Does having tattoos affect your job or getting the job you want? thoughts?

Do you have a tattoo? If so, it may cut your chances of getting a job.





Eight-five percent of respondents to a recent poll said tattoos and body piercings actually lower chances of getting hired, a leap from 19 percent in 2001, according to Newsday.com.





The online survey of 468 workers, conducted by Vault.com, a career Web site, found that 42 percent of employees who responded have at least one tattoo or body piercing, but that 53 percent of those who have them hide them when working.





clip from fox news.





what are your thoughts on this subject?





i thought that this was becoming not such a big problem but according to this article it seems to be getting worse.


do you think this way of thinking will die out or worsen?

Does having tattoos affect your job or getting the job you want? thoughts?
I haven't found this to be true, but mine are easy to hide. I know that my bosses like them, they've complimented me on them when I have had them out at functions or away from work. However, they've known me for several years and my having tattoos doesn't cloud what they know of my abilities.


I think as more and more people get tattoos, this will decrease. I'm sure if this poll had been done 25 years ago, fewer people would have had tattoos and more people would have not hired them (probably 100%).
Reply:I am not allowed to have visible tattoos at work so when I wear a skirt I have to put a bandage over the one on my ankle, I can't wear really short sleeve shirts because I have a tat on my arm, but I do not regret my tats and plan on getting more. I think it is really dumb that they need to be covered, it draws more attention because everyone asks what happened because I have a bandage on %26amp; I don't lie, I tell them I can't show my tattoo.
Reply:I have tattoos. I also work in a field that is tattoo friendly, a motorcycle shop. I would suggest that certain circles and work places have different expectations. Be realistic and consider all of that before taking the plunge. Don't fool yourself into thinking that people won't judge you, they will, how will you deal with it? You can have tattoos and just not make them visible at work. I know several CEOs that have full sleeves that they cover with long sleeved shirts and ties. I do believe that this is changing and they are becoming more acceptable. It wasn't so long ago that women couldn't wear pants at work or school, skirts only. Now we don't even notice. . .
Reply:It'll die out eventually, when the freak show candidates realize that their "freedom of expression" impresses no one but themselves.





You may have the "right" to make a display of yourself. A potential employer also has the RIGHT to hire personnel who match the company image, and levels of dignity and respect. That's Life. Get over it.
Reply:I think how you carry yourself is more important; I work in a law office, and I have a half sleeve, and a large tattoo on the back of my neck. It hasn't been an issue. Granted, I don't wear sleeveless shirts, but I wouldn't really wear them to work anyway.
Reply:There are a lot of people out there that have bad opinions of people with tattoos. I have 5 tattoos, but none are visible in the work environment. My job has a tattoo policy where if you have any that show they must be covered up by long sleeves. If you have one that shows it must be removed (example would be neck or face). This way of thinking will change eventually when the old people that make the rules die out. I personally don't have a bad opinion of people with tattoos, but the older people do. I think its discrimination, but remember we chose to get a tattoo, and if you got one somewhere where you can't cover it up for a job you should of thought ahead.
Reply:The upper halves of both of my arms are pretty much covered with tattoos; I've worked mostly in health care for the past 12 years or so. I think that overall, employers are more and more accepting of visible tattoos, and as long as they're not the faded, blueish, jail-house looking kind that look like they were given to you in a biker's kitchen, they shouldn't be a problem. Living in a city instead of rural areas also helps. Another option: I have a friend who is an R.N., and he has full sleeves on both arms; he always wears long sleeves when he starts jobs, but by the time he starts letting his tattoos show, his co-workers have already gotten to know him, and they love his tattoos just as much as they love him. Hope this helps!
Reply:i have a tattoo and multiple piercings however i am in that 53 percent that hides them at work. it is seen as unprofessional and some even see it as a lack of intellegence. i think on a personal level that it is possible to have too many to work in a professional setting. however some places of employment will look past it. for instance i took my daughter to the pediatrician yesterday and her nurse was a male that was all pierced and tattooed up. i personally was not offened by him however i could see where some people might be. but i don't see the problem with them going away for at least another 15-20 years. i think it will continue to worsen for at least another 5-10 years. then will start to improve. it is going to take our older generations to go into retirement and our younger generations to fill their voids for the improvement to start.
Reply:it all depends on what kind of job you want. white collar job don't get nothing visible. blue collar i really don't think it matters. i have my left arm all done from wrist to shoulder right arm half way done and many tatts on my back and chest area, i would never get anything on my hand or on my knuckles which are called job stoppers i would say for obvious reasons. i really don't think tattoos are a big deal. I've worked retail and had customers like and hate my ink. i drive an armored truck now and they didn't care at all that i have ink.
Reply:Yes, sort of. I have two tattoos (from when I was 18): a small one on my upper left chest (okay, breast) and a relatively small one on my left foot. At the time, I thought both of these would be incredibly easy to cover up when I wanted to. For a day, they are, so I was able to get a great job.





