Corporate Job and Beards?

[36fatfriends]

Anyone here have a corporate job and still rock a beard? I've had a short well trimmed beard now in my client-facing job for over a year and I haven't caught any flack. This November I decided to let it go a bit and I'm thinking about going even further. Maybe till January. It's long enough that it requires combing to look neat, and I think I've done a decent job of keeping up with it and still letting it grow out, but my wife is putting doubts in my head and saying I look unprofessional.

Anyone else have that struggle? What did you do, and what was the outcome?

Please don't respond with "simple, quit your job and get one that doesn't care" or "I would never work somewhere that was an issue" or anything like that, that's not the feedback that is helpful here. Like it or not there is still an expectation for and importance placed on image in corporate jobs. So for ODT members in a corporate position, specifically within very large organizations, and even better if you're in a leadership roll, what are your thoughts on associate-level employee beards?

Here's where I am now with about 5 weeks of controlled growth

 

[StuP]

If someone at work says something, you can make your choice then.

 

[Twiztid]

You're probably better off going by government employee standards at a local level. I work for a county government and right about your beard length is where the line is drawn.

 

[strongtactics]

First of all, yours looks well groomed and maintained. There really shouldn't be a problem. I was expecting a lot more growth when I started reading.

With that said, I recently had to shorten my beard, although mine was longer and thicker than yours. However, I work in law enforcement , so a little different environment.

 

[nwbn90]

Looks sharp. I wouldn't worry

 

[Horsehat]

I managed staffs of up to 300 people. I would not have a problem with your beard at that length and groomed in that way. I think in some customer contact jobs a beard has the positive effect of making you memorable to customers and easy to identify. Let me stress, there is a huge difference in customer perception in a well groomed beard verses a sloppy, unkept one.

 

[36fatfriends]

I managed staffs of up to 300 people. I would not have a problem with your beard at that length and groomed in that way. I think in some customer contact jobs a beard has the positive effect of making you memorable to customers and easy to identify. Let me stress, there is a huge difference in customer perception in a well groomed beard verses a sloppy, unkept one.

Good to know. Well groomed and sharp is my goal with it, but I would probably like to double the current length. Keep it as neat and groomed, just longer, fuller.... More beard.

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

I don't have a beard, but I know two other lawyers (not "corporate" but both degreed professionals who have to maintain a respectable appearance) who have beards.
Both are longer and bushier-looking than yours in the photo.

That being said, I think if you're going to have a beard in a coroporate professional environment, you had better make that the ONLY thing about your appearance that you have in common with hipsters. If you are otherwise remarkably neat in your dress and clean in your habits and appearance, it should be OK.

 

[gh1950]

If someone at works says something, it's too late because you have been "noticed"

Best bet is to look around, and judge by what others are doing. If no one is going full our Grizzly Adams, then I wouldn't either.

Remember that a "pioneer" is the guy with all the arrows in his back.

 

[mattmatt300]

I vote to stick with the length you've got now. Looks good and clean and isn't unruly. Never draw attention to yourself unless it's positive.