Shave or Designer stubble

Pete Moss

Hi,

I have an interview for a HR role coming up, just wondering if people would recommend attending the interview clean shaven or with some designer stubble?

It's a minor detail, I know. I plan on being well presented at the interview, my suit's dry cleaned, shoes polished etc. but I don't want to ruin it by going in with what I think could looks like fashionable stubble when in fact I might look like Rab C Nerbitt!

Any advice would be appreciated.

The firm is not a casual dressed firm, it would be shirt & tie, suits etc.

Thanks

stargazer 68

Do not under any circumstances go to an interview with stubble - designer or otherwise. It looks scruffy and gives an 'I couldn't be bothered' vibe IMO

monflat

Especially HR role I would absolutely say clean shaven.

If your in that role imagine what others will think of you.

Mr. Incognito

Shave ffs.

There is no such thing as designer stubble. To a certain generation it makes you look like a hobo. Do you think you are going to be interviewed by teenagers?

Pete Moss

Hi,

Thanks for all the feedback and taking the time to forward advice. My confusion stemmed from a number of guys in my current role in a HR unit with beards, stubble etc. It seems to be the trendy, accepted thing nowadays, but obviously there's a line between having the job and getting the job. Deep down I knew being clean-shaven would give-off a better impression, after all I'm going for a HR job not a fashion contest, but again thanks for taking the time to forward your advice and for helping to settle my decision.

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Shave ffs.

There is no such thing as designer stubble. To a certain generation it makes you look like a hobo. Do you think you are going to be interviewed by teenagers?

No, I don't think I'll be interviewed by teenagers at all. It'll most likely be a twenty-to-thirty something person from the information I've accumulated on the company. Thanks for your reply, though your response was somewhat aggressive/exaggerated, in my opinion.

doolox

Treat an interview as you would a wedding or a funeral of an older relative. Definitely shave and suit and tie as I would regard a HR job as management and hence an administrative and decision making role.

I remember years ago nearly losing an entry level machine minding job because I wore a suit to the interview and one of the panel thought I would not "get my hands dirty" in a hands on manual role.....HR is not a manual menial hands on role....think banking insurance etc........The other members of the panel found me acceptable and it was not a representative opinion.

Also I would say that any front of house jobs, even at a manual labour level would dictate neat dress and shaving etc.

Mr. Loverman

I don't mind if my employees have stubble when they are working for me, but they should show up clean shaven at the interview. It shows respect and reduces the odds of me thinking they're a maverick or arrogant.

K4t

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

I don't mind if my employees have stubble when they are working for me, but they should show up clean shaven at the interview. It shows respect and reduces the odds of me thinking they're a maverick or arrogant.

Do you honestly believe that?

KungPao

Unless it's an interview to be a Hugo Boss male model for an advert for their latest scent, just have a shave. If you get the job, then you can go for the stubbly look to impress the girls in the office.

Pete Moss

Thanks to all for the replies and advice. I've shaved. My face is now cold.

KungPao wrote: »

Unless it's an interview to be a Hugo Boss male model for an advert for their latest scent, just have a shave. If you get the job, then you can go for the stubbly look to impress the girls in the office.

No modelling job, at the moment. To get one of them I think I'd have to grow a new face/physique never mind stubble!

Freemount09

Just to be clear - You are a guy ??

Gael23

Always clean shaven, or very near it.
One time I had an interview early in the morning so I shaved the previous night, thats the furthest I would let it go

Eoin

K4t wrote: »

Do you honestly believe that?

Someone here summed it up very well a while ago (I'm paraphrasing):

You're not turning up to do the job where you might be dressed casually day-to-day, you're turning up to a business meeting for a deal worth tens of thousands per year.

So whether or not you can get away with stubble / jeans or whatever in your day-to-day work is irrelevant - it's a different scenario altogether.

The fact that the OP has said it's a pretty formal place, makes it an absolute no-brainer for someone applying for a HR role to scrub up as best they can.

smash

Full on designer moustache with curls at the ends!

Top hat and monocle optional.

Gael23

I should add that if your regular appearance is you have a beard/moustache then I don't see a problem with that once its neat and tidy.

mattjack

smash wrote: »

Full on designer moustache with curls at the ends!

Top hat and monocle optional.

We dont know if OPs male or female.

daveyeh

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Shave ffs.

There is no such thing as designer stubble. To a certain generation it makes you look like a hobo. Do you think you are going to be interviewed by teenagers?

:pac::pac::pac:

Shave. It would be stupid not to.

Mr. Incognito

Pete Moss wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, though your response was somewhat aggressive/exaggerated, in my opinion.

It really wasn't.

I'm pretty shocked someone going for a HR Job would need to ask. Rule 1 of an Interview is look the part.

You are going to be interviewing for a role in a business environment.

Look the part.

Good luck with the interview anyway and leave the Saturday night look to Saturday nights and not the office.

Awkward Badger

What's the deal with beards then ? I had someone tell me shave it off, you can grow it back after the interview. But if I shave I'll look like a 12 year old. Surely there's more chance of a bearded man getting a job than a clean shaven child ?

Firefox11

Awkward Badger wrote: »

What's the deal with beards then ? I had someone tell me shave it off, you can grow it back after the interview. But if I shave I'll look like a 12 year old. Surely there's more chance of a bearded man getting a job than a clean shaven child ?

Employers are looking at your ability to do the job in hand and a professional impression and demeanour is being judged the moment you enter the building of a potential employer therefore clean shaven (for a Man) and neat professional dress is essential.

brevity

This can depend on the role/industry or even the company. I know I guy who's bald with a full beard, platted into a ponytail that reaches half way down his torso and has had no problems getting programming jobs. But that's the industry for ya.

Startups are less likely to care about facial hair and may even embrace that sort of thing, whereas established companies might be old fashioned.

Imo, It all boils down to experience and or qualifications. If you have them, and you are a good fit for the company, then no one cares about stubble.

If in doubt break out the razor.