Beards, OCI, and You. Forum

[seatown12]

I've turned down two jobs over a policy like that (not law jobs). It's bullshit, and I don't want to work for a place that has a policy like that. If they are going to micromanage your facial hair, then what else are they going to try and do?

Think of all the jobs for which you wore a suit to the interview even though the job itself definitely did not require formal attire. Same general concept.

Not really.

Someone could easily make an analogous argument to yours stating "if they are going to micromanage your wardrobe, then what else are they going to try to do?"

Just shave for the interview and grow the thing back once you've got the job, at which point no one will care. So easy and obvious.

[kalvano]

I've turned down two jobs over a policy like that (not law jobs). It's bullshit, and I don't want to work for a place that has a policy like that. If they are going to micromanage your facial hair, then what else are they going to try and do?

Think of all the jobs for which you wore a suit to the interview even though the job itself definitely did not require formal attire. Same general concept.

Not really.

Someone could easily make an analogous argument to yours stating "if they are going to micromanage your wardrobe, then what else are they going to try to do?"

Just shave for the interview and grow the thing back once you've got the job, at which point no one will care. So easy and obvious.

No. If they aren't enthralled with a beard at interviews, whose to say Renzo's scenario won't apply?

It's fine if that works for you. It doesn't for me. If a place is so petty and stupid as to not hire someone based on a beard or no beard, then I really have no interest in working there anyway.

[Tanicius]

It's fine if that works for you. It doesn't for me. If a place is so petty and stupid as to not hire someone based on a beard or no beard, then I really have no interest in working there anyway.

It's not necessarily the firm itself. It could be something as stupid as the whims of the interviewer. "I just didn't like the way that beard looked, I dunno." That stuff can happen.

[TheFutureLawyer]

I'd only wear the beard if you're concerned like me that without it you'll look ridic young.

lol, every once and a while someone tells me that I look like I'm 17/18 years old (and at that age I'd hear 14/15). Maybe I should try to grow a beard, though it takes a while for me and still comes out a little patchy. *sigh*

[MrPapagiorgio]

Had a beard through all of 1L firm recruiting, and it had no ill effect. I was basically told be OCS that I should shave for certain markets (like DC) but that firms in California/the West in general didn't care.

Don't you go to SLS? I would think that HYS on your resume would outweigh a firm's concern over facial hair. Shit, I bet if you were interviewing at Yale firms wouldn't care if you looked like this:

[Borhas]

people that can pull off beards know who they are, others should not make the attempt

[williambrianlondon]

I had no problems with my beard, but don't walk in looking like the guys from ZZ Top.

Keep it neat.

[Verity]

What about fake beards?



deleted

[sundance95]

people that can pull off beards know who they are, others should not make the attempt

This.

[Kretzy]

Had a beard through all of 1L firm recruiting, and it had no ill effect. I was basically told be OCS that I should shave for certain markets (like DC) but that firms in California/the West in general didn't care.

Don't you go to SLS? I would think that HYS on your resume would outweigh a firm's concern over facial hair. Shit, I bet if you were interviewing at Yale firms wouldn't care if you looked like this:

I do. Thankfully, I don't know anyone who looks like that guy, though.

[Anonymous User]

Do you need to shave everyday of OCI? If I shave consecutive days, my neck gets very irritated and collects razor burn. Is somewhere on the spectrum between clean shaven and five o clock shadow acceptable, or do I need to go clean shaven every day and accept the bumps and abrasions, even though it will look terrible?

[foregetaboutdre]

Do you need to shave everyday of OCI? If I shave consecutive days, my neck gets very irritated and collects razor burn. Is somewhere on the spectrum between clean shaven and five o clock shadow acceptable, or do I need to go clean shaven every day and accept the bumps and abrasions, even though it will look terrible?

I did and I have the same problem re feeling like shit shaving consecutive days. During my SA, I've gotten used to consecutive shaving. A piece of advice is shave while in the shower. The steam helps out my face. Just don't shave your sideburns off (you can always touch up when you get out).

[Anonymous User]

Wore a beard during OCI. Reasoning was I had strong enough grades to risk it; I didn't want to be hired by a firm for which a beard was a dealbreaker. Students with my grades at my school are pretty much 100% Big Law if you want it.

I believe I significantly underperformed where the average student with my grades did. Out of 25 screeners, 4 call backs and only 1 offer. My peers averaged closer to 6-10 CBs and 2-3 offers, some even better.

Granted, I think I am probably a poor interviewer for the OCI format anyway. Hard to say whether the beard was a factor. I've done several mock interviews bearded and never received a comment about it. I interviewed for my clerkship bearded, too, and it apparently wasn't a problem. And the firm that did choose me turned out to be an awesome fit, and i'm glad I ended up there.

But if I had the chance to do OCI again? I'd shave.

[Anonymous User]

There are some aloe based serums and lotions that will take care of exactly this problem (or at least they do for me, and my neck looks like a battlefield if I shave daily without them). Check out CVS or if you fancy, Kiehls.

Do you need to shave everyday of OCI? If I shave consecutive days, my neck gets very irritated and collects razor burn. Is somewhere on the spectrum between clean shaven and five o clock shadow acceptable, or do I need to go clean shaven every day and accept the bumps and abrasions, even though it will look terrible?

I did and I have the same problem re feeling like shit shaving consecutive days. During my SA, I've gotten used to consecutive shaving. A piece of advice is shave while in the shower. The steam helps out my face. Just don't shave your sideburns off (you can always touch up when you get out).

[cavalier1138]

Wore a beard during OCI. Reasoning was I had strong enough grades to risk it; I didn't want to be hired by a firm for which a beard was a dealbreaker. Students with my grades at my school are pretty much 100% Big Law if you want it.

I believe I significantly underperformed where the average student with my grades did. Out of 25 screeners, 4 call backs and only 1 offer. My peers averaged closer to 6-10 CBs and 2-3 offers, some even better.

Granted, I think I am probably a poor interviewer for the OCI format anyway. Hard to say whether the beard was a factor. I've done several mock interviews bearded and never received a comment about it. I interviewed for my clerkship bearded, too, and it apparently wasn't a problem. And the firm that did choose me turned out to be an awesome fit, and i'm glad I ended up there.

But if I had the chance to do OCI again? I'd shave.

I am 100% confident that this had nothing to do with your facial hair.

[existentialcrisis]

There are some aloe based serums and lotions that will take care of exactly this problem (or at least they do for me, and my neck looks like a battlefield if I shave daily without them). Check out CVS or if you fancy, Kiehls.

Mind sharing some good brands? I have this problem as well.

[MrT]

There are some aloe based serums and lotions that will take care of exactly this problem (or at least they do for me, and my neck looks like a battlefield if I shave daily without them). Check out CVS or if you fancy, Kiehls.

Mind sharing some good brands? I have this problem as well.

http://www.getjackblack.com/Products/Bu ... 20220.aspx

[esq]

If your beard looks good, and you like the way you look with it, don't worry about shaving it. Much better to go in there with confidence and be yourself than to feel off your game because your face looks all sickly white below your cheekbones! If you have what it takes to be a good hire and compete for the job, a beard won't be the difference between getting the job or not (unless it's like ZZ Top style or something--at least make sure it is business trim). If it does make a difference then fuck them... you don't want to work for assholes like that anyway.