gracias on the advice - just needed to hear it from a few people. now edited just on the off chance that write up might sound familiar to anyone.
I have a beard, as do all the men in my family, but I'm not opposed to shaving it once in a while. If it meant a 1% better chance of possibly getting a fun cool job, I'd not hesitate to shave it. I'd end up growing it back I'm pretty sure. this is weird, but - pic?
If it's a full grown beard don't shave it off just trim and groom in and you're fine. I think in todays job world, having beards and goatees is perfectly acceptable for men, not women
not that you asked, but I am going to give you some advise from my personal vault. Always look like a pro and expect to be treated like one. Buy NICE shoes and shine them (these are not the $150 ones you get at Larrys). Wear black socks or match your socks to a recessive color in your shirt. Buy 2 nice blue blazers. I hate gold buttons, but others still wear them. I prefer Burberry Buy good 100% wool slacks. No Poly blends. Tailored only. No button down collars. Patterns are in lately and you can even find larger checks at Brooks Bros. I get my shirts made at Hamilton in Houston. The Link French Cuffs are ok, but make sure the cufflinks match your wedding ring (if you wear one) and match your belt as well. I dont wear french cuffs, personally. Buy at least 2 custom suits that fit your perfectly. You should feel good when you wear a suit and it should make you look slimmer if you are overweight or bigger if you are skinny. Always wear a suit to a meeting with someone that has a C in their title. Show your personality in your tie - I like bolder ties against subdued checks - especially since I weare boring charcoal or blue suits all of the time. The tie pattern should overwhelm the shirt pattern, not the other way around. Stripes and checks are ok here, but go to Nordstrom and ask them to get you a tie to match if you have questions against a shirt. buy a nice watch (i.e. Rolex, Patek etc). I know they are expensive, but again - look the part of a pro. about 1 in 8 people notice and ask me about mine. as for beards, by all means shave. Hell, I shave my head w/ a head blade before every sales call just so I can look as clean cut as possible (my hair has taken a permanent vacation) I sell software and don't know a single rep that I have hired or have worked with that has a beard. Only SEs have beards are are not required to wear coats. Finally, along those lines, don't ever wear your company branded shirts/polos - especially on flights, unless you are playing golf. You look like those douches that sell roofing supplies and whatnot if you do.
I should have reiterated that I cannot buy shirts off the rack. If I could I would buy BB shirts, but I am an 18.5/36 with a short torso and the selection is limited at that size. Good selection on the Shoes, BMs are what I wear as well.
Totally agree on smoking. I just don't know why someone would EVER go into an interview or sales call smelling like cigarettes. I would never hire a smoker if i knew they smoked. period. The Omega is a nice watch. Check out the Rolex Submariner, it is not an old person's watch. The Pateks are insane, but "watch people" notice. It is a weird aggy ring type thing with watch folks. I notice shoes and ties, but that is me. Also, nothing wrong with roofing supply sales as a profession and that was not my intent. The first thing that popped in my head was a guy I met in wearing a Tamko shirt on a flight last week. Nice fella and we talked a bit about the new roof I just put on my house. My point was that if you want to excel in the Tech/SW/Hardware/Services sales world, though, don't wear company shirts.
black socks are for banquet waiters. "math the cufflinks to your weddign band"...thats just odd. cufflinks are meant to be an expression of style within the constraints of being business friendly. I wear my silver longhorns more often than my others however my brush vintage casino chips are damn cool as well.
i just feel weird wearing charcoal socks with black shoes and a charcoal suit. i always wear black socks with that.
GB's advice was completely ridiculous. You don't need to go buy rolexes or ****. Just wear a decent suit. If some douchebag won't hire you because he knows you smoke or because your cufflinks don't match your wedding ring (wtf?) you don't want to work for that person or their company. Going to purchase $300 shoes or a $500 dollar watch just to get a job completes you as a sell-out.
People with that attitude wash out in a year...give me a fkn break. What attitude is that Gardner? Not going out and spending 25K on your Donald Trump assortment of suits and jewelery. Not everyone can afford all of that bud and everytime someone posts on job interviews, which this initial post was about shaving a beard, you come on here ranting and raving about taking out a second mortgage on a over the top wardrobe. But I guess some people are just more materialistic than others.
vy: the attitude that to sell SW and be good at it, you don't have to "sell out" as Rocky called it. You most certainly DO have to "sell out" and are paid handsomely for it. I can be a vendor/***** 5 days a week if it means that I will be free come age 45 (which I will be) Also, excluding a watch, 25K? lol hardly. Maybe 10 depending on the suit selection. Would I spend 10K to help return 50x that in income the next year? I would....but then again for those that don't want to, we need inside sales reps too. You can wear jeans to those jobs..and work 8-5. I give kids straight out of college a pass and all I ask if they don't smell like smoke and have shiny shoes - and are willing to work their asses off. However, for experienced hires, you are insane if you don't think people notice a cheap suit/shoes/slacks/coat.
Gardner, you used to work for Dell correct? How much do you guys pay inside sales reps, if I may ask. And what is wrong with smoking?
Exactly Ramathorn, Gardner either used to work at Dell or still does. You can definately see the Dell personality coming out. How's that company doing right now by the way big guy?
