Job Discussion Forums

[nellychess]

Maybe it's foolish of me not to cut my hair, but I actually think I look better, more youthful, and more hip with longer hair. My hair is just long enough to get into a pony tail, it looks very neat, but I am not sure if it would be a total turnoff or not for a prospective employer.

I am more interested in a University job, because I have a good paying summer job in the USA.


Thoughts?

Thanks

[Denim-Maniac]

Long hair for men, that can go into a ponytail is NOT cool. Have you seen Steven Seagal?

Nothing hip about that my friend.

(PS Denim-Maniac is bald. You can put this down to jealousy if you so desire)

[maxand]

[vikeologist]

I don't think it is likely to be a problem. It would be disapproved of in Chinese males, but we're considered abnormal to start with, which frees us from the constraints of having to be the same as the Chinese.

I think D-M is right. The length of your hair is probably going to get more disapproval from other laowai.

Maybe it will turn off an employer or two, but not to the extent where you need to shorten your hair.

I've only known one foreign male teacher with long hair, and he had no significant problems.

[roadwalker]

I agree with vikeologist's post. If the overall impression you give is professional, I don't think long hair is a problem. I've known at least one teacher with long hair who had no trouble getting work.

[doogsville]

I still see the occasional Chinese guy with long hair tied back into a pony tail. Usually accompanied by a goatee beard. Most of them seem quite respectable, outwardly at least. You also have to consider if you are likely to be having face to face interviews. A lot of recruitment goes on sight unseen, and their unlikely to ask you to cut your hair when you turn up for work. I have tattoos which I covered up during my interviews, but have never been a problem once I've got my foot through the door and started teaching.

Also, consider whether you would want to work for a company or school that objected to someone purely on the basis of their hairstyle. Wouldn't that be an indicator of possible problems in the future?

[NoBillyNO]

I have hair down to my shoulders and have as of yet never had a problem from my employer but as has been mentioned, organization based on foreign programs will definitely bring their own form of Prejudice.

[nellychess]

[choudoufu]

Git a haircut, ya damn longhair hippy freak!!


you're not likely to have any serious problems with the unis.
more likely is to be regarded by other laowai teachers as a
loser, druggie, bum, backpacker, and so on.

[Javelin of Radiance]

[xiguagua]

[Asiateacher]

From my experience, depends on the school. I came to China with long hair, but it's clean cut now, and I seem to be respected a little more. But I don't think it'll change THAT much.

[mandu]

I have a red mohawk

[xiguagua]

Towards the end of my first year I had a purple mohawk. Then I realize people point, stare, and shout at me enough as it is, I didn't want another reason to call attention to myself. So I shaved it off.

I left it up when I went home for the summer though and to my surprise I was "randomly selected" for a full baggage search when entering America. hmm......

[lionheartuk]

We have a male Chinese teacher who has his hair in a ponytail.
I had longish hair until recently when my wife decided I looked too much like a girl so cut it short.