appearance at work?

mac123

Hey guys,
Im just wondering what the deal is with having longish hair in the business world? Im trying to get into banking and im wondering do I need to get my hair cut very short or is it acceptable to have long hair once its tidy?

Varkov

Depends on the place really. Im doing IT in a bank and need to wear a shirt n all that. I don't have long hair but I do have two rings in one ear and a bar through the other. No issues because I do my job well.

A ponytail would look more unprofessional than that sort of side hanging curtain look, and would work against you in a customer facing role.

When I finished school and decided I wanted to get into IT, I cut off my dreadlocks without hesitation. If you are serious about this I reckon you should do the same.

leeroybrown

For the banking sector, particularly for customer facing roles, I'd suggest that long hair will end up being a problem. Some people just don't think that long hair looks 'professional' on a guy regardless of appearance so quite a few recruiters/managers will shoot it down on those grounds. If you're in a less mainstream place or in a back office role it may matter a lot less.

I work in the scientific research sector where personal appearance (within reason) is very much a secondary issue compared to qualifications, scientific merit, etc. Unfortunately for those with long hair a lot of other sectors are the complete opposite.

Zaph

Well speaking as a bank manager I can tell you that I wouldn't hire any guy with long hair because it just looks unprofessional. That's not to sday it's not all right in other business, but in banking it would be very much frowned upon. Where I work we don't have day-to-day contact with clients so we have a permanent "smart casual" dress code and Fridays are dress down days. However, despite this, long hair on a guy wouldn't be deemed acceptable, and if an existing staff member grew his hair long his manager would be expected to have a word with him about it.

jam_mac_jam

I work in a bank, not customer facing and one of my team has long hair, I have never even heard it mentioned. I think it depends on the organisation and how customer facing it is. It also depends on how messy/ neat looking it is. I dont think all banks are so old fashioned any more.

phill106

Zaph wrote: »

Well speaking as a bank manager I can tell you that I wouldn't hire any guy with long hair because it just looks unprofessional. That's not to sday it's not all right in other business, but in banking it would be very much frowned upon. Where I work we don't have day-to-day contact with clients so we have a permanent "smart casual" dress code and Fridays are dress down days. However, despite this, long hair on a guy wouldn't be deemed acceptable, and if an existing staff member grew his hair long his manager would be expected to have a word with him about it.

would have thought in this day and age, people would be very wary of making long hair a disciplinary issue for men, particularly with regards to sexual discrimination. Sadly ill never be able to grow long hair, dam hair genes!

leeroybrown

So long as an employer doesn't hire someone who already has long hair discrimination doesn't come into it as a disciplinary matter. It's merely a case of the employer being able to enforce a standard of appearance with which they hired the person. On the other hand, if they did hire someone with long hair they can't reasonably discipline them to get it cut.

AARRRGH

It does depend on the place, however...

If you went into work every day wearing a sharp suit and having short, well groomed hair, you would get promoted very quickly.

Being clean cut will get you far.

MysticalRain

I would probably cut it. I hate to say it, but Ireland is still very conservative country in many ways. The banking world is even more conservative.

Kipperhell

phill106 wrote: »

would have thought in this day and age, people would be very wary of making long hair a disciplinary issue for men, particularly with regards to sexual discrimination. Sadly ill never be able to grow long hair, dam hair genes!

I'd agree with that but having a word with somebody would normally be a polite way of putting the point across. After that it would seriously effect your promotion and pay increases. It is simply discrimination but the mentality in the western world is generally that you can't discriminate against a white male as they had the power.

OP

Lots of places won't hire a guy with long hair and even a beard effects your chances drastically according to surveys I read. You have a better chance with short hair and I am speaking from experience here. In the office environment it is amazing what woman can wear as casual smart compared to a guy let alone in a formal one.

Wishbone Ash

AARRRGH wrote: »

If you went into work every day wearing a sharp suit and having short, well groomed hair, you would get promoted very quickly.

Being clean cut will get you far.

I seriously doubt that anyone gets promoted solely based on wearing a sharp suit and having short hair.

AARRRGH

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I seriously doubt that anyone gets promoted solely based on wearing a sharp suit and having short hair.

I have seen it happen.

Don't underestimate the value of being clean cut!

eth0_

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I seriously doubt that anyone gets promoted solely based on wearing a sharp suit and having short hair.

No, but if it comes down to choosing between two equally good candidates, and one is always neatly turned out and the other looks unkempt (and thus reflects badly on the company), I think most would go for the "sharp suit and short hair".

mac123

Zaph wrote: »

Well speaking as a bank manager I can tell you that I wouldn't hire any guy with long hair because it just looks unprofessional. That's not to sday it's not all right in other business, but in banking it would be very much frowned upon. Where I work we don't have day-to-day contact with clients so we have a permanent "smart casual" dress code and Fridays are dress down days. However, despite this, long hair on a guy wouldn't be deemed acceptable, and if an existing staff member grew his hair long his manager would be expected to have a word with him about it.

Thanks for all the replies...just a side note im not in Ireland, im in Canada and they do seem to be more open minded here regarding appearance.

I do think il be getting it cut though, I want to give myself the best chance possible. Its already hard enough to get work here being a new immigrant so I dont want to hinder my chances!

Anyway Zaph, in terms of length, what would you consider to look professional? I dont want to get a razor at my hair...its really not a good look for me.

Also can I ask, would you consider someone for a position if they sent you a cover letter/cv directly to your email? I know that I need to personalise it by using the recipients name, address etc but would you as a manager just disregard the email or look over it?