Job Interview Hairstyles For Men

If you’re a man applying for a job, it is easy to overlook hairstyles as part of your preparation, particularly if you have short hair. But whether your hair is long or short, what you do with it will contribute to your overall impression. In most fields, short hair is definitely preferable over longer hair. Many employers will not even hire you if your hair touches your collar. It depends in part on the industry where you are applying however.

If you are going to work in a more liberal or artistic environment, you may be able to get away with having longer hair. Likewise, if you are applying to work in a stock room or some other occupation where you are not in contact with the public nor working in an office, you may be able to get away with longer hair.

If You Have Long Hair

If your hair is long and you want to keep it that way, make sure that it is out of your face. Wash and comb it and then pull it back in a ponytail so that it doesn’t distract the interviewer. If your hair is medium length, you may want to cut it short for your interviewing process and then grow it back out later once you land a job. Employers are less averse to gradual changes than they are to sudden ones.

If You Have Short Hair

Short hair is ideal for a job interview, especially a classic taper or another very basic look where the hair is short on the sides and in the back. It can be a little bit longer on top, which allows you to style it a bit, especially when you are not at work. Even if your hair is longer on top, avoid styling it in a way that is particularly trendy. At the same time, you probably want to avoid haircuts that are very short, because that gives that fresh-out-of-prison look, and you really don’t want to give that impression either.

The Shave

When you are applying for a job, it is almost always best to go in clean-shaven. A clean shave not only removes distracting facial hair, but also shows that you are hygienic and well groomed. It isn’t easy to get a nice clean shave, so if you have one, it shows diligence and effort. If you have facial hair, you will give off the impression that you are lazy.

If you do insist on keeping your facial hair, make sure that it is well trimmed and very neat, and also that you do not have any particularly unusual or trendy styles. Facial hair grows back very quickly, though, so clean-shaven is still preferable.

There aren’t as many hairstyling options for men for job interviews, which may feel constrictive, but look on the bright side: you have less work to do and less to worry about, especially if you are clean-shaven and your hair is short. You want employers to see you as someone who is clean cut and memorable, but you want the focus to be on what you have to say and not how you look.