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Career Resources
Keep the beard
I always shave before an interview, but don't think that's necessarily a make or break. IMO it depends on the fund; I would take a look at head shots on their team page or LinkedIn and see if any of them have beards. It doesn't hurt to play it safe, and you can always grow it back once you get the job. Just my $0.02.
Yea I had the same thought process, headshots are 85% beardless. Luckily I'm in South Florida so I'll have time to tan the face before the interview cause I haven't fully shaved it in like 3 years. Thanks for the advice.
Totally agree with that. 80% of the time, it's fine with a well trimmed beard. But with some people, it's just gonna be a deal breaker, and if nobody on their linkedin team has a beard, I'd just play it safe and shave...
Ive been in your position before and as much as I love having a beard, I believe it is worth shaving it for the interview. You won't ever get dinged for not having a beard, but there is a small possibility that you will get dinged for having one.
Very good point. Thanks!
this. asymmetric risk/reward. no downside for no beard, possible downside for beard.
Are you one of the following a hipster a fundamentalist arab - i.e. a public enemy a communist aka pinko an occupy Wall Street type
If not, get rid of the beard
If you are, get out of the corporate game.
This is completely false. Maybe the region/environment you are in is still living in the past. But a beard is perfectly acceptable for my work environment.
I don't know the level you're interviewing at @SouthFla_CM" but you should try to gain as much insight to the company as possible and do your best to blend in with the culture & look professional.
Are you in a FO role?
I'm not currently in the PE industry, looking to break into a scarce market in South FL. Not many opportunities available so I'm trying to make sure everything is right. What area are you in where the beards are acceptable? I'm interviewing for an Associate position but am open to whatever gets me in the door for now.
Tell that to Lloyd Blankfein.
Sbd. Bald/balding gets you a pass.
In fact beard > stubble in a conservative white dominated work environment, which is where I work
I read this as Lord Blankfein...
Wow, so much MS for my anti beard tirade.
To all WSO beard lovers : I rarely trim my bush, and since I am often called a dickhead, does this give me a pass to join your follicular enthusiasts club?
+1 SB for "follicular enthusiasts club"
if you are ex special forces definitely don't shave
I'm definitely not that level of badass. Ex-football player though, does that give me a pass?
We could sure use you on the O-Line for the Eagles.
or just go on the website and look at all the associates, vps, partners and do a quick assessment of how many have facial hair/beards.
What about Heather's mustache? - it's very prominent
Very few people can pull off a beard without looking like a Brooklyn hippie.
In my experience, the bearded Mandy Patinkin/Saul Berenson Homeland look goes over just fine at top banks, law firms, funds and other corporate gigs.
I had an interview a few months ago where I shaved the night before instead of the morning of, so I had a slight shadow and the interviewer held it against me from the moment I walked in the door. Never again, my man
Let's see a photo.
Beards are fine as long as you don't sport them too long aka like a hipster or an Iranian mullah.
Check out some of the Arab sheikhs, they've got good beard game. Like Sheikh Hamdan, or that handsome Emirati dude banned from Saudi Arabia because he was too hawt (forgot his name).
Oh, and if you're Asian, ditch the beard. Unless you can sport a Steve Aoki.
be comfortable in your own skin and own your look. be the sharpest, well groomed, bearded, monster-man you can be.
I wouldnt want to work at a place that judged me otherwise.
I always ask people interviewing to shave their pubes so I don't have to look at it. It's just more professional for the workplace environment, you know?
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