Facial hair for interview?

mursedylan · Mar 3, 2014

Greetings!

I am finishing my BSN this May and am also applying/interviewing for jobs and graduate school. I have already done a couple interviews, and I have left by beard on. Originally, my beard was about 5-6 inches long, but I trimmed it up to about 3 inches, made the edges blunt and nice, and cut down any stragglers there were. I feel it brings out my character, adds a look of confidence (if it is a good beard that it 'edged up nicely' even if its long), and for me, it adds 5 years to my age appearance (I'm only 22, but I've had patients guess that I'm as old as 32). I havent been clean shaven in years, but any time in the past that I brought it down to a shadow, I was told I look much much younger. I met with a few of my professors to prepare for my grad school interview and they supported me keeping the beard but 'shaping it up.'

I will try to remember to post the results of my interviews when I hear back in April.

Beards are important. Its who you are. Don't work your beard around your life. Work your life around your beard. The number of men in nursing is growing rapidly, and the beards can add an image of gentle wise strength- so keep rocking it!

Doindia · Mar 3, 2014

Well I just down sized from 6 inches or so to a very short 1/4-1/2 inch. It was painful haha

mursedylan · Mar 3, 2014

Painful indeed!! I'm also getting married in June, and my finacee likes the idea of me keeping a neat beard for the wedding. I say its great to keep it as a permanent fixture, but just tighten it up for occasions that call for it.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2014

A Clean neatly trimmed beard will not, for the most part, make your interview process difficult. There was a time when hospitals did not allow facial hair. They want beards neatly trimmed close to the face.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2014

Many facilities will not allow beards if you have to be N95 fit tested.

My work has a lax no beard policy, but if they wanted they could state men have to be clean shaven.

I have always had a goatee and occasionally let the rest grow for a few weeks (I do keep it trimmed and neat, chinstrap beard) and have never been asked to shave, but I also have never been N95 fit tested, so they can't use that argument (and you can pass a N95 fit test with a goatee anyway).

Just find out the employers policy on facial hair before your interview.

Doindia · Mar 4, 2014

yeah they mentioned my beard and the n95 in school. To be fitted for it you have to be clean shaven. I was told a beard could be grown after you are fitted for it as long as you came to work with access to a razor ready to shave it off that morning if you happen to be assigned a patient on airborne precautions.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Mar 4, 2014

A neatly trimmed beard should be no problem in the interview process, and it is possible to pass fit testing with a beard.

Everytime I've been fit tested, I've passed, and with a goatee or beard each time.

elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Mar 4, 2014

some facilities and agencies mandate a clean shave. however if you come to an interview looking clean and well maintained i dont see it being a problem. if youre looking like a scraggly yeti that may be an issue lol

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2014

Many facilities will not allow beards if you have to be N95 fit tested.
My work has a lax no beard policy, but if they wanted they could state men have to be clean shaven.
I have always had a goatee and occasionally let the rest grow for a few weeks (I do keep it trimmed and neat, chinstrap beard) and have never been asked to shave, but I also have never been N95 fit tested, so they can't use that argument (and you can pass a N95 fit test with a goatee anyway).
Just find out the employers policy on facial hair before your interview.

Actually it is illegal for employers to have policies against beards as it could target those who wear beards for religious reasons such as the Orthodox Jews. If you have a beard they are required to provide you with a PAPR instead of fitting you for N95

Larry2016 · Mar 4, 2014

It may be illegal for employers to have policies against beards...

BUT that does not mean they may give the job to someone else, usually citing finding "someone better qualified for the position" in a letter.

Err on the side of caution. You need to do anything in your favor.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2014

Actually it is illegal for employers to have policies against beards as it could target those who wear beards for religious reasons such as the Orthodox Jews. If you have a beard they are required to provide you with a PAPR instead of fitting you for N95

Not true. There is nothing that says that a man with a beard will be protected in discrimination laws. If the nurse is a Hasidic Jew...then they have protection however....if the job requires for the workers safety that the beard cannot be present ie: N95 masks...they will be reassigned and cannot be forced to quit. But the facility is under no obligation to hire someone with a disability if it is a requirement to do the job safety.

For example....A pilot cannot be blind.