has a tattoo or piercing ever worked against you?

Parent Cafe
41

<p>We recently walked out of a clothing store because my DH simply could not tolerate looking at the tattoos and piercings of the sales associate any more! </p>

<p>And my D is aspiring for the performing arts and I have told her not to get any tattoos because she shouldn’t get eliminated from consideration for any role based on that. Yes, they can cover with makeup and would be willing to do that for an established star, but for an unknown supporting new comer? I could not blame the casting director a bit for moving on to the next person. If the role requires tats, they could more easily apply a temporary then cover a permanent one!</p>

42

<p>Ok, now let’s clarify a few things that Bulletandpima pointed out about my post:</p>

<p>First off, I am 49 years old and a <em>civilian</em> employed with the Department of Defense. That changes quite a bit of what you were talking about. Again, I have almost 30 years of civilian service and have been promoted successfully over the years. I work in an office setting and, guess what, I am also a supervisor who has hiring authority. I can speak pretty confidently on this matter, as I also have worked for every branch of service as a civilian, and have worked both throughout the U.S. and abroad. This pretty much makes your points moot, as far as my situation, and that of most other civilians, is concerned.</p>

<p>The bottom line: your occupation and the general atmosphere of your workplace will mostly determine if and how you display your tats and piercings, this is true. Fortunately for me, I have been able to show my experience as a top performer and not be subject to the prejudices of those who focus more on things that have nothing to do with how well I do my job, i.e., how I look and the jewelry I choose to wear. I seriously doubt that the warfighter, who depends on me and others like me to get him/her the tools he/she needs to keep the enemy at bay, is concerned that I wear a stud in my nose.</p>

43

<p>Let’s remember that some here have given an opinion about tatts referring to visible, and others to hidden tatts. No doubt different responses are expected there.
Let’s also remember that tattoos do not put a person in a protected class of people. Hiring and housing(tatted people) can be selective legally and it isn’t illegal discrimination.
Some here felt their tatt has not held them back. Others have given examples of how it has. No one here yet has commented on how their tatt helped them get hired or gained a significant promotion. I think that is very telling.</p>

<p>Adults have a right to choose tatts and piercings, but need to know it is reasonable for some others not to like it. In a perfect world, maybe nobody’s looks would matter, but this is the real world.
If my dentist had the Charles Manson swastika on his forehead, I’d choose another dentist, even though I strongly agree his tatt doesn’t affect his job performance(an extreme example.) Yes, his right to choose the tatt, and my right to choose not to do business with him. Similarly, I think it’s an employers’ right to choose what he thinks will best serve his business within established legal aspects.</p>

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<p>Geez. And we would all comment if we thought our cute haircut or our nice blazer got us hired or got us a promotion? How about how fast we run a marathon? It is not “telling” at all!</p>

<p>Lots of things “matter”. Weight matters. Smoking matters. I, personally, wouldn’t hire a smoker. I also prefer people who are healthy and fit.</p>

45

<p>MOWC–I fully agree that all of those things matter. So does accent, perceived social class, and various other intangibles.</p>

<p>I’m sure that as an established professional you can get away with your discreet tattoos. That’s great. But a young person should really, IMHO, consider the long term implications before following the herd into the tattoo parlor.</p>

46

<p>There are lots of tattoos I don’t “get”. One of my young friends just got some giant flower that covers the whole side of her torso. Yes, you can cover it with clothes, but…We’ll see how THAT ages.</p>

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<p>Do you seriously think these things are attractive and enhancing to your appearance? That’s what I really don’t get. The taste factor.</p>

48

<p>“Do you seriously think these things are attractive and enhancing to your appearance? That’s what I really don’t get. The taste factor.” </p>

<p>I’m not the poster to whom this is addressed, and I haven’t had much experience as far as how my piercings will affect me in my future career, since I am only 21 years old, but the answer to your question as applicable to me, in a word, is yes. </p>

<p>To anyone curious, in addition to one pair of typical lobe piercings, I have an eyebrow ring that I have had for 8 years, and an unusually placed cartilage piercing (a conch, if you want to look it up) that I had done last Friday. </p>

<p>I agree that it comes down to a difference in taste, but what constitutes that taste is an entirely society-determined factor. In some cultures, facial tattoos or scarification, or modifications such as large ear adornments, gauged disks through the lips, or copper coils that give the neck an elongated appearance are normative. </p>

<p>I can’t tell you precisely why I find piercings to be attractive, but I do. When I see someone with well-executed piercings and tattoos, I tend to look at that person for longer, and I will likely find that person just as attractive if not more attractive than I would without that modification, with some exceptions, of course. Lobe stretching isn’t my favorite and neither are dermal implants, in addition to some more extreme forms of modification such as tongue splitting. </p>

<p>All I can say is that when I look in the mirror in the morning, and I see my existing piercing in addition to my new one, it makes me smile. I like the glint of the metal, how it adorns areas that are normally left plain, and in the case of my eyebrow piercing, which I have had more than long enough to change the jewelry, I like the variety of colors and shapes with which I can decorate my face. To me, there is no difference between an attractive pair of typical lobe earrings and a neat eyebrow barbell, captive bead ring, etc. </p>

