Re: Gray hair and first impressions

[Elna Tymes <Etymes -at- LTS -dot- com>]

I hate to be so real about this, but looking younger will get you more 
job offers than looking old.  And there is a difference in how gray hair 
works for men vs. women.

I'm an "older woman." Definitely.  Clairol and I have had a wonderful 
relationship since I was in my late 30's, when the gray started to 
appear. Thanks to Clairol, my hair is ash blond. These days, I'm told I 
look in my mid 40's, which of course absolutely delights me.  However I 
get the jobs.  Yes, I have a powerful resume, and my interview 
impressions, I'm told, are that I'm a comfortable person and very 
competent. But the first 2-minute impression is that I'll fit in - I'm 
young enough and comfortable enough to get along with the engineers and 
competent enough to know what they're talking about.  And I'm positive 
that the lack of gray hair is part of that impression.

That said, I think the standards are different for men and women.  I 
believe some gray hair is an asset for men - it gives the impression 
that you've been through the wars a bit and just may know what you're 
talking about.  A full head of gray hair, however, can be a drawback in 
some environments.

For women, however, a full head of well-styled short gray hair, if 
combined with a youthful face and figure, can imply a 'Mom went back to 
school and earned a CS degree' mindframe. And that works with young 
engineers.

Elna Tymes
Los Trancos Systems


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