[ICallHimTurtle]

I wasn't trying to be rude. I've been in upper management and simultaneously surrounded by beards. It differs per company and as someone said earlier, who owns it.

[Chinchilla of Doom]

Originally Posted by DaGeek

I actually think that, in a lot of places, he's probably absolutely right. Not the way it "should" be, but the way it is perhaps.

At the same time, in a lot places he isn't right. It really just depends.

[etechstan]

Originally Posted by ICallHimTurtle

That's an offensive assumption, and a personal opinion at that.

Just because I wrote it, it doesn't mean I agree with it. I've worked in and around the medical device industry for a few years, I'm a Biomedical Engineer and currently working on my MBA. You go into a sales situation,investors meeting or anything else with a beard and you will not get anywhere. The same goes with tattoos and piercings. Fortunately my ink stops where my shirt sleeves stop. There is a hockey stick effect, the higher the income, the less the facial hair.
Here's a simple way to verify what I wrote, go to the nearest magazine rack, pick up any business magazine, Forbes, Fortune 500 or whatever, look at what the ideal manager looks like.
Turtle, I just checked your profile and saw that you're only 26 years old, I had students at a local technical college I taught at with your same attitude. I'm sorry to tell you this but, as long as the older conservatives run the majority of the corporations in America, that's how its going to be. As the "old guard" thins out and younger, more liberal executives take over you will see the trend change. As somebody wrote earlier about Austin, that is one of the most liberal cities in America and you will see a lot of flip flops and shorts. Google, Apple and a few others are more relaxed but they're just the minority right now.

[Thrash]

Of course, as John pointed out, beards were big in business in the 80s and part of the 90s. Clean shaven goes in and out of style.

Sent from my MB520 using CGR Forum

[1/2-Fast Player]

Originally Posted by etechstan

. As the "old guard" thins out and younger, more liberal executives take over you will see the trend change.

No, you won't.

I thought that might be possible when I was growing up in the '70s. Today, the executives are those who were long-hairs wearing tie-dyed shirts in the '60s and '70s. They've cut their hair, shaved their beards, and changed their clothes. As have I.

They (we) had to do this to advance, and the story continues.

There is a manner of dress and of personal appearance that is acceptable worldwide in business and most adopt it to be successful. Sure, in some businesses and some locales a different look may be acceptable, but the clean-shaven look isn't rejected even in those environments. Your odds of succeeding in a very competitive world are better if you adopt that look.

Moustaches are widely accepted. Beards less so, but okay in many contexts. Long hair is much less accepted. Tats and piercings hardly at all. C'est la vie.

Life has many battles. Some are worth fighting and some aren't. Choose wisely.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by etechstan

Just because I wrote it, it doesn't mean I agree with it. I've worked in and around the medical device industry for a few years, I'm a Biomedical Engineer and currently working on my MBA. You go into a sales situation,investors meeting or anything else with a beard and you will not get anywhere. The same goes with tattoos and piercings. Fortunately my ink stops where my shirt sleeves stop. There is a hockey stick effect, the higher the income, the less the facial hair.
Here's a simple way to verify what I wrote, go to the nearest magazine rack, pick up any business magazine, Forbes, Fortune 500 or whatever, look at what the ideal manager looks like.
Turtle, I just checked your profile and saw that you're only 26 years old, I had students at a local technical college I taught at with your same attitude. I'm sorry to tell you this but, as long as the older conservatives run the majority of the corporations in America, that's how its going to be. As the "old guard" thins out and younger, more liberal executives take over you will see the trend change. As somebody wrote earlier about Austin, that is one of the most liberal cities in America and you will see a lot of flip flops and shorts. Google, Apple and a few others are more relaxed but they're just the minority right now.

My brother is a biomechanical engineer being courted by several firms, He typically has a goatee or beard and has never had an issue. Then again, he got his doctorate from Stanford and is a professor of biomechanical engineering currently. He has recently fielded some offers at very high amounts, and has never taken any crap for the fact that his fashion sense is very punk and he has a beard.

Then again, he is no MBA and has no aspiration to manage anything. He designs. He also is looking in technology fields. But some of his offers have been at high 6 figures. If you are good enough, looking a little weird does not hurt you, it sort of gives you an edge that you are highly recognizable. But you have to be world class to pull that off.

I have worked a lot in IT and literally at several points been the only person in a company not under dress code. The reason why? I did everything from pull wire and cut holes in the wall to designing servers and network architecture, and I might need to spend 5 hours in the office and 3 in the crawlspaces under the building. Then again, I don't have any aspiration to be a suit.

[normajean777]

Originally Posted by Thrash

Of course, as John pointed out, beards were big in business in the 80s and part of the 90s. Clean shaven goes in and out of style.

Sent from my MB520 using CGR Forum

Don Draper doesn't have a beard.

[beanbag]

i think like most people have pointed out, workplace beard etiquette is not a defined thing. as long as it's well-kept, i don't think it's a problem.

we have different dress codes (or lack thereof) depending on the department you're in, so i have seen engineers and software developers slouching around in ripped tennies or (horror!) socks with sandals, cut-offs and t-shirts (all ripped, of course) with massive, scraggly beards, and i have seen sales guys with slacks, button downs, and clean-shaven faces, but also with neatly-trimmed beards. we won't talk about the creeper mustaches right now, because it's just that time of year, but that isn't typical office fare when it isn't october-december.

some men do look more authoritative and assertive with beards. my younger brother is almost 21, and he does look a lot more mature and competent with a short beard. when he shaves his face, sometimes i still see a toddler. =)

[ICallHimTurtle]

Originally Posted by ICallHimTurtle

I wasn't trying to be rude. I've been in upper management and simultaneously surrounded by beards. It differs per company and as someone said earlier, who owns it.

My personal experience is all the proof I really need.

Originally Posted by 1/2-Fast Player

C'est la vie.

Life has many battles. Some are worth fighting and some aren't. Choose wisely.

Perfect end note. /subscription.

[zedman]

I've had a full beard for many years--before my current job--but yeah--some places frown on beards for good reasons--like where they interfere with safety--as with masks possibly.
Other places just don't like beards as a matter of course.

I work in a place where a beard is fine.

[Role Modlin]

Originally Posted by 1/2-Fast Player

No, you won't.

I thought that might be possible when I was growing up in the '70s. Today, the executives are those who were long-hairs wearing tie-dyed shirts in the '60s and '70s. They've cut their hair, shaved their beards, and changed their clothes. As have I.

They (we) had to do this to advance, and the story continues.

There is a manner of dress and of personal appearance that is acceptable worldwide in business and most adopt it to be successful. Sure, in some businesses and some locales a different look may be acceptable, but the clean-shaven look isn't rejected even in those environments. Your odds of succeeding in a very competitive world are better if you adopt that look.

Moustaches are widely accepted. Beards less so, but okay in many contexts. Long hair is much less accepted. Tats and piercings hardly at all. C'est la vie.

Life has many battles. Some are worth fighting and some aren't. Choose wisely.

Originally Posted by ICallHimTurtle

My personal experience is all the proof I really need.



Perfect end note. /subscription.

Yep. Don't sell out to The Man.