Can tattoos and piercings really hurt your career?
Yesterday on Twitter, an interesting conversation developed over this tweet (linking to this article):
Here are a few of the responses:
Which brings me to my question for today: in terms of presenting yourself at work, where do you draw the line between expressing your individuality and staying professional?
It might surprise some people to know that I have 7 piercings (6 in my ears, 1 body) and 2 tattoos. Probably because when I’m at work, you’d never be able to see them. While I understand that these days, it’s becoming more and more acceptable for people to have visible body piercings and tattoos (especially in certain creative industries), I also know that there are some corporate environments where not only is it frowned upon, but you might not even get past the interview stage if you have body art/piercings visibly showing. Sad? Maybe. But I can completely understand where they’re coming from. I’d trust a graphic designer who had visible piercings and tattoos, but would I trust a lawyer, doctor, PR professional, or Realtor? Maybe not.
I also think it’s critical to keep all of my options open. You never know what might come up in the future, and you might also be surprised at the policies of certain companies that you thought would be accepting of piercings, tattoos, or dyed hair – but aren’t. By making sure I’m not attached to my ear piercings, and being conscious of where I place my tattoos, I am ensuring I can still express who I am and what I stand for, but still fit within any corporate environment. The job market is tough out there – the last thing I want is having something holding me back in the eyes of a prospective employer.
What kind of body piercings/tattoos do you have (if any)?
And, do you think visible body art can hurt your career?
21 Responses to “Can tattoos and piercings really hurt your career?”
Author comments are in a darker gray color for you to easily identify the posts in the comments
Leave a Reply
As seen in…
Recent Comments
Categories
- annual goals (24)
- banking (27)
- blog (192)
- budget (96)
- car (41)
- contest (26)
- credit card (20)
- credit score (10)
- debt (28)
- design business (37)
- down payment (28)
- education (15)
- EI (16)
- emergency fund (18)
- entertainment (194)
- fitness (165)
- guest post (19)
- health care (56)
- housing (59)
- investing (43)
- job (301)
- making money (55)
- miscellaneous (308)
- monthly challenge (52)
- monthly goals (118)
- motivation (38)
- property (43)
- recipes and food (27)
- relationship (121)
- retirement (30)
- saving money (179)
- scooter (24)
- spending (447)
- sponsored post (10)
- tax refund (23)
- travel (313)
- vlog (2)
- weekly spending recap (93)
I have one tattoo on my ankle so I can't really cover it up. I DEFINITELY think it can hurt my career and am considering getting it removed.. Until all of the baby boomers retire, they're still a major part of the work force, and unfortunately they are usually the supervisors. We have to respect their values, and their values dont exactly align with Gen Y's. So while I agree with the one tweet that it's becoming the norm, that doesn't mean in my opinion that it's not going to damage your career.
As somebody who is going into HR, I would be hesitant to short list somebody with sleeves or bullet holes. But I also think it depends on the career. There's no way you can have a big lip ring and tattoos all over your arms in business – no company would want you to represent them in front of customers.
But I had a high school teacher who had a massive tattoo on him and it was accepted as "cool". Soo.. it depends.
My recent post I have an interview!
Interesting! I'm lame and have zero tattos and just 2 piercings in each of my ears. I could see how it could hurt your career, but I think a moderate amount is fine — especially in certain places too. If you have a huge scary tattoo like on your forehead (ha ha), I probably wouldn't hire you, but if you had a small simple one on your wrist or arm, I wouldn't care.
Then again — some people that I know with almost a full body of tattoos are some of the smartest, most talented people! I guess you just have to prove your skills and people that might have a hang-up on that kind of stuff will probably get past it.
My recent post Career Balance: People Are Happiest When Working?
I have 5 tattoos, 3 of which are kinda visible <back of my neck, wrist and inside my elbow — the biggest of which would fit in the palm of my hand> and I honestly believe they have kept me from getting jobs. I have ever covered them up.
I have, however tried to talk my younger siblings out of getting sleeves and such for this exact reason. Tried.
My current workplace is very modern though, and I don't believe I know anyone who doesn't have either a tattoo, piecering or dyed hair.
However, Im on the phone all day <literally> and i have a tongue ring and people I have worked with for years don't realise til they notice me playing with it absent mindly. Again, I wouldn't take it out for an interview.
