Dear Sam: I am a retired Fortune 500 executive. My oldest grandson is in his senior year of college and is everything a grandparent could ask for — and be proud of — except his scruffy beard! He is handsome, is captain of the swim team, fraternity V.P., a good student, and was so impressive during his internship that the company retained him to work part-time. He is well paid, and it has been hinted that he has a full-time job awaiting him on graduation. However, he is undecided about entering the workforce or staying in school and pursuing a graduate degree. To that anticipation, he has created a profile on LinkedIn. Here is the problem: his parents — who have never been in a high-profile work environment — think his posted picture is fine, but I, of a conservative upbringing, feel that his scruffy beard is a turn-off for some employers. This is not an Ann Landers crisis, but your response to a cross-section of job hunters might be invaluable. Thank you. - M.D.
Dear M.D.: Well, it depends. If your grandson is in a field working for a progressive organization that embraces individuality (and most do), his current headshot could perfectly reflect precisely who he is (in terms of perhaps being more of a non-conformist). If that is not the case, however, and the “norm” in his field of interest is cleaner cut and conservative, then yes, he should consider a different look. I imagine, however, that with his stellar academic and extracurricular accomplishments they will speak more loudly than whether he chooses to have facial hair, albeit “scruffy,” in your opinion.
The problem with temporarily changing his look for an online photo is that the image on LinkedIn does need to look like him. If he will grow his beard or let it get “scruffy” again as soon as his new headshot is taken, then that serves no purpose. I think the balance would be eliminating the “scruffy” part of the beard. There is nothing wrong with the beard itself, but it should be maintained neatly for a professional environment and your LinkedIn headshot. Make sure his LinkedIn photo is not distracting in other ways. Professional attire is appropriate, the background should be very subtle, and he should choose the right mood that reflects his personality as a professional candidate. I think you will have some more traction in your plight if you recommend the neatening up of his existing look, as it is more important that he comes across as genuine than perfect. Hope that helps.
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Samantha Nolan is an Advanced Personal Branding Strategist and Career Expert, founder and CEO of Nolan Branding. Do you have a resume, career, or job search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at dearsam@nolanbranding.com. For information on Nolan Branding’s services, visit www.nolanbranding.com or call 888-9-MY-BRAND or 614-570-3442.