Beards and interviews

[Ki3r]

Evening all,

After a bit of advice. I'm a months time I've got a interview and assessment day to become a police officer.

I've currently got a beard that I'm quite proud of, and have had different advice about keeping it or not.

So...if you were interviewing me, would you prefer I was clean shaven?

Going to be bloody brave and post a photo of it...

Should point out that I'm currently a Special Constable and other than people joking about it, I've not been told that it needs to go.

Any advice would be great .

(Excuse me looking like crap, I've been up since 5 and not a morning person!).

[MrCippo]

I would keep it! Not long until Xmas either...

[creampuff]

No advice, but top looking beard

[TR4man]

It's got to go (or at least, severely trimmed and shaped)

[grumbledoak]

Did you see the press reaction to "Hipster Cop"?

Keep it.

[technodup]

TR4man said:

It's got to go (or at least, severely trimmed and shaped)

This.

Quite why anyone goes for the bushy ginger beard I'll never understand. I certainly wouldn't willingly employ one.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Some people will be prejudiced against beards, but no one will be prejudiced against no beard. So get shot of it to be on the safe side.

[rog007]

When seeking employment, if you introduce elements of risk you have to be able to accept the consequences; this applies to all aspects of the process. Good luck!

[The Beaver King]

Whilst it is an awesome bit of facial growth, unfortunately I would have to agree with some of the others and say it needs to go. Nobody will ever tell you that you didn't get a job because of a beard, but it may factor into their decision.

Remove the ambiguity, shave it off or trim it right down and attend the interview.

I had a beard two years ago; I shaved it off for the interview, got the job and then grew it back. It's only a few months to grow it back and at least you know if won't be a factor.

[rhinochopig]

Keep it. You can hide half your face against your wall and scare your friends.

[DuncB7]

It's tragic that someone should have to ask such a question. Although I love a clean shave myself, why should one even consider shaving ones beard for an interview. Whilst I tend to agree with many of the previous statements, what a judgmental society we live in.

You cannot discriminate against someone of Sikh faith because they do not cut their hair. Perfectly fine with a 'non-religious' beard though. Riddle me that.

[blueg33]

Sod being a Police officer, apply for a role in Game of Thrones

[The Beaver King]

I found this on the Police > Recruitment > FAQ site:



So they're fine with beards, but I'm not 100% sure that your beard fits with what they had in mind.

As above, maybe join the Wildlings division of the police:

[NDA]

I work in digital media and everyone seems to have beards - so I've become used to them and hardly notice them to be honest.

I don't have one.

Yours looks great - but it would be interesting to hear from someone in the Police about how they're viewed.

[sparks_E39]

Hello Kier! Beard is epic, I'd say get it properly shaped.. do you still have the 528i?

[Gargamel]

Be sure to mention its defensive/absorbent qualities when you are punched in the face.

Personally I think it looks a bit intimidating, would love to see it twinned with mirrored shades.

I interview people on a regular basis, I wouldn't discriminate against anyone on the basis of facial hair for a job.

[Muzzer79]

I would trim it so it's neater, but there's no need to get rid of a beard like that.

You could never argue it's stubble, ergo laziness - it's a proper beard.

The Police and Forces tend to be quite cut and dry about this sort of thing - either it's allowed or it's not. If it is, trim appropriately.

[TotalControl]

Bloody fantastic beard! Keep it. Just make sure it's tidy.

[deckster]

It's a fecking beard. You can always grow it back, whereas buggering up the interview because the up-tight interviewer perceives you as scruffy, or lacking the ability or judgement to understand his interpretation of 'neat and tidy' is much harder to recover from.

Firmly in the 'get rid' camp here. Or, of course, as you're currently in the Specials and therefore presumably talk to proper police all the time, you might like to ask somebody who might have a clue rather than a bunch of strangers on the internet

[technodup]

deckster said:

as you're currently in the Specials and therefore presumably talk to proper police all the time, you might like to ask somebody who might have a clue

Or just wait until he sees a proper polis with a beard like that. I suspect he may be waiting a while though.