I have multiple IBD interviews coming up (Analyst roles & OC internships) for London offices. I have heard mixed opinions on having a beard in EMEA offices, whereas in the US I would always shave it. I look like a 16 year old bitch boi without one and all my peers say I look 100% better and more sophisticated with it (I keep it pretty short and well maintained), so I'm leaning towards keeping it. Thoughts?
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Your best best is to be clean shaven for interviews and then you can have it if you get an offer. Seems like an unnecessary risk given some older directors can be pretty set in their ways about what candidates ‘should’ look like.
I'd say the same, why risk, plus I heard London was pretty conservative..
Back in the days I had a Senior VP from out of town, that would comment/complain about analyst having a beard..
Yeah I’d shave it, once you’re in it can be ok to have one (depends on your boss) as long as it is tidy and not too big.
Thanks for the replies. I've seen other candidates with beards in the past and have had classmates with beards get offers in London, which is why I was torn. Ended up shaving it just to play it safe.
For what it's worth, I have been rocking a short beard (~5 mm) for the past two years and have secured offers & interned at top BBs in London with it; wouldn't worry about it too much.
You'll be fine if your beard is even and you keep it well trimmed.
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