Would You Sport a Moustache During Your Job Search?

One third of job seekers said they won’t take part because they don’t want it to impact their job search

October is a month dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness and women’s health issues, but November is dedicated to the guys. While October is an explosion of pink, November aka Movember is all about moustaches.

In the month of November men are challenged to grow moustaches and raise awareness for men’s health initiatives—particularly prostate and testicular cancer.

While volunteer work is a great thing to include on your resume, we at Beyond asked job seekers if Movember is the type of thing they’d participate in and one third of job seekers said they won’t take part because they don’t want it to impact their job search.

Which we guess makes sense—after all we always stress looking neat and presentable when going on an interview, so showing up with weird facial hair might not make the best first impression (or maybe it will—who really knows).

But don’t feel bad for job seekers that don’t participate in Movember—there are other ways to show your support (they might not be as fun, but they’re all for a good cause).  Also, an added bonus for organizations that are hiring—61% of job seekers like companies more that support causes like Movember. For more fun info on Movember and how job seekers plan to participate check out our [INFOGRAPHIC] below.

15 comments

  1. I have had a mustache for 20 years. I trim it myself and the longest hair is generally about half an inch long. I am unaware of any negative reactions, but I’ve never had 100% success in interviews. I’ve always assumed it had nothing to do with my facial hair. By the way what is a Moustache? Mouse fur taped where a mustache would go?

  2. I’ve had a mustache since 1965 and a beard since 1973. I can’t shave more than once a week, even with the most gentle modern electric shavers, because it causes painful ingrown hairs. There was a bit of hostility toward facial hair in the distant past, but my first job as a software engineer was in civil service, where appearance is almost irrelevant. Today facial hair is so common that I can’t imagine any interviewer having a problem with it. Anyway, hostility to personal grooming style is a red flag: what other ridiculous quirks does this hiring manager have, and why would you want to work for someone like that? — Gene Fellner, technical writer, Baltimore

  3. I’ve had a mustache & goatee since retiring from the military nearly seven years ago. I don’t believe it has any impact on job prospects. In defense contracting, as many men have facial hair as not.

  4. I do not think mustaches have a big affect on anything. I have been told I look goofey without one. Look in the real world and you see plenty of facial hair. It does matter if you look clean and dress appropriately for the situation.

  5. I’ve had a mustache for 30 years, because in the rare times that I shave it off, I am reminded how crooked my nose is … I broke it pretty bad as a kid. I also am shocked at how thin my lips are too, and the mustache diverts attention from both. I added a soul patch about 10 years ago.I truly do look better with some facial hair.
    I work in a field were job turnover is a way of life, and I don’t feel that it has ever impacted my ability to get hired.
    I do keep both trimmed short in the past few years …. makes them a bit more subtle. Longest hair in the stache is perhaps 1/4 inch and the patch is kept at 1/8.
    BTW, spell check here doesn’t like it … moustache is an accepted alternate spelling.

  6. I can’t believe that people are shying away from supporting a good cause like Movember during their job search.
    It shows integrity & commitment to do tho at any time – regardless of job search activities.
    If you are concerned about the look of your Mo – make sure to bring up your involvement in Movember and 61% of the employers will feel aligned with you!

  7. Personally, I had a close trimmed beard and moustache for 10 years while working in an automotive plant back in the late 80’s. The plant closed down and the first thing I did before looking for a new position was to shave off both the beard and moustache. I believe it all depends on the position you are looking to get hired for and the people interviewing you.
    I always felt that when looking for a job you don’t want to give the employer a reason NOT to hire you. You always want to bring your “A” game, especially to the interview.
    Some employers see beards and moustaches as a sign of “being comfortable” in the work place. If you go to the interview with a beard and moustache many employers think that you are showing signs of already being TO comfortable, almost like you are expecting to get the job no matter what you look like. Face it, we are still living in a society that does “judge the book by the cover”. Don’t take the chance because you can always grow the beard and moustache back once you have the job.

  8. Its really sad to think facial hair would keep a well qualified
    man from getting a position. I am gray headed with a facial hair.
    I think the gray is what makes me “overqualified ” which is a legal term for,” your too old “. I don’t understand any other reason for an interviewer to say ” your overqualified “, but one
    manager I had an interview with came out with the real problem with hiring me. They said, you will end up with my job! I am 60
    years old and have managed companies with great success. The biggest problem I’ve had in employment, is the lies told by upper management on money and promotions. Ive walked away from good jobs over lack of honesty by the owners/upper management.
    Wish I could get a new identity and color hair and beard brown, but, I am me and if the poorhouse is my destiny, gray and all, so be it.

  9. I am a woman and I like men that has mustache. I believe it add
    to their masculinity. If the mustache is well trimmed and looked
    clean, I don’t see a problem for an interview. It is all in the
    personality. Good mustache day!

  10. Who cares about the # or % of “Job Seekers” who will/won’t sport facial hair…it’d be more interesting (not to mention, beneficial) if you had an article about the *employers’* views of facial hair. {I once had an employer who preferred his employees to be clean shaven all the time because he read some “study” somewhere that said men with facial hair are less likely to be trusted. SMH.}

  11. Good idea, Todd — we’ll plan a general follow up with employers on their perceptions! We did get some feedback from employers related to this post, and for the most part it was positive.

  12. I have never Shaved, anywhere, & if an Employer is that concerned about some one looking the way God made them, & the Talents you have & Experience, then I do not want to Work for them. Now, I would not hire people with Unnatural Hair Styles, Colours, Men or Women with Short Hair or Shaved Heads, Tattoos, Piercings, Nail Polish.

  13. If it’s kept up nicely. I would hire them, it doesn’t matter if someone has tattoos or piecings. People judge others (judging by the looks of a book).

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