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AIBU?

To want to keep my piercings in for my interview?

44 replies

MetalSian · 27/07/2011 16:01

So I have an interview on Friday for two similar admin posts in a FE college.

I have three visible facial piercings... two either side of my nose and a labret (lower lip). They currently all have small spikes in, and I wear them constantly, other than in my current job (one day a week) where I have just been made to remove them after 3 years of it being fine.
They are not 'in your face', very small and non-offensive I think.

I do have retainers, which are fine for my nose, and I tend to just take the spike out of my labret.

I don't know whether to play it safe and take my piercings out for the interview, or wear them and say if needed I can remove them.

I suppose I am pretty stubborn as to me they are a part of me.
I wouldn't be surprised if I get flamed for this but to me it is quite literally a part of who I am.

Perfect outcome from the FE college would be 'Yes of course you can wear them, at this college we welcome individuality' likelihood though I expect is rather different.

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Megatron · 27/07/2011 16:04

Depends if you feel more strongly about your piercings than about possibly getting the job really. It may or may not be an issue for them you don't know that at the moment. If you're not that bothered about the job then leave them in and explain you can take them out but if you need to get this job then I would take them out.

mousesma · 27/07/2011 16:05

Depends how much you want the job. If it's a job you really want then it's worth playing it safe and taking them out and then testing the water once you get the job. Unfortunately not wearing whatever we what whenever we want is part of the trade off for being employed.

Spuddybean · 27/07/2011 16:05

i work in HE advising graduates on how to get a job. We advise removal of facial piercings for interviews.

Mumwithadragontattoo · 27/07/2011 16:05

To be honest I would take them out for the interview then have the battle about whether you can wear them to work after you've got the job. It isn't denying part of yourself it is just putting forward your most professional looking self or interview. First impressions do matter and people are likely to be more welcoming after they know you better ie once you actually work there.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 27/07/2011 16:05

Check to see if the FE college has rules for its students re. piercings - if so, they may not want you to wear them on the job, and if that's a deal breaker for you it's important to sort it out at the interview by asking them.

lorelilee · 27/07/2011 16:08

Without question, I would remove them - whether you like it or not some people will judge you solely on that. When it comes to interviews, you want to give yourself the absolute best chance of landing the job, not use it to make a personal statement.

Empusa · 27/07/2011 16:08

I'd remove them, then when you get the job ask if it is ok for you to wear them.

That's what I've always done. Annoying as it is, people do judge on them. And rather than be sensible and just mention that they would rather you removed them, they are more likely to not say anything.

I found out from one interview (through an agency) where I'd forgotten my labret piercing was in. They turned me down, and told the agency it was because of my piercing. As I pointed out to the agency, I'd have taken it out for work if it bothered them, they just never asked.

CharleneysWishWellingtons · 27/07/2011 16:09

I was turned down for a job a few years back on the basis of my facial piercings! They said that i wasn't presentable enough to be working on a reception desk (obviously, very true! And i did have 3 across my bottom lip at the time).
Never ever wore them for an interview again after that. Just not worth it, first impressions are everything.
I don't have them anymore though.

itisnearlysummer · 27/07/2011 16:09

If you can take them out do so, then when you have aced the interview and got the job you can wear them on the first day and see what happens.

If you're good at your job then I wouldn't worry.

I interviewed for a job once with my nose ring in. They rang to offer me the job but asked if I would mind taking it out. I explained that I could, but that I'd since had my lip pierced and that wouldn't be so easy.

Their response was, "oh well in that case, don't worry about it". It was a temp position and they later offered to make it permanent.

I'd be surprised if a FE college was against it. Either you will be back office in which case I can't see how it would matter, or you'll have contact with the students, in which case I can't imagine that they'd be bothered anyway!

I never had a problem with mine in any of my jobs before I took them out and I had them in for 12 years.

RockinSockBunnies · 27/07/2011 16:12

Well, you're not being unreasonable wanting to keep them in. But, by the same token, they won't be unreasonable in judging you because you're displaying them and thus not offering you the job.

I had ten piercings in my late teens and early twenties. They've all gone now. Unfortunately it's a fact of life that people judge others on appearance. So, whilst you have every right to wear them and they shouldn't judge you on them, life isn't fair and you may well lose a job you'd like to have.

MetalSian · 27/07/2011 16:13

Thanks very much for all of your helpful replies.

I guess it is definitely going to be better to take them out for the interview then ask after.

I think I am just being defensive because of my current job =/.
First day of wearing retainers on Saturday and a colleague says, 'Well you do look much more like a mum now'

The job is more important than me being stubborn =].

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WyrdMother · 27/07/2011 16:14

Depends on the interviewer combined with what the post is, which I grant is not a helpful comment if you don't know the interviewer.

Most interviewers will decide wether they want you for a job within the first few seconds, I wouldn't wear your piercings but when you get to the "any questions" stage and if you are still interested in the job I would ask about dress code and perhaps have the piercings with you so you can show them if necessary.

MoreBeta · 27/07/2011 16:15

If someone came to an interview with me I would judge their character on the basis of their piercings. My judgement would be that person values their own space, personal preferences more than they want this job and they will be a total nightmare to manage.

minipie · 27/07/2011 16:15

I'd remove them if I were you. Like Empusa says, get the job first, then ask if you can wear them.

People wear suits or smart clothing for interviews even when it's not what they'd wear normally, and even when they wouldn't actually need to dress as smartly when doing the job. Same applies to hair or makeup.

It's a signal that says "I care more about making a good impression and getting this job than I do about dressing or presenting myself exactly the way I want". It says "I'm willing to compromise a little bit to smooth things over". Whereas keeping piercings in says "I'm not prepared to compromise at all".

minipie · 27/07/2011 16:16

Cross posted with MoreBeta who said it much more succinctly.

biddysmama · 27/07/2011 16:16

am i being stupid? whats a fe college?

my db is a tutor in a college and he looks and acts like shaggy (from scooby doo, not the it wasnt me guy"

the kids love him, hes got a bar thing in his ear aswell

itisnearlysummer · 27/07/2011 16:17

Oh just to add, other than the one time, I always took my piercings out to interview, I just always put them in again for my first day.

activate · 27/07/2011 16:19

take your piercings out if you want the job

MetalSian · 27/07/2011 16:22

biddysmama Further Education College, so just a college but was trying to show it was for just further education so 16+.

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ProcrastinatorGeneral · 27/07/2011 16:23

Biddy, FE is a further education college, sixth form usually.

biddysmama · 27/07/2011 16:24

ah right, my brother teaches alevel so its the same?

MetalSian · 27/07/2011 16:25

Yeah =].

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NurseSunshine · 27/07/2011 16:48

As someone who used to have several facial piercings, I always used to either remove them (the ones I could remove) or put a small, discreet piece of jewellry in for the ones I couldn't for job interviews then speak to them about it afterwards. If you have retainers I'd wear them, or small studs. Def not the spikes even if they are small.
I would say a college would be ok with discreet piercings.

YouDoTheMath · 27/07/2011 16:52

If I were you, I would take them out just for the interview.

They may be a part of you, but sometimes you need to tone it down. I'm a massive fan of makeup artistry, and I wear bold eyemakeup when I'm not at work - but I tone it down for work, and certainly would for an interview.

If you get the job you could then ask if you can wear them.

YouDoTheMath · 27/07/2011 16:53

eye makeup, sorry!

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