BUT after you get the job, you have the problem of keeping it covered up EVERY DAY. I teach ESL at a university. My shirts are divided into shirts I can wear to work/around family and shirts I wear out. Everything is a matter of covering up these damn tattoos. I'm saving up to have them removed.
Reply:It is impossible to say whether this way of thinking will die out or get worse. Fashions and styles change all the time. What is acceptable today may not be so tomorrow. But at the moment I feel that the majority opinion is against tattoos. So unless you want a job as a sailor in a tramp steamer, I would advise you not to go in for tattoos.
Reply:It all depends on your tattoo. If you show up for an office job wearing a shirt and tie and you can see a tattoo up the side of someone's next still, then yes I would think so. Or if you're wearing a long sleeve and you see tattoos on someones hands or fingers I think it would definitely affect your changes.





I plan on getting a tattoo on my thigh that way I never have a problem. I can understand people wanting to hire only clean, professional looking people and that is why some people who get tattoos should really consider placement. I mean I wouldn't care if a coworkers entire back was cover in a tatt so long as you couldnt see it.





So yeah, placement is everything.
Reply:I think it should be getting better too, i can't think of areason for the leap since 2001.


I think it will always have some effect on who will hire you simply because not everyone likes them. Some one else mentioned the atmosphere it sends to people; i think almost everything about a person says something. However if you walk up to the front desk at an office building and the secretary has a flaming snake on her face, you might question how qualified she is to work there. The reason being its uncommon to see that on a person who needs to look profesional. It doesnt fit the natral steryotype or standard in modern day so it might be uncomfertable to some.





if we become more accepting (honestly in American culture i dont believe this word retains any meaning) then it might get better.


If steryotyping becomes more promenet and people become more judgemental then it will become worse.





I hope it gets better but it will probably take a while.
Reply:I have tattoos and never had a problem finding a job in my field (which is accounting, consulting) and I even switched jobs with said tattoos. I was lucky to work for people who looked at my skills and not my body modification. I do not worry about how having tattoos will affect my work in the future because if needed, ANY tattoo can be hidden, either by wearing long shirts, pants, or stage makeup etc.
Reply:I want a tattoo on the inside of my forearm but we're not supposed to have visible tattoos. I wear short sleeve shirts because I get hot easily. I might go for the wrist instead and start wearing a watch.
Reply:Yes having a tattoo will affect depend on what type of job you would love to have. I just graduated BS-Hotel and Restaurant Management major in Hospitality Management. I will probably have a front desk job in a hotel or as a restaurant manager. I couldn't have a showing tattoo being in a guest relations job. Also if i would like to be a flight attendant, they are very strict with tattoos. You probably should get a tattoo in a hidden part of your body. =) goodluck!
Reply:Having tattoos definatley doesn't help you get a job. Its society in general. They think anyone with tattoos are people who are trash, which is not true. Society sucks.
Reply:I think it can definately effect your chances of getting a job, if it is visible. What it really is talking about, is those big ugly things that people get on their arms that is always visible, all the time. Their thought is that, it doesn't send out a great atmosphere to everyone, but a person with no tatts can send out a neutral vibe without saying a word, but if you have a tattoo someone can already make a negative, stereotypical assumption about you. I would def. not recommend getting a visible tattoo, get one that no one else will really see but you and your husband/wife.