Interviewing: Young Bald Men and Facial Hair?

There is literally nothing on this topic anywhere on the internet, but the questions is, is it appropriate to interview with facial hair if you are bald? A lot of the clean shaven advice is given to people with full heads of hair (which looks nice most of the time), but as someone who is young (early 20s) and bald, going for a clean shaven look on the head and the face makes me look sick. I look much better with a little head and face stubble than going completely shaven. Any input?

Pics:

https://image.ibb.co/h0Y3OK/pic1.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/m2v03K/pic2.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/jXobce/pic3.jpg

 
theaccountingmajor:
It's really hard to judge without a picture. In my personal opinion, I'd opt for the bald with 2-3 day stubble

Yea, I guess I can post a pic (soon)

 
K-Peezy:
As long as you keep that facial hair groomed and own it like a boss (no ZZ-Top type crap, think more Jim Cramer), it shouldn't hurt you.

Yea, I think I look groomed and not dirty etc. As for Jim's head of hair, I cannot even grow my head of hair that long without it looking dirty, but like I said I'll post a pic soon.

 
Most Helpful

Justin's a sick drummer. Love KSE, but loved them more when Howard Jones was the singer, Jesse Leach is certainly good but just doesn't zing me vocally as HJ does.

@lgx - based on your posted pics, I think the look works, looks groomed and purposeful, although depending on where you are interviewing and just how formal the atmosphere is, you might want to keep the stubble up top and shave the face - you can grow out the facial hair later, and this is coming from a major fan of facial hair. :)

 

I have no idea, I never got the chance to ask that question. Woke up one day senior year in high school, and my hair just left; didn't say anything, didn't leave a message, gone...

 

long time cue ball here, my opinion is never facial hair during an interview unless there's a religious reason. you want to give interviewers minimal opportunities to ding you. here's the truth: most people are fine with facial hair if it's good, but some aren't. everyone is fine with clean shaven. what would you rather portray during an interview? universal appeal (particularly considering the interviewer or at least one of them will be older), or potential appeal? I'm looking for the opp to have you focus on my resume, not my stubble.

shave it all, and then once you're hired, grow the beard

 

Thanks brofessor for the input,

I like the logic, but just to play devils advocate, I am least concerned with my interviewer paying attention to my stubble, and more concerned that my deathly paleness will be the only thing the interviewer remembers hahaha. Both universal and potential appeal are relinquished if the latter is followed.

 

I clean shaved for all my interviews based on what I read.

Side note. Notice a comment above asking why the hair left? Mine decided to leave my sophomore year in college. I had long hair at that time and was walking home; some kids pulled in a parking lot and asked me where they can get some weed. I decided it was time to cut it. Just buzzed it off so it would grow back to its natural color. It never returned anywhere besides on the sides. haha

 

hahaha great story.

My only issue with balding so early was how people mistaken me for looking way older. I do not know how you look but, with my hair gone, I entered freshmen year looking like a 30 year old.

As for the clean shaven thing, I think I am just going to keep everything at stubble. Hopefully my personality and character mitigates the stubble.

 

That age thing was the hardest part beyond self confidence taking a hit. I got a big ole head so it took time getting adjusted. haha

Highly doubt they will say, you nailed the interview but the stubble was the reason you were not hired. Good luck with everything.

 

Ea quod eius repellat odio id eaque qui voluptatem. Fugit est qui rerum qui itaque consequatur dolorem. Et eos saepe natus. Quia dolor eos excepturi tempore. Vel iure magni velit debitis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”