Want a great job? Then shave

Flickr user Ayleen Gaspar

(MoneyWatch) COMMENTARY If you look at pictures of Fortune 500 CEOs, you might be in for a surprise. Very few have facial hair. In fact, hardly any do. The same is true of American political leaders.

Why is that? What's the big hairy problem with leaders having facial hair? Clearly, it bucks the societal trend. Stubble, mustaches and beards of all kinds have been the rage for years. It's definitely cool to have facial hair. Just not if you're an executive or business leader.

There are exceptions, of course. Steve Jobs grew a beard relatively late in life. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has one. So do Marc Benioff of Salesforce.com, Reed Hastings of Netflix and Richard Branson of Virgin Group. But they're all founders of their companies. There's a different standard for successful entrepreneurs.

Of recent note is former SAP and Hewlett-Packard CEO Leo Apotheker. He has a beard. At least he did when he was fired from both companies. The same is true of Scott Thompson, who was shown the door after just four months as Yahoo's CEO. Wonder what we can infer from that?

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I have a beard -- stubble, really -- but I didn't have one when I was in the corporate world. Do I lose consulting business as a result? Maybe. I guess I figured that, after decades of learning the part and being sure I looked it, if I don't know what I'm doing by now I probably never will.

Depending on whose numbers you believe, anywhere from 80 to 90 percent of adult males are clean-shaven, while the percentage of senior executives without facial hair appears to be significantly higher. So, while this analysis isn't exactly scientific, there does seem to be a correlation between climbing the ladder of success and facial hair, although the causality may not be as well studied as we would like.

Here's my take on that, and some advice for those of you who might want to be considered for employment or promotion in the not-too-distant future.

Perception is reality

Whenever I say "perception is reality," some smart aleck takes me to task on the specific truth of the phrase. What it means is that, in terms of a buying or hiring decision, the perception of the decision-maker influences their decision. Thus, their perception becomes reality for those impacted by the decision. I trust that's logical enough for the nitpickers among you.

Several studies I came across actually did conclude a positive bias toward clean-shaven men in business hiring decisions. Not only that, but shaving also makes you look younger and less like a lumberjack or homeless person. I'm just saying.

Incidentally, when I became a consultant, two former CEOs commented on my beard. One said I should stand closer to my razor, and the other said I looked more like a rock star than a management consultant. I guess you can take that with a grain of salt (or salt and pepper, if you're a little younger).

Whether the bias is real or not, if you're hot on the trail of a job or a promotion and want to play it safe, I'd go ahead and shave if I were you.

Forget fashion, but looks do count

Some guys grow beards because they think it's fashionable or makes them more attractive. Let's take those one at a time. With the exception of certain industries, the business world leans heavily toward the conservative, meaning they don't know and could care less about fashion. But my gut says it can work against you. Managers want people who care about getting the job done, not fashion.

As for attractiveness, some studies have shown that good-looking people are hired faster, make more money and get more raises. And I'm pretty sure that some men's faces do indeed benefit from facial hair. If you've got one of those faces, just be sure to keep it neat and trimmed.

On the other hand, every survey I read said most women prefer a clean-shaven face.

At the end of the day, you've got to look in the mirror every morning and live with yourself. If you're an entrepreneur type, have that renegade spirit, and want to live and work on your own terms, be my guest -- look however you want. I doubt it will make that big a difference in the overall scheme of things.

Image courtesy of Flickr user Ayleen Gaspar

[feralferal]

"Of the Seven Dwarfs, the only one who shaved was Dopey. That should tell us something about the wisdom of shaving." - Tom Robbins - Skinny Legs & All.

[feralferal]

For executive positions and most sales jobs, I'd agree that clean-shaven or at least very well trimmed, is mandatory.

For other work, there seems to be growing latitude. Just a few decades ago, a goatee signified psychiatrist or bike-gang member; now it's a mainstream look.

And for some occupations, a big beard is necessary. Grow one if you're applying as headmaster of Hogwarts or auditioning for a gig with ZZ Top.

As a freelance writer and marketing consultant, I've found my beard and long hair to be useful aspects of my personal branding that also seem to help put most clients more quickly at ease. The beard also covers a slight disfigurement on my cheek that can be distracting or disconcerting when I do go clean-shaven.

I also have a very long and wide philtrum. (If you don't know the definition, this might sound like I'm bragging... but it's the groove between one's nose and upper lip.) The mustache helps balance things.

Big beard or clean-shaven, either can work. The key to both remains good maintenance -- avoid the five-o'clock shadow if you're shaving, and if you're bearded, don't skimp on the napkin use at lunch.

[themagicrat]

I read an article a while back that suggested that shaving will lead to you having more sex as well...or I guess if you don't shave you will have less sex. All perspective I guess. This is just one more reason to start shaving regularly. It might not be right, but it's the way it is.

I switched to 'classic' shaving this past summer after reading an article on http://www.thecloseshave.com and I have to say that shaving use to be a pain and I now enjoy the process. It takes an extra few minutes, but the result is more than worth it.

[dman6015]

People, and potential employers, have to take me as I am. If an employer doesn't hire me (for a non-sales job - I understand that aspect) because I have a beard and mustache, then I don't think I'd really want to work for them. Their loss, not mine.