Thursday, July 08, 2010


Does it matter if you have a tattoo or not? Could you still get a job with tattoos? People always tell me that if you get tattoos that you will not be able to get a job. I think it is great to be able to get a tattoo if you really think its cool. I have four tattoos, and my friends and family all think that having my tattoos will affect me in the furture. But does it really matter if you have tattoos? Do employers really look at the fact that you have tattoos?
ASHIA STEVENS

21 comments:

English student said...

At every job I've ever had, I've been asked if I have a tattoo, and if I do if I would be able to cover it. I know that there are places that won't hire someone if they have tattoos on their face, or even if they have something pierced other than their ears that you can see. I have friends that are managers at different places and they all have tattoos, but they have to wear clothing that can hide them, and the ones on their wrists they have to wear bandages over them so customers can't see them. Depending on what type of field of work your in should really depend on it. Honestly, if you are trying to impress the customers--and this all depends on where your working--tattoos are something that most people don't want to see.

Sarah Albin

English student said...

To many employers it is a factor if you have tatoos that are visible. The different views of generations will also be a factor. Many of the people that will be hiring you will more than likely be older than you are, and many people in our parent's generation believe that tatoos are disrespectful. Many employers might recognize that you have a tatoo and immediately think that you are a wild person, and that they do not need someone like yourself working for them. If you were to get a tatoo, it would be best to get it in a place where you are able to cover it up for work.
Kenneth East

English student said...

It depends on where your tattoos are. Some people tattoo their face. It won't be easy to get a job unless he wants to become a tattoo artist. I have one tattoo on my ribs. I put it there for a reason which is of course to hide it when i go for job interviews. I think it also depends on how big it is. If you have a little one on your ankle, it won't look as bad as having your whole leg covered and you wear a skirt to work. And lastly, depends on what it is. I've seen some of the most disgusting tattoo from horror movie. Why would someone want to put that on their body? Mine represents me and my brothers. I put a lot of thought into it and thought the experience was great. Life would be boring if you didn't try anything once or more. I say, if you can hide your tattoo when going for a job interview or to work, then why not?

Samantha Odendaal

English student said...

I think it depends. With some jobs it dose not matter as much, but with others like the food business it can matter quite a lot do to health code violations. On the other hand it really depends on where they are at. An example is having a tattoo on your shoulder, or leg where it can be covered is not a big deal compared to having one on your for arm.

Cameron Smucker

English student said...

Having a tattoo can stop you from getting a job. Working in the health care field any visible tat has to be covered. So say you got a tat on your neck when you were younger,they may hire someone over you do to the tat you have. We should not judge people on boby art but, some professions it is. Think wisely about where you place your tat's. I think numerous visible tats are not suited for some professionals but I would never hold it against them. Dawn Smith

English student said...

It does matter if you have a tattoo its just whether or not they can see it. If you have a tattoo on your wrist or on your neck or even on your face, chances are your going to have a real tough time trying to find a good job. Most jobs want to be professional and that is hard to do when you employees have visible tattoos. Dont get me wrong I love tattoos, I have two of them myself, but both of them i can hide when im at work. My mother is a recruiter and places people in jobs and she says thats one huge factor on whether not someone gets hired. She has people that fit the job description in every way and would be perfect for the job, but they have tattoos on there neck and face or even wrists and if they cant hide them while at work they wont hire them, because companies have the right to not allow body art on employees for reason that it might be offensive in any way to customers or clients.

Kevin McBride

English student said...

Personally I despise the idea that by personally choosing how you want to look you are then held at a lower standard especially at the work place. The only reason I have tattoo's that are easily hidden is because of society's idea that they are wrong, dirty, or something a hooligan would do. I have a friend that refuses to take out his 3 facial piercings and he cannot find a job any where, even though he is 20 with 2 years of retail management experience. My body is what I want to do with it not for someone to judge based on the "norm", or their religious or personal beliefs.

Matt Funk

English student said...

I think tattoos are great to have if you like them, but unfortunately they do matter in the workplace. Employers do not know you when they interview you and they are trying to find anything to suggest what type of person you are. So if they see your tattoo they are most likely to past judgment on you. Tattoos do not really have that much affect at a job , but if it is a career that can be the one thing that separates you from the next man and cause you not to get your dream job.

English student said...

i understand that a tattoo is just a tattoo but if you want one you shouldnt get it somewhere that you cant hide it. theyre unprofessional and some people from an older generation might find it dissrespectfula and not hire you. a lot of people out there are judgemental and will think things just because they can see that youre inked, if you have a tattoo and it means something to you or you want one that means something important to you i think you should get it. personally i love tattoos, just get it somewhere no one can see it while youre in the workplace.

English student said...

The job i work at right now knows i have a tattoo, i just have to keep it covered up. I've been told the same thing if you have a tattoo you won't get hired and i don't believe people when they say that because its not true. It is true that some places won't hire you if you have to many tattoos also because its not presenting your self very well. I like tattoos, i want to get atleast 2 or 3 more, i'm not going to let a little tattoo prevent me from getting a job. My freinds and family also like my tattoos, they don't have any problems with it. So just because you have a tattoo, it won't prevent you from getting a job depending on what field you are going for.

