I haven’t interviewed anyone in a long time at my office. How do interviewers feel about beards these days on young (21-22) men? I know it’s all the rage, but is it considered bad form for a young guy to show up with a beard in a conservative industry? He thinks it makes him look older, but I always think clean-shaven looks more respectable/respectful (like, you took the time to shave).
Guys who wear beards also take time to shave to make sure their beards look neat… So is this a real beard or is it a 6 o’clock shadow kind of a “beard”? If the latter, it has to go, IMO.
It’s one of those 3-4 days growth beards. It is neatly trimmed, but it’s still facial hair … Idk is that OK?
I keep thinking, what if he runs into someone who hates beards? Nobody is offended by clean-shaven. So why not just broaden your appeal as much as possible? Can always grow it back after you land the job…but maybe I’m totally out of touch?
FWIW, my very good friend who just retired from a major corporation normally sports a very nice beard. The exception to this was when he was meeting new clients. He felt that it was always better to meet a new client clean-shaven. I personally think he looks much better better with a beard!! 
I should also add that he is very conservative by nature.
As long as he’s not looking shaggy, I think you are probably overthinking this. How is his hair cut looking, is that nice and neat? Wardrobe is crisp and professional, well fitted? If we were talking a wild “hipster” beard or a scraggly wannabe beard I think that would be problematic, but I don’t think well-groomed facial hair in general is quite as polarizing as you think. My professional experience is in commercial insurance… when I think about it most 40+ were clean shaven in my office, almost nobody younger than that was.
My husband would have to shave twice a day to look clean shaven. He also looks about half his age when he shaves, which for a 30 year old is not such a good thing.
Bears are in among young men. Odds are, he won’t be the only hairy guy they’re interviewing
What is the “conservative field”? A personal anecdote: I know a lawyer who had a very well groomed beard since grad school. Did not hurt his chances of getting jobs… But it was a classic beard, the kind that goes well with a bow tie.
DOES he actually look much younger without a beard? Mr R is mid-20s but clean-shaven he looks about 15 (despite being over 6’ tall). With a well-kept beard, he looks more or less his age.
I don’t think there’s a problem with well-kept beards, especially on younger men who need them to look their age.
I would say shave it off.
Interviewers would know he is only 21 years old. Looking older won’t give him bonus points.
Ds1 and I had this same discussion a year ago. We Googled the company and looked at pics to see whether current employees had facial hair. At least half the guys did.
Agreed with cbreeze, shave it off. I have an interview on the 19th and 20th for on-campus jobs and I’m definitely doing a clean, precise shave.
When in doubt, shave it off. He can always regrow later it if he gets the job.
I would say this is his business… if he doesn’t get the job, he might learn something. Or it might not be from the beard at all.
Does he look good with the beard, if yes it might not matter. Good looking men get hired.
My brother shaved off his very large beard to interview for a law firm. The interviewer was blind.
For most of my interviews I shaved to just a goatee. Shaved all the hair on my neck and sides of my face. I figure a goatee is professional enough looking.
If he is interviewing at a tech company, I wouldn’t worry about it. If he is interviewing at a more conservative company, like insurance or consulting, I would say shave it off.
If we have the experience, it is beneficial to our kids for us to advise them when it comes to job search/interviewing. That’s how some of our kids get ahead, by benefiting from our experience.
Shave it off. Looking at pictures of current employees doesn’t tell you anything about how they looked when they interviewed. In almost all cases, being clean -shaven is a better look. He can grow a beard out as long as he wants after he is hired and determines what is acceptable in his new workplace.
My S interviewed with a beard and got hired very quickly. I don’t think “when in doubt” necessarily stretches to “when Mom has doubts” cuz that would cover pretty much everything. 
I think I’d vote for a shave.
A lot of young fellows look mildly ridiculous with the beard that they can grow, and it conveys a "gee I wish I were [taller, slimmer, heavier more handsome,* older* etc.] than I feel I am.
No one gets hired because he has a cool beard, but some people might draw a focus to that which creates a distraction they don’t need.
If he gets the job, he can decide whether to grow it again. Apparently it won’t take long. But in the end its his face, his job interview, his choice.