Tattoos Are Here To Stay
Even as a slowdown in the economy threatens to curtail hiring, recruiters across the country still face difficulty finding the right people with the right skills to fill job openings. With skilled labor shortages worsening as baby boomers leave the workforce, employers will be left with no choice: they will have to welcome the growing number of tattooed candidates with open arms.
Body art, including tattoos and piercings, are becoming more popular, especially among the generation entering the job market now. With some surveys indicating that more than one third of young people sport tattoos and other forms of body art, companies will be forced to become more accepting.
A decade ago, showing off tattoos and body piercings would be a surefire way to get your resume placed in the ‘No Way!’ pile. Times have changed. Those making the hiring decisions are younger and not as adherent to traditions about workplace appearance.
Additionally, some employers already have trouble finding skilled workers – why let some body art get in the way of hiring the best qualified candidate? Plus, a growing number of employers recognize the benefits of diversity in all its forms and are embracing the unique attributes that make people stand out from the crowd.
While still in the minority, individuals with tattoos represent a significant portion of the population. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 36 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds have at least one tattoo. Forty percent of those between 26 and 40 have at least one. With new innovations in tattoo ink that will make it easier to one day remove unwanted body art, even more Americans may take the plunge.
While a growing number of companies may be opening their minds and doors to tattooed candidates, many job seekers donning body art say they are not quite feeling the love. A Vault.com survey found that 85 percent of workers say tattoos and body piercings impede a person’s chances of finding a job. Another 64 percent said body art has a negative effect on the opinions of co-workers and employers.
There are definitely certain industries where more conservative standards of appearance persist. We may never see tattoos on bankers, lawyers, accountants and the clergy may be resistant to body art. However, areas such as advertising, marketing, sales and technology are more inclined to be ahead of the curve and more accepting of new fashion and lifestyle trends.
Most tattoos are hidden, but some are prominently displayed on people’s hands, lower arms and necks. Body piercings can be anywhere. As a job seeker, you have to judge whether the employer you are interviewing with is going to be accepting of your body art. If that is not the case, and that is where you really want to work, then you will have to make an effort to conceal your tattoos and take out your piercings.
The best way to determine if body art is acceptable is by asking someone at the company, preferably not the person you are to meet. However, if you know someone else at the company or if you have established rapport with a secretary or receptionist, you can ask that person.
Here is some additional advice on issues that could come up for young job seekers steeped in the latest fashion and youth-oriented trends:
Tattoo: Show it off, unless it is offensive, in which case you should plan on concealing it in the interview and even after getting the job. The other time you would want to conceal your tattoos is if you know that a certain employer would frown upon such decorations.
Piercings: Beware! With increased security at many corporate offices, too much bling could set off metal detectors. You do not want to be late to the interview because you were forced to remove 12 body piercings at the security desk. In addition to the security issue, too many piercings might be a distraction for the interviewer and could hurt your chances. Also, it would be prudent to remove tongue and lip piercings, as these often make it difficult for others to understand what you are saying.
Baggy clothing: Avoid blue jeans, unless it is how everyone else in the office dresses. It is possible to look presentable in loose-fitting khakis and a button-down shirt. For the interview, refrain from wearing pants that ride below the waistline (often showing off one’s undergarments or bare body).
Wild hair: Streaks of blue, green or fire-engine red will not scare off most hiring authorities, but a Mohawk or hairdo resembling a bird’s nest might.
John A. Challenger is chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., the global outplacement consultancy that pioneered outplacement as an employer-paid benefit in the 1960s. Challenger is a recognized thought leader on workplace, labor, and economic issues.
Tattoos Are Here To Stay © 2008, Challenger, Gray & Christmas;
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One Answer to “Tattoos Are Here To Stay”
Having just raised two children into young adult-hood, I am not so narrow-minded that I would refrain from hiring due to external body decorations, unless of the most egregious sort (like, cuss words or gang symbols or anything), but there does seem to be an inordinately large proportion in the generations following mine, who seem to believe their employer is merely the financial sponsor of their private lives, and that no rules at all should apply to them, like performance standards, attendance rules, suitable attire, etc. I would be happy to overlook a tattoo or piercing or three, if I thought there was an acceptable, co-operative attitude underneath.
By Sue K on Aug 19, 2008