<p>I recognize that these things about me might turn off potential employers to me, but that being said I don’t know that I’d do too well in that kind of expressively restrictive environment. I can say that the employers that I have had have made a point to come to me and compliment my work ethic and performance, and the same can be said for various teachers and professors that I’ve had in the context of my schooling career. So far, nobody that in any way matters to my personal advancement has made any derogatory comments about my appearance. However, I do recognize that people who do not know me well have asked my motivations for getting pierced and given well-intentioned advice that I tone down my appearance. In the 8 years that I have been pierced though, I have only perceived one instance of someone making a negative assumption about my personality based on my choices in body modification. I’m not naive though and I’m sure it has happened more than I am aware of. </p>

<p>Ultimately, what it comes down to is that I recognize the potential detriments and ramifications that body modification can have, but I’m the one who has to look at myself in the mirror. If I can wake up in the morning and smile at my reflection because of choices that make <em>me</em> happy, and walk around with my head held a little higher during the day, that is worth far more than a few missed opportunities here and there.</p>

49

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<p>I agree. However, I have seen photographs of MOWC, and I know that she doesn’t have anything like a man’s name high up on her neck. Something like that, as an interviewer I would think, “impulsive; poor judgment” and it might affect hiring decision (but no, I would probably not put on the form, “don’t hire because she had “ARMONDO” tatooed in huge letters on her neck.”)</p>

50

<p>^^^ Geez. Really? I was thinking of getting “Phillies” tattooed around my neck! :)</p>

51

<p>Thank you for your very nice response, hyperjulie.</p>

52

<p>i think tattoos are trashy. i don’t do everything my parents tell me to but i’m gonna follow their advice about tattoos, mostly because they have shown me lots of articles like this one. i think there’s a way bigger chance of a tattoo keeping u from getting a job than there is a chance of it not affecting u. and anyway, who wants to wear the same every single day from ur teens on? </p>

<p>[Careers</a> and Tattoos May Not Mix - ABC News](<a href=“Careers and Tattoos May Not Mix - ABC News”>Careers and Tattoos May Not Mix - ABC News)</p>

53

<p>Some piercing logistics here I don’t understand: How does one in your nostril stay in? Does it have a back like an earring? How do you blow your nose with it? Can you take it out easily? How do you kiss with a lip one? Don’t they get in the way? Are they easily removable? They just look like one more hassle accessory to me!</p>

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<p>To Pizzagirl: Of course I think they’re attractive, or I wouldn’t have them. I have also been told on more than one occasion that they look nice. You cannot assume what my piercings look like as you not only have not seen them, but you don’t know what kind of jewelry I choose to wear (I happen to choose small, dainty pieces). It’s a shame that people just can’t help making rude, close-minded comments.</p>

<p>hyperJulie: your post was well-thought out and well-written, thank you.</p>

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<p>dke: “Proper” nostril jewelry, i.e., nostril studs or bones, are made specifically for that piercing and don’t have a back like a regular earring. In the case of a nostril bone, the underside of the jewelry has a little “bump” that is slightly larger than the gauge of the wire itself (to keep it from coming out on its own). With nostril studs, the wire is kind of “U” shaped at the end and you just twist it in and out of the piercing (again, the little “U” keeps it from just coming out on its own). I blow my nose just like you do and it stays in. They are as easy to remove as a regular earring.</p>

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<p>Now that I am officially middle aged, I am becoming more daring. I just got my cartilage pierced two months ago. My kids were flabberghasted! None of my girls have their cartilage pierced even though it is very common around here.
My hair is shoulder length so it’s not obvious when I wear it down. I <em>think</em> it makes me look younger - LOL. (I do concede it probably makes me look like a middle aged woman with a cartilage piercing)
I do want to get a tattoo. Nothing obvious, though. I just can’t decide what to get or where to get it. I do have some thoughts though. At least at my age I don’t have to worry about it losing it’s shape!</p>

<p>I don’t have a problem with belly button piercings - they look nice on a flat stomach. I probably would have gotten one in my younger days had they been popular.
I also like a tiny little stud in the nose. But I have allergies.</p>

57

<p>Our D is in 9th grade and wants to get her ears double pierced which I have little problem with. In order to see how badly she really wants this I proposed she keep her room and bathroom clean for 3 mths, get her ears pierced and then maintain clean room for another 3 months or lose the double piercing. She is considering the deal. </p>

<p>I’m thinking this could turn out great for me!! You think 6 months of a clean room might create a habit?? :)</p>

58

<p>My S1 has four tattoos. None of them are visible as long as he is fully dressed. They are on his abdomen/ribcage. He is an officer in the Navy. Of course they are visible when he swims (part of his job) but it’s not a problem as long as they are covered when he’s in uniform. Tattoos are pretty common in the military.</p>

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<p>If I were hiring for a job that involved long-term planning, I would hesitate to hire somebody with a tattoo.</p>

60

<p>As an oldster and someone who frequently hires young people, I have mixed feelings. Out of sight is out of mind. Then there are those with small discrete adornments that are not a problem. Those big and multiple tats and piercings are a problem. They impact my hiring decisions very negatively. It is not just the appearance. I wonder about the emotional stability of these people. I need employees who are capable, self confident, and self motivated. I see these garish tats as a sign of insecurity. Some also reflect the individual’s desire to fit in with a gang. Many of the worst were acquired in prison.</p>