anything other than "Can he think and does he understand enough of our fundamentals?" - unfortunately these positions are few and far between. Accept the cruel reality and cut your hair.



  • mmhmmm i'm the only girl in a team of 12 guys... and we provide a vip service to some people who think they're quite important. i'm suprised i was hired coz i am a scruffy type, but i have been told i impressed them pretty good with my customer service skills. 

    i guess you need to prove to a prospective employer that your personal heigene is at a high standard so they overlook the fact that your hair is a little longer. THEN make sure your answers dont start with "ummm, welll, errr <answer>, yeh?"



  • @CheekieSht said:

    mmhmmm i'm the only girl in a team of 12 guys... and we provide a vip service to some people who think they're quite important. i'm suprised i was hired coz i am a scruffy type, but i have been told i impressed them pretty good with my customer service skills.

     

     

    I think i'm quite important. How much for your VIP service?

    Oh, and please, forget about your pals: i'm just in it four your impressive customer service skills.



  •  in a few days, stuble turns into unemployment beard



  • My hair was halfway down my back when I landed my current job.  It played no bearing since I never met with HR during the first interview.  However some places do seem to place more emphasis on appearance than skill and you should run from these types of environments (think IBM).  I've had jobs where shoulder length was the max and I would just tuck the pony tail into my shirt and it was fine.  It's not like you're working in a retail store where people actually will call the customer service comment line just to complain about the length of your hair.   



  • @galgorah said:

    It's not like you're working in a retail store where people actually will call the customer service comment line just to complain about the length of your hair.   

     

     

    job.commonSense.invalidArgumentException: "people" is undefined.




  • NameError: job.commonSense is not defined


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