Hair Transplant Surgery Can Give Job Seekers an Edge

Hair loss can affect your job search

Hair loss can hinder your job search

Everyone has been pulling their hair out over the financial crisis that started in 2007. With an unemployment rate at around 10%, many workers have found themselves unexpectedly laid off and looking for work. With such a tight job market, even the smallest competitive edge can make the difference in getting hired.

Job discrimination based on age (or apparent age) or appearance is illegal, however, the reality is that discrimination can be difficult to prove. When two equally qualified candidates are final competitors for a job, the hiring manager has to make a difficult choice. Studies have shown that people really do tend to make decisions about a person based on his or her appearance and apparent age. Clearly, this type of decision-making is not limited to show business and sales.

Thirty-six percent of men one study believed hair loss would negatively impact their occupation.1

The economy is not the only thing receding. Hairlines also tend to recede as male workers age. The biggest money-making years generally start at around age 50, when at least half of men are experiencing male pattern balding. Older workers are at a particular disadvantage when competing with their younger counterparts due to the mature workers’ larger salary expectations.

More men have turned to cosmetic surgery since the economic recession began. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), cosmetic procedures for men went up 8% between 2008 and 2009. These types of procedures include cosmetic facial surgery and hair transplants.

Hair transplants are the only permanent solution to hair loss. A hair transplant is appropriate for most men experience male pattern balding. The out-patient procedure involves transplanting hair follicles from the back and sides of the head to the balding areas.

The cost of a hair transplant is nominal compared to the cost of unemployment. Investing in appearances can have a long-term payoff in terms of getting an edge in a tight job market. More about hair transplant costs.

Mark, an attorney, found that a hair transplant helped his career.

You don’t have to be a celebrity to get a hair transplant. Men who are balding might find themselves at an advantage in the job market by polishing their appearance with a hair transplant. Attending to all parts of the package – education, experience, credentials, and appearance – increases a job candidate’s chances of making the best impression and landing the job.

Footnote:
1. Int J Dermatol. 2006 May;45(5):565-8. Androgenetic alopecia: does its presence change our perceptions? Karaman GC, Dereboy C, Dereboy F, Carman E.