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I've been working as a technical writer for the past few years after graduating with a degree in English literature, but have recently been laid off when the company I worked for began to have financial troubles. Now, for the entire duration of my college and writing careers, I've had shoulder-length hair. I've been applying for jobs for nearly two months now with very little success; I always get to the interview, but I haven't been getting the jobs. I am a very qualified technical or copy writer with numerous completed projects in my portfolio, as well as a published academic journal article, and so I'm beginning to become a bit puzzled. What I want to know is if my longer hair is possibly turning employers off, despite the fact that I always dress well for the specific job I'm going after. I've been mostly applying to tech writer positions at medium and large sized companies. I would be grateful for any input, but responses from hiring authorities would also be greatly appreciated.
Here's a recent picture of me. My hair is usually a bit neater, but this is fairly representative of how I normally look.
Last edited by PJSaturn; 02-01-2015 at 08:58 AM..
Reason: Image deleted 02-01-2015 at user's request.
Do you need long hair? Do you feel it's part of your identity or something? You're choosing a style that is normally associated with rock stars and surfers. It looks like you have a decent hairline and overall volume of hair -- perfect for styling into something that would frame your face and make you look professional.
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Last edited by 7G9C4J2; 12-12-2013 at 05:04 PM..
Reason: Removed copyrighted image
I've been working as a technical writer for the past few years after graduating with a degree in English literature, but have recently been laid off when the company I worked for began to have financial troubles. Now, for the entire duration of my college and writing careers, I've had shoulder-length hair. I've been applying for jobs for nearly two months now with very little success; I always get to the interview, but I haven't been getting the jobs. I am a very qualified technical or copy writer with numerous completed projects in my portfolio, as well as a published academic journal article, and so I'm beginning to become a bit puzzled. What I want to know is if my longer hair is possibly turning employers off, despite the fact that I always dress well for the specific job I'm going after. I've been mostly applying to tech writer positions at medium and large sized companies. I would be grateful for any input, but responses from hiring authorities would also be greatly appreciated.
Here's a recent picture of me. My hair is usually a bit neater, but this is fairly representative of how I normally look.
dude forget technical writing. With a face like that, you need to be a model. for real.
Do you need long hair? Do you feel it's part of your identity or something? You're choosing a style that is normally associated with rock stars and surfers. It looks like you have a decent hairline and overall volume of hair -- perfect for styling into something that would frame your face and make you look professional.
I don't feel that I need it, or that it's part of my identity, but it is certainly my preference, and has been for years. And I wouldn't mind trying another style if needed, but I mostly just want to know if anyone can definitively tell me what the corporate climate is at the moment regarding men and long hair. Thanks for the input on trying a different style, though. If it does happen that my hair is causing employers to become cautious about hiring me, then I'll need to choose something like what you posted.
dude forget technical writing. With a face like that, you need to be a model. for real.
20yrsinBranson
Why, thank you! The closest I've come to that is being in a photo shoot for a college poster. I will forever be remembered as "the guy in the background reading the dictionary in the library".
I think the most important thing is to have hair that appears well groomed, regardless of its length. Someone can look grubby and unkempt with short hair.
I used to think that fields such as writing, the arts, or academia were more open to different looks; could it be that technical writing has a more "business" level of formality than creative writing or teaching?
I've been working as a technical writer for the past few years after graduating with a degree in English literature, but have recently been laid off when the company I worked for began to have financial troubles. Now, for the entire duration of my college and writing careers, I've had shoulder-length hair. I've been applying for jobs for nearly two months now with very little success; I always get to the interview, but I haven't been getting the jobs. I am a very qualified technical or copy writer with numerous completed projects in my portfolio, as well as a published academic journal article, and so I'm beginning to become a bit puzzled. What I want to know is if my longer hair is possibly turning employers off, despite the fact that I always dress well for the specific job I'm going after. I've been mostly applying to tech writer positions at medium and large sized companies. I would be grateful for any input, but responses from hiring authorities would also be greatly appreciated.
Here's a recent picture of me. My hair is usually a bit neater, but this is fairly representative of how I normally look.
Do you use your hair to think and write with? (I doubt it), but I truly hope that is not why HR's won't hire you, because that would be extremely discriminating. Were you naked south of the hair? If not I see no reason for you not to be hired.
Nice shot...nice looking guy...who wouldn't what to have a co worker that looks like that? now if you looked like this, I could see why someone would have an issue coming to work the next day! LOL:
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Last edited by 7G9C4J2; 12-12-2013 at 05:07 PM..
Reason: Removed copyrighted image
Long hair and interviews?
While you do look neat and proper your long hair wouldnt affect my choice at hiring you for a job if you were qualified however theres a lot of judgmental people out there and the possibility of you being judged as a long haired liberal hippy type who probably does drugs is a possibility i'd not gamble with if i were in the job market,IMO get a haircut you can always grow the hair back after you get the job..
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