Korean Job Discussion Forums

mynameisjamesoh · Joined: 08 Dec 2009 Location: South Korea

So I'm in the process of growing out my hair. It's not long at all ( my hair just covers the top of my ear). My director wants me to cut it because "it looks kind of uggghhh". My boss says that I should try to look at least 30 years old. I warned both of them that, as a short 23 year old male with a kid face (I still get carded and get mistaken for 16-18 years old), a haircut will make me look even younger. My director still says to get it cut because she doesn't like the way it looks. I guess she thinks it looks unkept :\

Anyway, do I have to get the haircut because they say so?

the side hair is about this length. the back hair is not as long

[img] http://isplus.joins.com/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/2009/11/30/htm_200911301345010201000002010700775-001.jpg

themagicbean · Joined: 04 Feb 2009

Grow a mullet.

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

tell her to get a boob job because women with small breasts are hard to work for.

Seriously though, you could pay the, "if you paid me 100,000 won more a month then I could afford haircuts. " send all of my money home every month to support my family and don't have extra money for trivial things like hair cuts.

Or, you could say "so if you find me more attractive with shorter hair, then when I get it cut would you like to go out and get drunk with me at a love motel?"

Ok, I am done kidding around now. But I must say that I really hate when bosses think that it is appropriate for them to make comments about physical appearance. It is one thing if you look like a real bum. Pro wrestling T shirt, ripped jean and are totally unkept, but having your hair a little longer than your ears isn't that big of a deal.

I would start commenting on everything about her physical appearance. "Wow that color really doesn't look good on you" or Do you really think that mini skirt is appropriate for a woman in your position?

Korea is all about go along to get along. Personally, I just live the way that I live and ignore all the crap, but I have been teaching a long time and have a lot of credibility for every job that I have done. If you are young and have a lot of other problems at work, why not do something simple, then you have it in your pocket later as defense how much you are willing to do for the school.

dorian_gray · Joined: 04 Nov 2009

Smile...Nod...Play along

And then don't do it. After all, you're not an indentured servant, you're not a slave. We're here of our own free will and this means not doing everything they say we should or shouldn't do.

Your hair is YOUR HAIR. *bleep* what they say about it...

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Shave your head.

KoreanAmbition · Joined: 03 Feb 2008

Just so you know, you NEVER want your hair to look like the guy in that picture.

If your boss is telling you to cut it because it looks like that guy's hair, then she is doing you a HUGE favour.

Also, if you want to grow your hair out... just don't get the top cut. Go and get the sides just trimmed to make them look tidy, and then put some gel or something in the top and it will look like you got it all cut.

Or you could go with a huge lie. You could tell your director that you were in class teaching a lesson and turned part of the lesson into a theme about haircuts. You told your students you were going to get a haircut and then they went crazy because they like your hair the way it is and don't want you to cut it.

She'll never go ask them about it... she'll never find out...and most likely, if the students all liked it, she's not gonna go against them.

However I stand by my original comments... you NEVER ... EVER ... EVER want to look like the guy in that picture.

hamie · Joined: 27 Nov 2009 Location: The middle of nowhere Korea

I got my hair cut only three times when I was in my last contract. Maybe I was just to lazy or maybe I was making a statement that I disliked the school I was working for. In the end my director asked me 'nicely' to get my hair cut and since they paid for it I was happy to say yes (I really needed a hair cut).
I think it should be a personal choice but I can see how it might look to some parents (some of them are pretty shallow and all about looks).
I must say I did also dye my hair 'Korean Black' just to push the point... it went down like a treat. lol

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

That's a pretty standard length of hair for Korean men these days.

Screw her. Don't cut it. Is it in the contract?

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

Sounds like the first time" The Beatles" were interviewed on the Ed Sulliven show. Tell her it's no longer 1963.

ChaBaa · Joined: 04 Nov 2009

When you're growing your hair it's actually beneficial to get it trimmed every month or so, apparently it grows faster that way (I know it sounds retarded, but it's true!) Also, you'll feel better (and look older) if your hair looks neat, regardless of the length. So, my advice is get a trim/neaten up (take a photo for the hairdresser?) then whap some product on to style it up, and tell your principal you've had a cut.

adjective_noun · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:29 pm Post subject:

thecount · Joined: 10 Nov 2009

It's really just a matter of workplace professionalism.
I've been told to get my hair cut by my bosses in numerous companies stateside.

It is a reasonable request from an organization that wishes to project itself as disciplined.

ReeseDog · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Location: Classified

ReeseDog · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Location: Classified

mynameisjamesoh · Joined: 08 Dec 2009 Location: South Korea

the only thing that frustrated me was that there's another male employee here with his hair covering his ears and the hair in the back of his neck pretty much hitting his shoulders but they don't say anything to him.

For the record, there's nothing about appearances in the contract but she asked me to wear a dress professionally (dress slacks, dress shirt).

Anyway, i cut it. I'd rather comply and not cause any trouble.