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The long haired (and bearded) accountant... Advice

Sherlock77

Sherlock77

Well-Known Member
V.I.P Member
Now that I have your attention :p

Tonight: Our camera club needs to elect a new treasurer at the Annual Meeting in two weeks, I do have the basic skills, but one thing that has often held me back is that I'm a guy with long hair and long beard, does that look like the kind of person who is a treasurer? Despite being a member of the club for 10 years now, I still ask the same question , I stumbled (in my head) with that question last year when the same lady didn't want to do it anymore, instead she did it for one more year, this year she is definitely stepping down and I'm facing the same question...

Previous experience: 20 years ago I completed an accounting diploma at college (yes, I had long hair back then too), never did get employment in that field... Prior to that accounting diploma I was the treasurer one year for the student council of a small college I attended... And for over ten years I have been involved with my church, counting the offering money as a head teller...

Back to tonight: I probably could easily be the treasurer of our camera club based on my experience, except for what I think the perception could be, getting back to circular thinking again... I did talk briefly to the club President tonight and she was nothing but affirmative about my possible interests...
 
I think you'd be great for the role, but I know what you mean, I get very self conscious of how I look and dress when I go for interviews or start a new job. I used to wear a nose stud and have my hair very short and I thought it might be unacceptable, though I have not found that to be the case. I think it's a kind of anxiety thing, where I exaggerate the importance of how I look.

I bet they are desperate for you to offer your services, you're doing everyone a service if you take the job on, so they will be grateful and I expect they are completely accepting of you and your appearance choices.
 
In my experience photographers are not usually a particularly conventional group. I seriously doubt they'll be concerned about how you look if you're capable and happy to put your hand up for it.
 
I find it extremely superficial and misguided to judge a person's competency on their appearance, but unfortunately people often think in very superfical ways. You could compromise - keep the beard but trim it to look neat and tidy, keep the long hair tied back in a pony tail during official meetings, and then in private let your hair down again, both literally and metaphorically.

I had the same issue during the brief period I worked in an office - there's no way that I was going to wear high heels or makeup, and I don't normally wear shoes that aren't trainers, but I bought a pair of smart but comfortable shoes for work, plus a couple of outfits that I thought were a reasonable compromise between their dress code and my comfort and personality.
 
Go for it man! Appearances are not everything.. I am an English teacher with a huge Santa Clause beard, and a shaved head, people get over it once they realize you have something to offer. ;)
 
It's only allowed if you wear a wizard hat and a cloak, and are capable of puffing on a pipe in a most majestic way!
But on a more serious note: it's funny you should bring this up. Whenever I have an interview for a job I know I am qualified to do, I find myself obsessing about whether or not I look the part. I spend so much time thinking about what to wear, how to wear my hair, whether or not to wear make-up, et cetera. I guess it's a way to deflect the stress. In the end, unless you're working a corporate job where you have to be "the face" of the organization, they'll be more than happy to hire someone that doesn't look like they just rolled of the generic people conveyor belt. As long as you're bringing some skills to the table.
 
Thinx said:
I think you'd be great for the role, but I know what you mean, I get very self conscious of how I look and dress when I go for interviews or start a new job. I used to wear a nose stud and have my hair very short and I thought it might be unacceptable, though I have not found that to be the case. I think it's a kind of anxiety thing, where I exaggerate the importance of how I look.

I bet they are desperate for you to offer your services, you're doing everyone a service if you take the job on, so they will be grateful and I expect they are completely accepting of you and your appearance choices.
Click to expand...

Agreed... And I do usually wear my long hair in a pony tail anyway...
 
I don't think your hairstyle will be an issue in this situation so think you should just give it a go.
 
I think you should be fine as you are. You're not going out to impress a company you've never met, otherwise I'd consider the makeover route. Instead it's all people you've associated with for 10 years or at least as long as they've been there, and you haven't changed. You're a stable fixture at the club, and people want someone stable for handling other people's money. Sounds like nobody else really wants to do it since she ended up staying an extra year reluctantly, and you wanting to do it and being qualified should hopefully be an easy choice.
 
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