You must earn your beard. ~ Beards and The Job Search

Don't get me wrong. I like beards. Well, at least beards that are to my subjective taste anyway. As it relates to the job search and to actual employment for that matter, beards must be earned. I will explain why...

In a media driven society of social media, celebrity status and desire for individualism and expression, it is easy to forget the reality of what really is. The reality is that in every human's nature, every person forms an impression of your initial self in only the amount of time it takes to finish a handshake. People, especially employers, look at your physical template and form an immediate  opinion of your personality. Once formed, it is up to you to maintain or change that physical template perception. So, why waste time changing the perception.

In saying, in terms of job seeking and interviewing, it is paramount that you provide a blank template in the form of a clean shave. By providing a blank template to your most visible attribute, you eliminate any chance of a negative pre-judgment allowing the employer to concentrate on what really matters. Your resume!

YOU MUST EARN YOUR BEARD -- Dating back to BC, beards have always represented knowledge and strength. Seniority and Superiority if you will. In a way, beards are very similar to a military uniform badge. To which, one must earn. For the first year, you as an employee are trying to climb the ladder of knowledge and superiority to the companies business and system's structure. You are attempting to be the Subject Matter Expert in your craft. You haven't yet earned the right to wear a beard. For the first year, you're just an expendable newbie to the employer until you prove otherwise.  

My career advise to jobseekers, especially millennials, is to shave the beard while seeking employment. Unless you are interviewing for an actor's position that calls for a beard, you will have the advantage of winning employment against your competition.