It depends on the company, it is a milder form of things like tattoos or jewelry and the like. I think a neatly trimmed beard won’t generate much controversy with interviewers, as long as the beard is neatly maintained and actually looks like one. Walk in with the hipster soul patch, and it could raise eyes in certain quarters, or if the beard is sparse because the beard hasn’t really fully formed yet, I would be more cautious then with a more ‘standard’ beard.
The other factor is, if a beard is a big deal on an interview, do you really want to work there? Do you really want to work in an uptight atmosphere where the people running the show think 'Mad Men" represents the radical new or something?
Really up to him. One thing he should think of, if he really likes the company, but thinks they may not like the beard on the interview, if that causes him worry (rather than it being mom), if he isn’t sure, then shave it off and take away a source of anxiety. You don’t want to be going into an interview and looking at the people you are interviewing and thinking ‘hmm, is he looking at my beard? Does he like it? Does he hate it?’, it will distract you. If he likes the beard, and has the attitude like “well, if they don’t like me in a beard, that would be their problem”, then he could leave it, but if he has doubts, shave it off, take that out of the picture, then grow it back after you get the job.
I had no idea beards were such an issue. I suspect this is industry specific.
My son grew a beard and let hair grow longer when working in SV. He shaved during the summer, and his g/f and others encouraged him to grow back. I think the neatness makes the difference. Still, I think a young man interviewing for a job should know his field, network, get to know the company culture, and then make an educated opinion to shave or not.
Which is more important…getting a job, or sporting a beard? Play the odds and go for ‘clean cut’ look. When you’re unemployed, use every little advantage you can to acquire a good job. Too, when you’re unemployed, looking for a job is just like shaving, if you don’t do it everyday, you soon look like a bum.
Wow thanks for some really well thought out responses. The industry in question is financial services/consulting/insurance. He will be interviewing mostly in the Midwest.
He asked me what I thought and I shared my opinion - but I acknowledge that I am stale in the interviewing game. I immediately thought of the vast resource that is CC! I am forwarding this thread to him so he can evaluate for himself.
The majority of medical school advisors say to shave the beard and cut the hair for interview season. I would say it is better to be safe than sorry. It can always grow back.
I am kind of surprised to see all the shave it off answers. A neatly trimmed beard should not be a deterrent to getting a job. If you are well groomed (hair, clothes, nails, etc.) it should be fine for an interview with any company. If you are talking about one of those beards that just look like a 5 o’clock shadow, or something long and scruffy, these would not be well-groomed looks and I would say shave it off.