Missed Opportunity 2.0

It was the time I just completed my MBA and I was searching for a job. I got a call from MRF tyres for frontline sales job. It was the MRF I couldn't have got better start to my career. I live in Ahmedabad and first leg of interview was held in Ahmedabad only. I went in there well dressed, with well groomed face and with lots of confidence. My face looked confident because it was well groomed. Clean shave gave the bright confident look to my face.

Four rounds of interview were held here and after the four rounds of interview, I was selected for the last round in Chennai. I was really happy that I made into MRF's last round of interview. Coordinator told me and all other candidates that 'noone really get rejected in Chennai. You just need to be in complete formals there as they don't compromise with clothes, hair and shave. Your real test was taken here and you just needs to look perfect in Chennai to get the appointment letter.' I already started dreaming of working with one of the best companies in the world with those words.

I am kind of person who don't shave daily as the growth of my facial hair is not that much. It is like if I shave today then you will see the hair on my face after two days. My facial hair start showing up on third day. So I planned Chennai interview accordingly. I shaved my face at home and got in the train to Chennai. Next day I reached Chennai and the day after I went for the last round of interview at MRF's corporate office.

I went into MRF's office well dressed with blazer and tie, well polished shoes and making sure that there are no signs of spikes on head but that day my facial hair started showing up. Despite of that no one guessed that I haven't shaved since last 3 days. As I entered in the interview room HR Manager and Vice President Marketing of MRF were well prepared for me and so was I. Interview was going on really well, I was responding them perfectly.

Then they asked 'you haven't shaved today?'

I replied 'no'.

'Why?'

'I don't shave daily. I shave on every fourth day.' Now that was really blunt.

'Then how will you work with us. We won't allow this. We want guys with discipline, we don't want models.' Vice President was on me like a tiger.

'I will start doing it daily.' I tried to defend it.

I was rejected. The whole interview went well except that shaving part. So in this way my ungroomed face became the reason for my rejection in company like MRF. It was a huge setback for me. In the end I consoled myself by saying that I am not alone who is rejected there are 13 more people along with me. The difference was others were rejected with some strong reason while I was rejected just because my face was not groomed well.

This post is a part of #WillYouShave activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette.

I am accepting the tag of Anmol Rawat through this post.