24 year old guy with medium shaggy hair on my first interview

[jmax3]

I have an interview for a RN position. I used to do my some of my clinicals at that facility when I was a inexperienced student. When I was a student at another facility, some friendly nurses said my hair was long and i'm a rocker/surfer; they weren't trying to be rude, but I knew they were hinting to me that they thought it was too long for nursing school) My hair wasn't even that long if I were out of the hospital setting. When I did get it cut shorter they told me they liked it. I am a new grad and this is my first interview (tough economy) and it is my dream job..

I have a medium shaggy style haircut and I keep questioning myself if I should get it cut short to have a stereotype clean cut. I hate having short hair, I want at least some thin locks of layers all around my head.

My hair is like this but it is a little longer on the sides with more layers/locks and more frontal bangs.

(sort of like this on the sides but I do not comb my hair to the side)

I am Filipino/Mexican and it is common that Asians have hair like this. I have some bad acne scars on my face and this hairstyle takes the appearance away from them compared to a short buzz cut. I always had my hair like this, If I were to walk into a college I would see alot guys with a similar style.

I believe this hairstyle is frowned upon with people who work in hospitals.

I think I wont be taken seriously to some of the "snobby people" (in the hospital setting). With a short hairstyle I look like a military veteran and I know I can be taken seriously.

Either I keep the hair and wonder if it costed me the job, get it cut it shorter and have a "still have hair on the head medium professional look style", or get it cut short.

[mbittleston]

Look at hairstyles that an 80 year old would like. Most of the patients are geriatric and so longer hair is not appropriate. Besides the reality is you only need the shorter hair for a little while during the hiring process.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

[sistasoul]

The hairstyle in the picture is not long at all. If you feel the shorter hair gives you an edge to get hired than do it. But I think if you feel more comfortable with your hair like this than that will come across as being more confident in your interview. I truly do not think your hair is too long.

[Pudnluv, ASN, RN]

Hard to say. I see so many new nurses with nose piercings and visible tattoos nowadays. I think the most important thing is that your hair is neat, clean and out of your eyes. I work with doctors who have long hair pulled back in ponytails, even some of the male nurses wear their hair this way. The worst that could happen is you cut your hair for the interview, get the job and your hair will grow back.

[Cohiba]

What will your long hair look like in the line @ the unemployment office? Get yourself to the barber shop with quickness if that's what you need to do to get a job...

[jmax3]

The hairstyle in the picture is not long at all. If you feel the shorter hair gives you an edge to get hired than do it. But I think if you feel more comfortable with your hair like this than that will come across as being more confident in your interview. I truly do not think your hair is too long.

Thanks, you nailed what I was thinking. I know I wont be confident with a short hair cut because I have never had short hair and the majority of my gf's liked my hair long. Im going to get it cut shorter and if it doesnt look right then I will get it the shortest with hair still everywhere, but more "clean cut"

[OCNRN63, RN]

I've told this story before, but years ago when I was in school, one of the guys in my clinical rotation had "longish" hair that went just a little below the collar on his uniform. One of my clinical instructors made him pull it back with a rubber band. We razzed him mercilessly, calling him "Thomas Jefferson."

I would try to find out from HR is your hair passes the requirements for personal appearance. With the dearth of jobs out there, I know I wouldn't let my preference for hairstyle get in the way of a job/making my employer happy. Although, I must admit, I would have been fuming if they told me I couldn't dye my hair red!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Keep in mind that the HR "dress code" is the minimum requirement. While you are trying to land that job, the most important people you need to impress are the hiring managers. What do THEY like?

FWIW, I don't think that the "Nursing look" (scrubs, comfy shoes, pockets stuffed full of miscellaneous items, hair off the face, short nails, minimal cosmetics. . . ) has ever looked "cool". That's why we frequently find it so difficult to recognize our colleagues when we run into them away from work - they look Good! Just steer into the skid and save your coolness for civilian settings - we won't have time to appreciate it anyway.