Does my hairstyle determine if I can be hired?

Dear Moses,
I am an accountant with one of the local companies, for three years. Last month, I applied for the same job in another company, I was considered, though, these possible new employees want me to get rid of my dreadlocks. 
I have worn my dreadlocks longer than I have been in accounts. Should what I have on my head be used to determine whether I can get hired or not? Mulindwa.

Dear  Gerald,
Research has shown that the average person now switches jobs every 2-3 years and over 70% of the workforce will freelance by 2025. This means that a strong personal brand is more important than ever before. In fact, the more successful you want to be, the more important personal branding becomes. 

You have defined your profession as an accountant. This implies that you belong to professional body with clearly defined values and ethics which are understood and recognised worldwide. 

It may therefore not be surprising that your prospective employer may not comfortable with your preferred hairstyle. This is because they may not be willing to have their brand represented by the way you present yourself. 

On the other hand your personal brand has helped you stand out from the crowd, hence the new job offer.  When we talk about “personal branding” we are referring to establishing and promoting what you stand for. Your personal brand is the unique combination of skills, experiences and character that define you. 

Effective personal branding will differentiate you from other professionals in your field.  The persona brand inspires trust in your audience given that people are much more likely to buy from, listen to, someone who looks, talks, and acts like them. In other words, people want to deal with people who have similar character traits. 

Regardless of your age or professional stage, someone is screening you online. What they find can have major implications for your professional (and personal) well-being. 

However, before you even think of chopping off your hair to please your prospective employer, its important to ask yourself the following questions and answer them honestly:

1. Who are you? What makes you unique and different? 

2. What is your vision for your personal brand? 

3. What do you intend to achieve with personal branding? What are your professional goals?

4. Who is your audience? Who can you help? How can you help them? 

5. What’s your ‘X’ Factor? What makes you reliable and trustworthy?

6. How do you prove that? What’s the evidence?

5. What’s your ‘X’ Factor? What makes you reliable and trustworthy?

6. How do you prove that? What’s the evidence?

Moses Ssesanga,
Head of Human Resource, 
NMG Uganda
[email protected]