When I got my first tattoo, I asked the artist, “do they hurt?” He coyly looked at my seventeen-year-old self and replied, “if they did, so many people wouldn’t have them.” Valid point. And as statistics are showing, so many people are inked up; approximately 42 percent of adults have one or more tattoos. But, does this love of ink hinder the ability to obtain a professional job position?
We see celebrities like Johnny Depp, Miley Cyrus, and Angelina Jolie completely inked up and still working so how does one maintain professionalism and appearance even with a body full of tattoos and some piercings here and there?
As a creative-preneur, there is a lot more flexibility when it comes to body art. When I worked as an entertainment journalist for over five years, I did most of my work from my home so no one I interacted with physically saw my sleeve or tongue ring. But, when it was time to go to meet-and-greets and do my face-to-face interviews, I turned off “me” and turned on the “me” that everyone expected to see. I dressed it up with a nice khaki, denim or black jacket to cover my arms; nice slacks to look tailored, and wore tasteful accessories to take away from any extra ear piercings that may make old-school reporters feel uncomfortable. It was also key to put in a clear tongue ring so the people I was speaking closely with were not fixated on mouth metal.
Once I read the room and got to see the other journalists, I could gauge how much skin I could show and how many tattoos were acceptable for others to see. But less is always best when first starting out. The sad thing about this world is that, even though tattoos and piercings should not overshadow ones professional experience, some hiring managers are still jaded. And there are still no set laws saying someone cannot be hired based upon their body modifications though it is said businesses can lose customers because due to diversity hiring failure.
The argument has to be made that people with tattoos and piercings are no less competent than those without. Doctors, teachers, government officials; has the world really become that scared to think outside of the box to let someone’s personal choices dictate whether they are a hiring risk or not? If almost half of adults are tattooed, then employers will be extremely hard-pressed to find amazing help with untouched skin.
The only way to combat these stigmas is to, again, walk into the room as professionally and confidently as possible. Regardless of what you are hiding under your suit jacket, that does not take away from your ability to be an amazing writer, educator, psychiatrist, whatever your heart desires. And if a company does not want to hire you based on your ink or fires you based on these adornments, that is actually grounds for a lawsuit so get your legal cap on.
*As for those with facial tattoos, that I am at a loss.