*never covered them up* –damn iPhone! ;)
One of my friends has a cross on her wrist. This was before she decided to become a lawyer. She can't have a bias opinion therefore she is getting it removed. In the past she worked for the government which required all visible tattoo's to be covered. She had to have multiple bandaids covering it at all times.
My recent post Circle Scarf Tutorial – Revisited
It's probably wrong to discriminate based on tattoos and piercings, but that's the reality when making a first impression on someone. Unless you want a permanent career in a kitchen, record store or coffee shop, play it safe and keep them covered up.
My recent post The Big Cook: Interview And Giveaway
I think the whole tattoo/piercing things really depends on three things: The industry you work in, how visible they are, and how accommodating you're willing to be about covering them.
I have one tattoo that's very visible (on my inner wrist) and because I work in a creative industry, I make no effort whatsoever to cover it, and it's never been an issue. I'm planning on getting a couple more visible tattoos in the near future, and I can't see it being an issue. That said, should I ever decide to, say, go to teacher's college (which I am considering), then I have to be OK with making sure they're covered, even if that means wearing long sleeves in the summer.
If you're a good worker and your full-sleeve tattoos can be completely covered simply by wearing a long-sleeve, button-up shirt, then it should have no bearing on whether you're hired. Then again, if you march into an interview insisting, "These tattoos are WHO I AM AND I WILL NOT COVER THEM UP!" then, well, I hope you're interviewing for a job where visible sleeve tattoos are accepted, and where tools are routinely hired. I know tons of people with lots of visible tattoos, and the ones who made no qualms about covering them for a job in the business world are the ones who've never hurt for work.
My recent post Dollarama Score: Ring Pop Popsicle Molds
Depends entirely on where you work. I work at a very progressive organization supporting youth, and several people have visible tattoos. I don't think the management cares, and to be honest it probably makes them look cooler in the minds of the youth anyway.
I have tattoos and piercings and I do, mostly, cover the tattoos at work. I don't think of them as potentially "hurting my career" but instead I think of it as presenting myself professionally to my clients, boss and colleagues. I have made my way to senior management despite the body art.
I'd love to see a day when people don't feel the need to cover but until then we have to accept that this is part of workplace dress and grooming.
I work in an accounting/admin role, but at a brewery. I can get away with my facial piercings no problem and still have a career with plenty of room for growth. I consider myself lucky!
That said, when I (finally) get a tattoo I will have it placed somewhere that it can be covered up, not so much because I'm worried about my workplace but because when I get old and wrinkly I might not want to look at it so much. :P
I love expressing my individuality and I've been like that since I can remember. My first tattoo was at the age of 15 (I have very understanding parents) and my collection of tattoos grew from then on. However I have been with my company now for about 3 years and not one person in my office knows of any of my tattoos. I unfortunately work for a company that frowns on such things and although I find it very depressing at times because I come into work being a person I really am not but that's just how life is sometimes.
The crazy thing is you would have never guess I had any tattoos just by looking at me. :)
My recent post Weekly Spending 07/03-07/09
I have one body piercing. It's on my belly button – not a place I'd ever show off at work. I work on Bay Street in a pretty conservative corporate environment, and yes, I think it'd hurt my career prospects had I gone with a more visible form of body art. Come to think of it, I have NEVER seen anyone in my industry with any kind of outrageous body art. The most "out there" thing I have seen is slightly longer hair on males, and maybe more than 1 ear lobe piercing.
If I was younger I'd say that it's pretty depressing to work in such a conservative environment. But now that I'm in my late 20s, it doesn't reallly matter to me because I don't want any visible body art anyway. I have no qualms about most forms of body art. That being said, I'd feel a bit uneasy if I wasto be treated by a doctor that sported a face/neck tattoo, for example.
My recent post Mid-year goals check in (and I'm back!!!)
I was once denied a job interview from a candy store who had a sign posted saying "no visible piercings!" which I thought was just misguided, since my nose stud was (and still is) teeny-tiny. I tend to forget it's even there. When I did get a tattoo (at age 20) I did consider what could easily be hidden for work purposes, so I don't need to worry about that.
What I think is funny is, for awhile people were getting tattoos on their wrist because you could hide them with a wristwatch at work. And nowadays, nobody uses watches anymore – people just check the time on their phones.
Anyway, I think it depends on what the tattoo is and what the job is and where it's located — a bleeding dagger on your face? Not great if you're a pediatrician. But a butterfly on your shoulder and you're a Kindergarten teacher? Probably OK.
