53 replies to this topic

[Spaztic 75]

Ok so I'm trying to get a job at Ace, interview goes fine and all that. When I get the callback he says he'll hire me if I cut my hair, otherwise I should start looking for a different job. He says that the patrons wouldn't take very well to it. Now unfortunatly my hair is a point of pride and the one thing I cannot part with. Personally I think it's downright fucked-up not to hire someone because he has long hair.
This is just a rant, something I needed to get off my chest.

Here's the length (sorry I couldn't find a picture where I was happy)

Edit: sorry that came out way to big.

Edited by Spaztic_75, 01 June 2005 - 01:12 PM.

[Uncle Hammer]

Dude thats dumb, Man that sucks. I've seen something similar to this were my coach was gonna kick someone off the football team if they didn't cut there hair. That's jsut messed up right there. Why would customers find long hair weird? Well the best of luck to you man, I hope your employer will loosen up a bit.

[CustomSnake202]

That's pretty messed up. Your hair is long; who gives a crap. Now, I could see them rejecting you if you had a straight up, green dyed mohawk, but not for something like that. And to top it off, ACE is the coolest place that I know off.

[THIRST]

Take the job. Your hair isnt worth it. Most girls dont like long hair anyway. I know from experience.

THIRST

[cxwq]

I didn't think anyone else would say it, but I agree with THIRST. Put your emotional stock in who you are, not what you look like.

[MysticNinja]

I’ve been growing my hair out for the past year or so for Locks of love so I can feel your pain. Ask him if you put your hair up in a base ball cap if it’d be alright. You have to remember, Ace is a hardware store. Theirs a certain amount of machismo that goes with that, many (mostly older) guys (and some girls) wouldn’t have the balls to ask some one with long hair for help.

Edited by MysticNinja, 01 June 2005 - 02:00 PM.

[Spaztic 75]

In any other case I would agree with you but the hair is not so much an appeacance thing. All my life I've wanted it long, and every day I put up with people saying cut it, hell, a time or two this ass hole tried to cut it off. See cutting it would in my eyes and the eyes of my class be admitting defeat, it would mean they won, that they have that much influence over me. That and I like it, cool in the summer, warm in the winter.

[achensherd]

People said stuff like that to me when I was growing a goatee (wasn't trying to find a job, though). Maybe one job opportunity isn't worth cutting it off, as I can imagine that took a long time to grow, and the pride invested in it is understandable, but if it gets in the way of a lot of opportunities, then you might want to consider it.

Does ACE require that you cut it short-short, or just shorter? Would you mind shorter?

[duce]

Dude, I feel you. I hate when people stereotype people with long hair as stoners and just generally weird. I get so much shit from my Latin class about being a stoner when in reality, I have never done and never plan on doing drugs. To quote Mitch Hedberg "I have long hair, and see, people associate long hair with drug use. I wish long hair was associated with something other than drug use, like 'an extreme longing for cake'. People would see a guy with long hair and say "damn, that fucker eats cake, he's on bundt cake". Mothers telling their daughters "don't bring the cake-eater over here anymore, he smell like flour. Did you notice how his eyes widened when he found out your birthday was fast approaching?"

Anyway, I would ask how short you would need to cut your hair, if it's only a bit then take the job but if it's over 5 inches go somewhere else.

[Sqiggs89]

My brother had to get his hair cut too. If he wanted the job that is.
Well I think it's messed up and you should get the job with out cutting the hair.

Edited by Sqiggs89, 01 June 2005 - 03:02 PM.

[THIRST]

Dude, its a job oppurtunity, and your going to cut it over what other people think of you?

1. As Cx said, your appreance doesnt matter. Its inside what counts.
2. Why do you care what your class thinks? Save your honorable cause of rsomethig that matters. A job matters. It's a good way to earn money, not to mention the reason not getting it is lame.

I'm trying to help you here bud.

THIRST

Edited by THIRST, 01 June 2005 - 03:35 PM.

[Pineapple]

It stems from the type of job you are applying for.

Were you in the stock room, or in the lumber yard stacking material, it's a whole nother story. But if it involves direct retail sales and customer service, there is indeed a standard by which many employers would hold their people to maintain...why? Because the first impression is the one that makes the most impact. Sure, you may be a swell guy and all, but if your appearance doesn't show that, people will tend to not ask questions, etc. And if you are always looking like you do in the picture, then even more so, folks probably wouldn't come to you for help. Where does that lead? Less sales, less income, less employees, get it?

People are superficial, judging things by first impression more than anything else. In the retail world, it's imperative that the first impression be the best it can be. If you really want this job at ACE in customer service, it'd be in your best interest to heed their advice and do what is necessary to get the job; then, do the job the best you can, and who knows? Maybe they'll see that looks aren't everything, and you can get your hair back in no time....well, maybe not that fast.

I myself, as an employer in the past, do not base my criteria on appearance...no way. I look for ATTITUDE. Not the kind of 'attitude' that you hear and see in the media; that's pop culture bullcrap. I'm talking about an attitude that says "I'm here to do the absolute best job I can do while I'm here" attitude. Self-starters who don't need constant supervision, people I can count on to be stocking supplies in the warehouse instead of sleeping in the warehouse, people who are absolutely set on making sure the customer gets what they need, without trying to 'sell up' unnecessary items, people who genuinely CARE about their jobs, no matter how trivial or 'entry level' their job may be.

Some of the most scary looking, rough looking guys have proven themselves to be teddy bears who really demonstrated good work ethic in my working past, and I've seen clean-cut guys who APPEAR to be hard workers absolutely milk the system for what it's worth, and put out just enough work to call it a day, even less. It's not about appearance at all. It's attitude.

