Facial hair on portrait and interviews

[hypophora]

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Warning, this question might seem kind of vapid.

So we have to include a picture of ourselves with most secondaries. Would it be a bad idea to keep my facial hair for this picture? This question applies to interviews too, probably more so actually.

I'm an asian guy (mid 20s) with a short beard, my goatee area and mustache are pretty well populated, but growth is sparser on the cheeks, not quite patchy, but not super well filled in. To paint a full picture I also wear glasses (black, rectangular, plastic), and my hair is in a buzzcut.

I honestly hate my bare-shaven face. I look really young. The facial hair helps define my jaw/cheeks and makes me look like an adult.

Any opinions on how to present myself in this photo and on my interviews?

 

[Sixsuit]

I am have a short beard, and I kept it for my pictures, and I plan on keeping it for interviews

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[jcorpsmanMD]

Shave.

 

[Professional Student]

Coming from someone with the same issue (except I can grow one heck of a beard everywhere), you should shave. Everyone looks older in a suit and tie and you will stand out as poorly kept at interviews. I bit the bullet on one of my best looking beards ever this week to take a pic for secondaries, but you just gotta play the game the way it's meant to be played.

 

[freak7]

Shave.

Coming from someone with the same issue (except I can grow one heck of a beard everywhere), you should shave. Everyone looks older in a suit and tie and you will stand out as poorly kept at interviews. I bit the bullet on one of my best looking beards ever this week to take a pic for secondaries, but you just gotta play the game the way it's meant to be played.

+1, big burly beard sacrificed to the interview gods.

 

[hypophora]

I bit the bullet on one of my best looking beards ever this week to take a pic for secondaries

I'm so sorry for your loss. Well, if you were willing to put what I can only imagine as a truly magnificent facial growth onto the sacrificial pyre, then I guess I have no choice in the matter. Scheduling impending depilation.

 

[Professional Student]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Well, if you were willing to put what I can only imagine as a truly magnificent facial growth onto the sacrificial pyre, then I guess I have no choice in the matter. Scheduling impending depilation.

Good man, and good luck!

 

[tiramisucheese]

Coming from someone with the same issue (except I can grow one heck of a beard everywhere), you should shave. Everyone looks older in a suit and tie and you will stand out as poorly kept at interviews. I bit the bullet on one of my best looking beards ever this week to take a pic for secondaries, but you just gotta play the game the way it's meant to be played.

RIP in peace

 

[Cawolf]

The general consensus would be to shave, but I kept a beard for pictures and interviews with no problems.

 

[Froggy25]

What @Cawolf said. As long as you're professional looking, I don't think it's a problem. I had zero issues with my beard in my secondary photo or interviews.


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[CyrilFiggis]

Just like with all the interview attire threads that will be popping up in the next month, the advise is the same. Be sensible. Nothing about your appearance will be a bonus, it can only be a detractor. If you think you look handsome and rugged, but you're actually a scruffy looking nerfherder, that's a strike against you. A beard can be professional if done well.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

What @Cawolf said. As long as you're professional looking, I don't think it's a problem. I had zero issues with my beard in my secondary photo or interviews.


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Having a beard that is not well filled in will not look professional.

 

[Froggy25]

Having a beard that is not well filled in will not look professional.

That's true.


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[theonlytycrane]

thoughts on this look?

 

[DokterMom]

View attachment 221082

thoughts on this look?

Not sure if 😵 or 😕

 

[Chromium Surfer]

View attachment 221082

thoughts on this look?

Instant full ride acceptance

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Unless its for religious or cultural reasons, you should shave. I kept my facial hair for my secondary and for my interviews, but that's purely from a religious standpoint. However, it was clearly religious because in my work+activities, the religious organization was listed, so it didn't shock the schools.

If you ultimately decide NOT to shave, it must, absolutely, be well kept and professional--now isn't the time to have the sexy friday night snapchat selfie look; now is the time to look like a candidate whose being judged to be a doctor or not.

 

[hypophora]

If you ultimately decide NOT to shave, it must, absolutely, be well kept and professional--now isn't the time to have the sexy friday night snapchat selfie look; now is the time to look like a candidate whose being judged to be a doctor or not.

Good point. I must admit I do think my facial hair is very sexy. But the sexiness of applicants is not what is under scrutiny. Hopefully.