Should I cut my neat medium-length dreadlocks before applying for teaching positions?
Thais place great importance on appearance and they like their teachers to look like teachers. Although it’s difficult to judge things without a photograph, I think many Thais would associate ‘dreads’ with Koh Samui beach bums and what they’ve seen in the movies. I don’t think you are doing yourself any favors by applying for jobs with such a hairstyle but if you are attached to the way you look, then maybe you need to test the water. You should get an inkling from the first few job interviews whether or not your look is going against you. If I were an academic director with the responsibilty of hiring new teachers, someone with dreadlocks would go way down the list. It’s just not a teacher’s look. Not in Thailand. Plain and simple.
