Letter: Beards hit back

Sir: I have had a beard for nearly all of my adult life. I was aware, back in the late 1970s when I grew it, that there was one particular computer company that did not recruit men with beards. This did not bother me; I thought I wouldn't want to work for a company that was so stupid as to include this in their recruitment policy.

I was shocked to read that in 1998 prejudice against beards is so widespread in recruitment policy ("Your career's on a razor's edge", 11 June). I can understand that for posts that involve persuasive selling to the public recruitment policy may need to follow the prejudices of the market they are selling to, but for general recruitment this is ridiculous.

I will be keeping the beard (and keeping it trim and tidy) safe in the knowledge that I will not inadvertently end up working where merit and ability are not prime concerns.

ADAM B COOKE

London W14