See cutting it would in my eyes and the eyes of my class be admitting defeat, it would mean they won, that they have that much influence over me. That and I like it, cool in the summer, warm in the winter.

Do you really believe that?

You're 17. In a few years, you won't be seeing much of your class. In five years, you won't remember 97% of them, and they won't remember you. In 10 years (which is about the time of reunions, etc.), your classmates will be more concerned about seeing if they have better careers, family, etc. than you.

Are the opinions of this social group of that much importance to you that you may be rejecting a possible career opportunity (don't knock the hardware business; a friend of mine went from stock boy to store owner, in time), in order to please these people, show them up?

Put your emotional stock in who you are, not what you look like.

That's probably the best one sentence word of advice I could recommend for anyone, including myself.


-Piney-

EDIT; Bah! THIRST beat me to it...I'm a slow typer. He's got the right stuff, that boy.

Edited by Pineapple, 01 June 2005 - 03:39 PM.

[Jakethesnake]

Not to mention he looks like a woman.

[Spaztic 75]

I'm 15, not 17. And I guess my hair is sort of my Achillies heel, it helped define my identity so to lose it would be like loosing part of my soul. As to all those who asked how short he wants it "normal" length. I'm just not willing to sacrifise my hair for minnimum wage.

[THIRST]

Unless your name is Samson, you really should take the job, but it's your choice...

THIRST

[MattPaintballer]

Take the job. Your hair isnt worth it. Most girls dont like long hair anyway. I know from experience.

THIRST

It's the opposite here. Girls don't like short hair on guys.

But my city is messed up - lacrosse is considered geeky.

[The Infinite Shindig]

Cut the hair. Everybody knows that a job at ACE is a nerfer's dream.

I think Mystic mentioned that he grew his hair out for locks of love. You could get the job, and help out another kid with cancer. Don't be so caught up in yourself to deny a decent teenage job (it's better than fast food), and the opportunity to help someone your age who has cancer.

[Formerly Sane]

Logically, it would make more sense to cut your hair. But I know what you mean about cutting it off after having it for so long. After a while you kind of feel like it's part of your identity. It all depends on how much you really want this job. If it's worth a few weeks of looking different and getting used to your lack of hair, go for it. I understand how hard it would be to cut it though. My hair is a few inches past my eyes, and I can't imagine cutting back to "normal length". My head would feel so empty. Think of it this way. Would it be easier for you to live without your job, or without your hair? Whatever works for you, I guess.

[Bad Karma]

I know I wouldn't like a guy who had hair longer and prettier then mine...

[One Man Clan]

I'm 15, not 17. And I guess my hair is sort of my Achillies heel, it helped define my identity so to lose it would be like loosing part of my soul. As to all those who asked how short he wants it "normal" length. I'm just not willing to sacrifise my hair for minnimum wage.

Part of your soul? Come on man. It's just hair. And if that's what has "Defined" you for so long, you have shallow friends in a superficial school.

If you don't cut it now, you're looking at a lifetime career as Medieval Times or Renaissance Festivals for the rest of your life. I suggest you brush up on your sword swinging and horse back jousting skills. Your other options are pretty much limited to lead singer in a metal band or savior of the christians. If that's the case, you better learn to walk on water.....

Edited by One Man Clan, 01 June 2005 - 10:32 PM.

[taita cakes]

Hold on, I may have missed this, but doesn't working at a hardware store require you have short hair that cannot be caught in power tools/saws etc. ?

Common sense?








By the way, get a hair cut.

[cxwq]

If you don't cut it now, you're looking at a lifetime career as Medieval Times or Renaissance Festivals for the rest of your life. I suggest you brush up on your sword swinging and horse back jousting skills. Your other options are pretty much limited to lead singer in a metal band or savior of the christians. If that's the case, you better learn to walk on water.....

I laughed, I cried, I spat coffee on my keyboard.

[NinjZ]

You cant be mad at the manager for wanting you to cutt your hair. It's his store. He wants his store and his workers to have a certain image just like you want yourself to have a certain image.

Just cutt it dude. The kids will forget all about you over the summer. Not to mention if you get a nice cutt, the chicks will want you.

[Ballman]

I have long hair, but not that long. and I have a job...at a restraunt. but the people don't seem to mind, then again, I just wash dishes. Me mates at school make jokes 'n' crap about how they want to cut it off, but dont want to risk it attacking them (the hair).

[LittleB]

Alright, I've been watching these boards for some time now at finally signed up. My name is Bill I'm 21, a junior at UW-Stout and live in Minnesota. Introductions aside, I'll give you my input.
I much like Spaztic had long hair; grew it for over two years and went acouple inches past my shoulders (This was between 17 and 19). I also had a job when I had long hair and it was totally fine, it really depends on where you are willing to work. Long story short I finally had my hair cut (Late November 2003) and I went all out (salon, scalp massage, chicks) and I looked ten thousand times better.
I later shaved my hair off that summer (2004)

You're 15, and I was just like you when I was 15; rebelious and trying to find myself. Seriously though having money is so nice; my advice to is cut the hair get the job or find somewhere else that will hire you as you are now. Just get a job though It'll make the summer somewhat more enjoyable. Think of it like this you may be bald one day so have as much fun with your hair as possible. For example around feburary I had the GateCrasher Lion shaved into the back of my head

Later around mid-MarchI dyed it dark blue and spiked it

Around the last 2 weeks of class I was rocking the fauxhawk, and now I'm back to the shaved head. The point is have fun with your hair and if you really want the job cut the hair, you'll look so much better; If you want the hair, get a job somewhere else.
Peace