I have 5 tattoos and 8 piercings (7 in my ears and my belly button). However, when I am work, you would never be able to tell. I made sure, when I started getting tattoos, that fully clothed (in pants and a shirt) you would never be able to see my tattoos. I have them because they represent things that I believe in or feel very strongly about. I understand that my job may not feel as strongly about the same things that I do.
Well I was mildly interested in this post until I started reading replies. I am not a huge proponent of tatts or piercings but do believe a person should be able to be themselves without fear of judgement. I don't have any tattoos yet but have several piercings. What I find interesting/incredible in some of the comments is that altho some of you support having tattoos/piercings you then contradict that by saying you wouldn't be comfortable with a lawyer, realtor, dr etc with a huge visible tattoo or piercings.
That is supreme judgement, the mere fact of a visible personal body art statement does not discredit their skills, training or abilities in their chosen profession. If you had a choice between 2 specialist drs & one had massive visible tatts & the other didn't & you chose the one without you may very well be missing out on the best medical care due to judging by external appearance only. I do understand the older gen not being into them but companies could lose out on good workers from discriminatory judging.
I totally agree with you that a person SHOULD be able to be themselves without fear of judgement, but we do have to acknowledge that there is still a stigma around body art – even if it has nothing to do with their abilities or skills. Even for me – as a 20-something – I would probably think twice a professional who had extremely large and visible tattoos. What if that specialist doctor had a huge tattoo of satan or Hitler or a religion or whatever you personally find offensive? He might never talk about the topic, but because you can see it there, you know that it's something he feels strongly about. There's definitely a level of professionalism that needs to be maintained in certain industries and positions – and that includes remaining neutral on certain topics and looking presentable.
I don't think it SHOULD hurt your career, but I believe it can… and I'm careful about where I place things for that reason.
I have 6 piercings (3 in each ear) and two tattoos – one on my lower back, one on my foot. Generally, I take 4/6 of the earrings out for interviews (or at least change them to small studs) and try to wear shoes (or stockings) that don't reveal my foot tattoo (it's small and all one colour). I've never covered my tattoo up with makeup or anything for an interview, but I would if it was at a business I felt might frown upon it. I've covered it with makeup before, so I know I can do it – just takes time. I REALLY want a wrist tattoo, but I've been holding off for years – I'm still developing my career, and didn't want to do anything drastic before I knew where I was headed… and now it looks like it will never happen (at least, not until retirement ;)
Agreed. It shouldn't hurt your career, but it definitely can. It's not fair, but that's just the reality of life, and the nature of some industries. I really, really want a wrist tattoo as well. But have never gotten it because I'm afraid it might affect my career in a negative way. The last thing I want to do is worry about having to cover it up with make-up.
I have my ears pierced and a nose stud. I also have a tattoo on my right wrist and one on my hip. Obviously most of them are visible and I guess i'm one of the lucky ones that still managed to land a job. I honestly did think about my career while contemplating my tattoos and piercing, but I just got lucky.
I work in one of those rare corporate environments (a VERY large international company) that has a very casual dress code and allows visible tattoos and piercings. However, my department is generally not customer-facing. You don't see that in the departments that are customer-facing. BF is a hair stylist and has visible tattoos but of course, in his career, that's totally acceptable. I had one tattoo and I had it removed when I realized I should have gotten it in a more hidden area. I got it on my upper arm and you forget how you might like to wear sleeveless dresses and shirts to work in the summer.
I had my ears pierced 7 time (3 on one side and 4 on the other) as it was a trend at the time and have no tatoos. I have since let all but one piercing in each ear grow over and even seldom wear earrings anymore due to the very conservative culture that I now work in.
Not what anyone wants to hear, but how you present yourself to the world does impact how the world interprets you. In creative industries you can get by with much more because self-expression is expected; however, if you work in an industry where trust, credibility and reliability are a mainstay, your self-expression could negatively impact your career. Body modifications scream frivolity and free-thinking, not characteristics you necessarily want in a doctor that is operating on you, the banker you are trusting your financial information and money or a lawyer that is representing you in a legal proceedings. While a body modification in no way impacts their skills, it does impact how we and others interpret those skills.
While body modification a mainstream trend with the 20 something crowd, it is not so with older generations where mostly military men and bikers (tatoos) or what used to be referred to as the "fringe element" (body modifications).