So, you’re looking for a new job in 2022, as it was perhaps due to the pandemic with the company going out of business, you unfortunately got laid off, or you’re just looking for a career change. Well, before your first job interview appointment, you might want to pay close attention to your beard. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to make our first impressions based off of how people appear. If your beard doesn’t convey an image of professionalism, you may find that your interview doesn’t go as well as you had hoped.
That is why we are going to discuss the ways in which you can maintain a glorious beard without giving interviewers the wrong impression, be it in-person or meeting them virtually. As you can see, there are plenty of beard styles that look perfect for a professional environment.
Why Your Beard Matters to a Job Interviewer
Beards have risen in popularity over the last few years, which means that more guys put a lot of effort into growing them out. In most environments, a long and unruly beard is perfectly acceptable. But, in certain professional environments, this can indicate that you don’t care about your appearance.
Like we said, humans tend to form impressions on people based on their appearance before anything else. So, if your beard looks sloppy and unkempt, you might be sabotaging your job prospects without even knowing it.
Beard Styles That are Interview-Approved
While there could be some limitations when it comes to rocking a beard in a professional environment, that doesn’t mean that you have to shave everything off. These beard styles below are perfect for a job interview, so choose one that best suits your unique personal style. Good luck!
Beard Style #1: Short and Shaped
A short beard rarely looks messy and unkempt, because it doesn’t have enough length to look out of control. If you want to keep your beard but look as professional as possible, consider cutting it short and shaping it to make it look even and neat. A short beard is easy to maintain, as all that you really have to do is stay on top of trimming it and shaping it on a weekly basis.
Beard Style #2: Medium-Length and Tidy
A medium-length beard that doesn’t grow below the chin can look very professional if it’s maintained correctly. In fact, this kind of beard may work in your favor if your face makes you look younger than you actually are. This length of beard can make you look more mature and sophisticated, which can benefit you during a job interview.
A medium-length beard needs to be properly maintained with beard oil and/or beard balm and must be trimmed regularly in order to maintain a clean shape.
Beard Style #3: Full and Healthy
If you insist on having a full beard, what matters is how you maintain it. A full, long beard can look good if it’s properly hydrated, so make sure that you use a good amount of beard oil each day. We also suggest going with a beard balm that can smooth down frizz and keep things neatly styled.
We also suggest that you trim your beard so it’s only two inches below the chin at most. The longer your beard, sadly, the more you may give off an impression that you don’t take your personal appearance seriously. Also, it’s very important that you shape it up so that it doesn’t look unruly, and that you clean up your neck so that everything looks neat and tidy.
Beard Style #4: A Goatee
If you like having some long facial hair but don’t want to hide your face during an interview, you can always opt for a goatee, which is sort of the happy medium. Just make sure that you keep the goatee neatly trimmed and properly moisturized.