I’ve worked the past couple Christmas seasons at a big box electronics store (to help pay for school). In my department the manager has told me that if you can grow a good-looking beard and keep it maintained then you should because it helps one have a gentler, kinder face (like Santa?!). Not sure if there is any relation, but it seemed that the people who had beards outpaced their associates in sales by a large margin.
In terms of shaving for an interview, I personally wouldn’t. It’s either full beard or nothing. No goatees or chinstraps (at least not until you’re hired).
