To Beard or Not to Beard? That is the [Interview] Question.

By CMG Staff

Full beard. Goatee. Mustache. Scruff. Sideburns. Clean shave.

According to pogonologist Dr. Allan Peterkin (yes, beard scholars exist), a man’s facial hair says a lot about him.

“To Beard or Not To Beard” is one of the top 10 coaching questions that our clients ask. The answer really depends on the company, role, industry, and your audience.

In a utopian society, a candidate is judged on qualifications alone. But let’s face it. People do judge a book by its cover.

A person’s image choice is powerful. According to University of Alaska professor emeritus R.D. Guthrie, author of Body Hot Spots: the Anatomy of Human Social Organs and Behavior, beards have a sociobiological impact on interviews.

Our world is obsessed with image, and Guthrie’s research shows that—historically—people use persuasion, force, or fraud to get what they want.  When studying the social impact of non-verbal behavior and body language, he found that the beard functions as a source of visual threat, power, or intimidation, while in some cases, it may convey maturity and wisdom.

Job interview candidates take note. You are a walking billboard. The first step to achieving buy-in is taking pride in your personal presentation. Refined executives and politicians know this too well. After all, it’s no coincidence that not one US President since William H. Taft sported facial hair.

President William H. Taft was the last US President to sport facial hair.

The art of persuasion

Think about it: the interview is the art of persuasion. Successful people know this.

Beardedness trends fluctuate, and the modern man can seriously raise or sink his candidacy if he does not take the time to understand the culture, industry, and social matrix of a potential employer and role.

Forget using fads as your personal image consultant. Instead, speak with or observe other professionals in similar fields and industries.  Before an interview, research the company’s website or search LinkedIn for employee pictures to get clues about the culture and industry. 

For example, although creative, fashion- and art-focused fields may welcome the scruff look, candidates will quickly realize facial hair is generally not welcome in conservative fields such as finance, oil and gas, defense, or law. 

The beard isn’t necessarily out of style, but the type of beard can make or break a person, says Sarah Palmes, owner of Chirpy Locks salon and regular makeover stylist appearing on Fox 46 Charlotte. “A properly maintained beard can look stylish and trendy on a man and even accentuate his features. An unruly and overgrown beard can look unprofessional,” says Palmes.

However, thick beards are not always the problem. Goatees, mustaches, short circle beards, and even long sideburns are trendy, and some beards are even an expression of culture and religious symbolism. Nonetheless, your facial hair should match your facial features and be maintained so it doesn’t look unprofessional.

“It is not in everyone’s DNA to grow a beard,” admits Palmes. Spotty and inconsistent growth can look dirty. If you fall into that category, Palmes recommends going for the clean shave.

As you start interviewing, place your ego aside. Consider whether it is more noble to suffer slings and arrows from holding your ground or if it’s better for you to swallow your pride to land a part in the play.

The image you choose will set the stage.

(Due to continued interest, we’ve decided to update and repost our original article—also our most popular blog piece—with almost 5,000+ reads).