Aubrey Welch

English student said...

I think that tattoos are simply just a form of expression for any individual, however, where you put that form of expression is up to you. America says that we are "free" to express ourselves ,but then,when we actually do express ourselves , we find a double standard looming around ; that too many people are not so much interested in freedom as they are about what another person would think about one of their workers having a tattoo. They say that it does not professional to have a tattoo,but, it also does not look very professional to wear shorts or to have your hair loose in the work place, either but, they do. Tracey Boswell

English student said...

As a former employer, applicants that came in with outlandish body art or facial piercings that made me cringe did not make the same impressions on me that someone looking professional, clean & crisp did. Many times the professional looking people did in fact have tattoos, but chose wisely what they were and where to put them.
To promote my business as professional, my employees needed to present themselves that way. To lose business because of the impression of an employee (tattoos, piercing or just personal hygiene)would not have been in the best interest of the company.
When people present themselves, especially during an interview, with an "in your face" presentation of themselves and refuse to modify to meet your company standards, it suggest defiance, rebellion, stubbornness or lack of co-operation. None of these qualities are something an employer wants to deal with. The thought, "Nobody's gonna tell me what to do with MY body." also tells me as an employer that nobody is going to tell you anything! No thanks.

Joann Logsdon

Whitt.M said...

Well I have four tatoo's right now and Im not going to school for buisiness, but some day I would like to own my own buisiness. I feel that people shouldn't be looked at differently in any job place or are not able to obtain a job because of tatoo's. Now i do feel it's respectfull for them to be covered up while in a working area but it shouldn't matter. I see tatoo's as ways that people express them selves their not hurting any one! after all they are the ones that have to live with it not any one else!

English student said...

Even though the fact that I work at a fast food place, we still can’t have any visual tattoos. In the past the only people that got tattoos were normally people that weren’t outstanding citizen and many people still view them as trashy. I personally have three tattoos but I got them in places that my clothes cover up. I do believe that having tattoo's in noticeable places will make it harder for you to get a "good" job later on in life; most employers hate them and tend not to hiring people with them., so people should be careful about getting tattoo’s in noticeable places and especially what they get.

Melody Nelligan

English student said...

I like tattoo's but I don't have any and don't plan on getting one. I do feel that having a tattoo in a place where it can't be hidden then it can play a major role in not getting a job that you want. Many individuals feel that it is not professional. And then when people get them they don't think about man one day I'm going to be old and this isn't going to look so cool in my 6o's. But if getting a tattoo is what and individual wants to do then by all mean do what makes you happy.
S.Cooper

English student said...

I'm sure that it depends on the job, but yes I do think it matters if a person has visible tattoos. Tattoos are becoming more accepted in our society but there are still people out there that get a vague sense of unease when seeing them. Also, while some people may find tattoos interesting, artistic, or even beautiful, there are many people who prefer the unmarked human form. These are all relevant things that any employer need to consider when potentially hiring new workers. Employing someone who is visibly tattooed could cost them clients or customers.

While the decision to get a tattoo is generally a life long decision, it is just that, a decision. It isn't the same as being born of a certain race or religion. It doesn't warrant any kind of worker protection under the law. Ultimately, it comes down to a valid concern of employers whether the knowledge, work ethic, and talent of the visibly tattooed person they may be hiring is worth the risk of alienating customers than aren't entirely comfortable with kind of choice.

David Nadermann

English student said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
English student said...

All the jobs I have applied for, always ask for pericings and tattoos. I feel that they are ok to have where clothes always cover, but not out in the open eye.

Cody

English student said...

Employers do look at the fact that you have tatoos. I think it should not matter if you have tatoos, it depends on where they are at. I have four tatoos, but I have them in places that can be covered. I had job at a nursing home, that told us, the employees, that when at work we had to cover our tatoos. This girl had one on her neck, and she had to wear turtle--necks, even doing the summer. I wanted one on my neck, but for that reason, I have not gotten it. I have one above my wraist,which is my daughter's name,and I have had comments on it in the work field. Although, I have tattoos, i do think it is unprofessional to have them all over body where they visiable.

Brittany Williams

English student said...

Every job will ask you if you have tattoos and if they can be covered. Most likely if they can't be covered you will not get the job. I know I dont judge people for having tattoos that aren't able to be covered. I have quite a few tattoos myself but none that can be seen really unless I got a tank top on, so just think wisely where you want the tattoo before you get it.
Kevin Hays

English student said...

I do not think it is a big deal to have tattoos. But, I also think you should keep them covered. If you have a tattoo that you really like, get it somewhere where not everyone can see it. If you have tattoos all up and down your arms or legs then it will probably be harder to get a job. If you cover them up it should not be that big of a deal. Tattoos make you unique so I say go for it, but just make sure you can control it.

Macy Shupe