Grooming for interview (literally)
 

Howdy folks,
Real simple question with a self evident answer, I bet.
But I figured I'd gather a consensus opinion.
I'm shooting for a regional interview. Im low time ( 680/299 ) so I doubt I'll get it, but I wanna give it a genuine run.
I've got medium length hair and a neatly trimmed goatee (anchor, actually)
Looks kinda like this (according to my wife):
Google Image Result for http://i50.tinypic.com/avgb28.jpg

Sorry ladies, no that aint me.

A friend who has worked for the target airline for several years tells me not to worry about the hair.
I've seen facial hair on flight crews before.
But I dont want to _____ this up.
Prudence tells me to shave it to insure the most professional appearance possible.
Wisdom tells me professional appearance doesnt require sterility.
I dont wanna be lost in the crowd, but I also dont wanna be a "Price is Right" spectacle.

Thoughts?

(Yeah...I know... If I cant make up my mind about something as meaningless as this...I shouldnt be allowed at the controls of something important.)

You've only got one shot at the interview. Go in with the percentage look. Then if the grooming standards that you describe are acceptable by company policy - you can always grow your hair back out and the anchor if you chose.
You're right - seem like a self-evident answer to me.

USMCFLYR

Funny. I was recently thinking about the same thing. Friends and family say that I look good with my groomed beard, but I was planning to shave for the interview anyway.

baaaaahhh... baaaaahhhh

You should be prudent.

Cut it off. MOST carriers have a rules about facial hair, why push the envelope, especially when you are the one under the gun.

I just had the same issue but with a beard. I hated to see it go because I look 19 without it but I figured I'd take the cautious route. It paid off though as I have one offer so far and expect another.

Where are you interviewing?

Unless you know for a fact that the employer in question allows the type of facial hair that you have, you should shave it off. Since you don't actually work there yet, you could probably get away with it but why take a chance.

It is a known fact that people tend to consider someone with facial hair to be less trustworthy than cleanshaven men. This is a subconscious perception thing, there's no good reason for it, but it is what it is.

Very few airlines allow anything but a short mustache. JetBlue is the notable exception, they have allowed goatees but I heard that's going away. Some small commuter outfits might also be lenient.

Even retired military guys know that they should show up with a haircut that "looks" military, even if you've been retired for years and no facial hair. Employers who know you're retired military expect, fairly or not, to see a candidate who looks like it.

You've answered your own question...and hair grows back, usually.

+8 to the above answers. ALWAYS clean shaven at the interview then you may follow company grooming guidlines....AFTER you have a written job offer, IMO YMMV:D

Not to beat the dead horse but yes, shave completely. And preferably as close as possible to the interview time. You don't want a 5-o-clock shadow going on because you shaved the night before to save time.