Israel Garcia, a tech consultant, changed his appearance to better match the image of AI companies.
Garcia said he often faces hiring managers in tech and AI companies who are half his age.
Garcia said job seekers should focus on the message they're sending with how they look.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Israel Garcia, the
principal consultant on digital and AI transformation at Cambridge Experts, a UK-based consultancy company that focuses on tech product strategy. This essay has been edited for length and clarity.
After years of working in technology and AI consulting, I found myself making an unexpected career move: shaving off my beard.