Job Discussion Forums

santo · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 11

I was reading a job descrition for a teaching position in Japan and the summary noted that all applicants "should have a professional appearance"- i.e., no ponytails and no shaved heads. Is this common, or this just kind of weird? I am slightly balding and shave my head- will this be a problem if I am looking for work in Japan? Does anybody know anything about this? Thanks.

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

I work at a private school, and while none at my school have shaved heads, there are a couple at our sister school in the next city that do. However, they also have a certain lack of natural hair growth there.

I think the school should allow it if it makes the overall effect look more professional (bar code hair styles suck). Perhaps they made that rule with regard to people who have a full head of hair? Why not ask them?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

To answer the OP...

Looking professional is not weird.
Requiring male staff not to shave their heads is a bit eccentric. If you are otherwise neat and presentable, but they pass you by on this one quirk, you are better off.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

One of my friends working at a university shaves his head completely, no problem. In fact I cant imagine what he would look like with hair.

A little different but people here accept quirky foreigners. There is lot of stuff we can get away with because we are not Japanese, nor do the expect us to be. If you were Japanese people would think you belong to an organized gang here but as you are foreigner you would be considered above board.

Dr.J · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 304 Location: usually Japan

Yeah generally the image of a shaved head is "skinhead" ie. punks from the 1980's. So if you have a shaved head, it obviously means you are going to start trashing their office etc.

But if you are just bald, that's OK. Just say you are bald and they might even like it better than if you had hair. Ask them if they want to touch your head. No, don't do that.

Wearing glasses might counter the negative image of the shaved head, because obviuosly people who wear glasses are harmless.

spidey · Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:10 am Post subject:

Don't worry.... Smile

Shaved head...great job...and lots of beautiful young ladies to rub it. Wink

No problems here

santo · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 11

Hilarious. I can't believe I was actually nervous aout this. Thanks a million.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

when I worked at a junior high, I worked with a man from Gumma that shaved his head. Since I shave my head too, we were called 'the twins'.
I used to be called skin, when I first started working at the high school.
I remember my former boss telling students that they shouldn`t judge on appearances.