Getting work with dreadlocks

Been a long time since I've been here. Anyways, having trouble finding a decent job.. I can work almost any general labor job but what are some more professional type jobs those of you with dreads have?

I'm thinking about going back to school, I have all of my general ed credits done but I'm a little concerned some majors could be a waste of time since the work places related would probably discriminate against dreads. I know thats not the greatest attitude to have but I'm trying to be realistic.

 

Im doing an engineering degree, they can discriminate all they fucking want and I'll take my BEng (Hons) elsewhere.

Just do whatever the fuck you want to do.

 

I was going to post this thread.

Tie my hair up in a bun put a bun net over it. Style fringe over dread roots, you can't even tell I have dreads.

Get interviewers eating out of the palm of my hand, they love me.

Don't get job.

 

See now, I feel like women have a slight advantage because of their dreadlock stealthing abilities. Also theres some professions that are more available to women like babysitting for example.

 

Your statement about babysitting is irrelevent. It's not a profession and no woman does it if she's over 19.


The same can be said

 

they way i see it i wouldnt work for any one who doesnt accept me for me if they have a problem with dreadz tats piercings then fuck em not worth the effort i have a primo job for last 4 years installing tvs internet audio systems i work hard my bosses appreciate me for who i am i consider them family more than bosses. i have fond most of my jobs just by word of mouth talk to people family friends. most of all do something that you enjoy be happy in your work.
my 2 cents

 

I work for a major Automotive company as a Product Development Engineer.
(I have to stress this, I'm not a mechanic, I'm an Engineer, Matlab, MEng, etc)

Professional environment, big office, shirt + trousers, good salary and so on.

The dreads are totally fine, no-one has said a negative thing.

But....I cut them off for the interview process and have had them back in for 2 months.
I honestly don't know if I would have got the job with dreads at the interview. I guess I'll never know, but I'd like to think so.

 

I have always stood by my saying

"If you make an issue out of them, so will your employer."

 

That's because if she's older than that, they call it being a "nanny"

 

I'm rather lucky that my future career path won't be ridiculously anal about personal image. But I am also lucky that Australia is a lot more relaxed about them, especially the Gen X and Gen Y people. I have had older people as customers at my last job comment on my dreads; "Is this one of those lazy prick hair-doo's?", to which I play along like the bum uni student I am. I really don't like jobs though. I wish I could start my career because I hate working meaningless jobs that are just for money and irrelevant to my future.

 

Not true.

 

Honestly? Geriatric nursing. They're crying for people. You get paid well. You get all the hours you can stand and bonuses out the wazoo. Dreads would be less of a biggie than visible tattoos, and if you have your LPN or RN, they'll bend over backwards for you in geriatric nursing.

 

Tell that to my friends wife who is almost 50 and pulls in $800-$1000 a week providing childcare in her home. She is state licensed and first-aid certified, special insurance, etc.
Sounds like a profession to me and it pays pretty damn good too.

 

^Amen! I get 375/wk plus a ton of benefits like doing my laundry for free, food all day, wipes for my kid...babysitting can definitely be a profession.

 

I just overcome how my appearance by blowing them away during the interview. Granted, I haven't really had any 'career' type jobs, but its always worked for me so far. The first job I got while I had dreads was working at a childrens museum. You'd think that with all the stereotypes involving drug use and dreadlocks that they'd be hesitant, but I just turned on my charm for the interview process and boom, got the job after the second interview. Though, now i'm working as a telemarketer, so appearance doesn't matter at all as long as your good with words, or if you can word for word read off a sheet of paper.

 

I just got a pretty good job that involes deliveries and working with the public. I was out of work for like a year just beacause I wasnt tryin. Get that perception that you wont get a job beacuse you have knots in your hair out of your head. I wear mine down and out and let them fly in the wind while Im workin and no one has said anything at all regarding my hair

 

Blaming career set-backs and failures on dreadlocks is a blatant cop-out. If you have the skills, experience and charisma required, any supposed 'hindrances' are obsolete to employers. Chances are it's not the hair, and it's certainly not the "big bad world" singling you out to try and bring you down... it's you, and you alone.

 

You're thinking of choosing a major according to what jobs it will get that will be accepting of your dreadlocks? How old are you?

Go back to school and do whatever makes you happy nerd. The rest will all work itself out. I doubt that years after graduation you will be saying, "Fuck, if only I hadn't graduated with a biology degree I wouldn't be stuck with this useless degree, dreadlocked and jobless."

If you are that concerned with your hair maybe you should hibernate and only come out for the hippie festivals where they will accept you.

You'll get a fucking job.

 

ketch-with-claws!

i agree doe

 

Do something art/music oriented... That's the only suggestion I have..