Piercings and tattoos. Would they put you off?

[katvond]

Having a debate with a friend about this, she would not employ anyone with a facial piercing or visible tattoos. I said if they was capable of the job should it really matter?
What's your views MNers

[PaisleyLeaf]

Glitter, I don't see that it's depressing or prejudice to say tattoos/piercings present a certain image.
It is people expressing themselves. Not a disfigurement that can't be helped.

[meditrina]

I would not.

In all the time I did have a role in recruitment, I was never faced with a situation where there was only one candidate with relevant qualifications/experience/potential. I think visible tattoos and non-standard piercings are very likely to put someone at a disadvantage - unless they are in such a niche role that they are actually likely to be the sole appropriate candidate.

[chocolateyclur]

I have piercings and tattoos - and I'm a social worker. That said, I don't have facial piercings, and all of my tattoos can easily be covered by wearing long sleeves - they're on my back, upper arm, lower arm and hip.

I personally wouldn't judge someone at all (unless they had something really extreme that said something specifically about their character - swastika on the neck may make me think twice) in an interview - but then again I obviously don't have issue with body art because I have my own. I work a lot with teens and I find that in some ways it allows an initial "connection" because for some it can be a conversation starter.

[LineRunner]

When you get a tattoo or piercing you do it by choice, and unless you then cover it up you are presumably aware that the gaze of others will be upon you. With that comes judgement.

Interview panels are in the business of judging. There are laws and rules about what they can't take into account when comparing candidates. The rest is up to them.

I would have a lot of issues with a candidate who didn't cover up their adornments, whether they be tattoos, piercings, massive norks or a visible erection. It's just too 'in your face'.

[Glitterandglue]

Paisley, the depressing bit for me is that some people are not willing to recognise that that initial image might well be a completely inaccurate judgement of the person, and other people are willing to recognise that but are still willing to bow down to the prejudice of the first group.

The prejudice is from making assumptions about someone because of a certain thing - whether that be a disfigurement or a piercing - which you can't possibly know. Discrimination comes when you act on that prejudice.

[grandmaagain]

it is a sad but unavoidable fact that first impressions count! and tattoos and multiple piercings can be off putting so it does depend on the job and whether they are going to be the customers first contact with the business.

[Primalscream]

If you're the type of person who wants facial piercings and tattoos - you're really not going to be appyling for a job in a bank - it just wouldn't be 'your thing' - so the employment issue isn't massively relevant.

[TobyLerone]

Massive generalisation there, Primalscream.

See my post of 12:50:22.

[jaffacake79]

It shouldn't be an issue! If it is then you're discriminating because of a personal prejudicial viewpoint you hold.

[NorthernGobshite]

No it wouldn't make a difference. What a strange thing to judge people on.
Both me and dh have tattoos and he has piercings. We both have responsible, well paid jobs and do not eat children!

[Primalscream]

Fair enough TL - but ykwim - ( do you know what I mean ? )

[TobyLerone]

I sort of know what you mean, but it really doesn't seem to hold true.

Thinking of people I know off the top of my head who have tattoos and facial piercings, we have manager of a clothing chain store (think multicoloured babies in adverts), manager of a construction company, teacher, lecturer at an Oxford Uni college, marketing manager...

[Primalscream]

I'll get my coat

[Blondeshavemorefun]

for those who have tattoos and hold down, dare i say a responsible/professional/well paid job (and dont eat children lol) where you mix with customers/clients etc - are your tats on show?

[NorthernGobshite]

blondes yes, some of my tattoos are. I have just got a new job as a Uni lecturer and tattoos were also on show during interview which was a panel of 3 professors and director of the course on which I will be teaching.

dh works in a theatre and is a manager there and liases with all kinds of bands, acts, comedians and orchestras. he's very pierced and tattoo-ed so they're there for all to see!

[Blondeshavemorefun]

students prob love a lecturer with tats and piercings - means that they know you arent a stuffy fart

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

I have worked in the City for more than a decade in a professional role and I am yet to met anyone with visible tats or facial piercings (other than earings). So either they don't apply, they don't get employed or they cover up the tats and remove the piercings for work.

[NorthernGobshite]

Its a Masters course, so some may find me a bit much as age ranges from 21-61!

[Blondeshavemorefun]

[Primalscream]

I think lecturing is a bit different to working in a bank or similar - teaching has always been a hippy profession

[StrawberryTot]

Well after reading all the post's i don't half feel shocked and down right disgusted by people's judgements and huge generalisation of people with tattoo's and piercings, probably even more so due to the fact that I myself am both tattooed and pierced in places that are visible. I want to point out to some of the people on here that i'm not an overweight unemployed camisole wearing asda shopper i work my ass off going to uni full time to study for my BA Social Work whilst trying to bring up 2 young children and supporting my partner who works damn hard to support us financially, but even if i was why the hell shouldn't i show my art off, i bloody paid for it!!

When applying for job's i believe that whether or not the person has tattoo's and piercing's regardless of what/ where they are should not be used against you if they are the right person for the job, diversity is good it helps children to understand and accept, i can only hope that the offspring of the obviously judgemental people on here grow up with more understanding and acceptance of people then their parents otherwise this is going to be a sad world indeed :(

P.S. I thought i might add that i have worked in a tattoo studio and that my partner is in fact a tattoo artist who works in a local well established tattoo studio.

[exoticfruits]

It would put me off. I hate them.

[PickleSarnie]

I know someone with "skin" on one knuckle and "head" on the other. He explained to me how the original skinheads aren't racist but the boot boys who are jumped on the skinhead look and so they now all get tarred with the same brush.

He is a lovely guy but he doesn't have a job. Is it because people are discriminatory or because he didn't have the foresight and common sense to realise that people could and would jump to conclusions and discriminate because of his tattoos?

[NettoSuperstar]

I have 16 piercings and two tattoos.
You'd never know it to look at me though, as I hardly ever wear them, or they are under my clothes.
I don't think people should be judged on them, no, but accept they are so I cover mine when attending official things.
I made sure everything I have is easy to cover for that reason.

[alistron1]

DP, when he started his PGCE, had waist length hair and a nose stud (and many earrings). When he started applying for jobs he cut his hair/took out the piercings - but he was still just as good at what he was doing and the same person!

He then grew his hair again, but cut it off when applying for more senior roles, again.

He's growing his hair again now but he's not returned to the piercings!