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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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.

OP posts:

RevoltingPeasant · 27/07/2011 16:55

Hi Sian I work in HE and have worked in FE previously.

In HE, people are wildly lax casual about dress codes. I have had colleagues who are goths/ slobs/ wear the same shirt every day for 2 months. FE was a little smarter, but not that much so. I would be surprised if you couldn't wear piercings: I have several admin colleagues who do.

But I think you need to scrub up for the interview. Smart suit - maybe a little bit of accessorizing with cute jewellery, but not too much.

And I wouldn't ask at the interview. The interview is a place for questions that show an interest in the actual job, like 'How much input would I have into streamlining processes?' or 'What scope is there for promotion in this role?' etc.

Get the job - then negotiate your working outfit in the first week. Personally, if someone asked about dress code at the interview I'd class it with asking 'How much holiday do we get?' etc. To a busy interviewer, asking about details of dress may look trivial. Whereas, once you've got the job and are being shown around by the nice girl from HR, you can have a quiet word about standards/ norms....

Original poster

MetalSian · 27/07/2011 17:33

Thanks again for all the helpful replies.

Especially yours Revolting (how offensive does that sound ;P).
I think you are definitely right, will take them out then if I get the job will ask after =].

Thanks all!

OP posts:

WyrdMother · 27/07/2011 18:33

RevoltingPeasant said Personally, if someone asked about dress code at the interview I'd class it with asking 'How much holiday do we get?'

This is where interviewers differ because either question would not bother me in the slightest, my experience is in manufacturing from shop floor to low level management so this may well be horses for courses.

Puzzles me a bit though, why is how much holiday so trivial that an interviewee would be judged adversely for asking? If the information hasn't been included in the pre-interview info it's a pretty important part of the terms and conditions, especially when firms/institutions do not always issue contracts with an offer of employment. If that was the only question, or all the questions were purely terms and conditions, or they were asking questions that had already been included in pre-interview info then I'd be concerned, but otherwise a chunk of the interviewer's job is to inform the interviewee and sell the job.

activate · 27/07/2011 19:00

well you don't negotiate salary in an interview either do you - you try to show how you'd fit in, how you can help the organisation, how you know the organisation

you get the job offer you iron out those types of details - pay, hols, dress etc before accepting

MumblingRagDoll · 27/07/2011 19:08

I wouldn't judge...I dont like them as I am reminded of the interior of someone's nose when I see them...but I wouldn't "Mark you down" as it were.

exoticfruits · 27/07/2011 19:18

I would judge. Definitely take them out-if you want the job.

exoticfruits · 27/07/2011 19:19

It wouldn't put me off if you seemed the right person for the job, but it would start you off at a disadvantage.

TheMonster · 27/07/2011 19:20

If I were you, I would take them out for th einterview.

However, if I was interviewing someone then they wouldn't bother me.

scottishmummy · 27/07/2011 19:21

id take them out
wear them socially. get the job 1st. then see what happens

WyrdMother · 27/07/2011 19:36

Well a good job advert should at least have a salary guide so the applicant shouldn't be going into this completely blind. Pay, holidays, sick pay, pension, dress (okay the last is probably a minor issue in most cases) these are all comparables, potential deal breakers as in I might be offered a better salary but if there's no pension and sick pay that may be worthless to me. If as an interviewer I've fallen down on my job of ensuring that the applicant has this information upfront then I'm not going to object if they ask. I have in fact known an HR manager who has had to eat humble pie for dragging applicants long distance for a job they were uninterested in because the Job Advert, lack of pre-interview info was so misleading.

RevoltingPeasant · 27/07/2011 21:33

Wyrd might depend on your industry/ sector, but IME working in education, these things are negotiable, but after you have a job. The questions at an academic interview - and I'd guess an admin interview at an academic insitution are similar - are designed to show that you have thought intelligently about the job. When you are offered the job, which is almost always a day or two later, then you can negotiate - but to ask at the interview would either imply that you were only interested in the job as a means to paid hols or that you couldn't think of anything specific to the role to ask. Or possibly that you thought you had already landed the job and were into the negotiating stage.... any way, it's unattractive.

Plus, in public sector jobs packages are pretty standard, so if you know your area, you have a good idea of what to expect.

wickedwitchofwaterloo · 27/07/2011 22:28

Not the same field, but I'm a nanny and I have quite a few large visible tattoos (whole chest, whole sleeve, bottom of other arm and both legs) as well as on my fingers, wrist and back of my neck) and several facial piercings (top lip, surface labret and septum)

I haven't had an interview for over 2 years (have a lovely job ) but for the initial interview I've never taken out my facial piercings, except for putting the septum into my nose, but I do always try to cover up as many of the tattoos as I can, as I do believe first impressions are so important and I'd rather my 11 or so years of excellent experience are judged instead of my appearance... I then get a chance to see how I think the family will react to my 'art' and end up mentioning it in passing while we are having a chat after the 'interview' part or when I am playing with the children.

I've had various new babysitting jobs since but all have been parents who have wanted me to work for them after seeing me with my charge and have seen me in all my glory as it were... That being said, I have got about 6 new tattoos in the last 2 years so not sure what a new and unprepared family would make of me now...

pinkyredrose · 30/07/2011 20:41

Really?why?

Portofino · 30/07/2011 20:47

I would not employ a nanny who had loads of tattoos and piercings. I would not want my kids to get the message that it is a good thing to poke your body full of unnecessary holes. Sorry.

GotArt · 30/07/2011 20:48

Its such a tough one these days as it is more 'normal' to see them. They'll see your holes anyway so if they don't like piercings, it won't really matter anyhow. I wouldn't wear spikes though. I just wear small gold studs.

mycatsaysach · 30/07/2011 20:50

sorry
at they are not 'in your face'

GotArt · 30/07/2011 20:51

Porto Do you really think that by not employing a nanny sporting tattoos and piercings is going to deter your children from getting a "message that it is a good thing to poke your body full of unnecessary holes."? They'll do it if they feel to.

DrCoconut · 30/07/2011 22:38

I work in HE in a FE setting and the chances are that piercings would go against you where I am. The management are quite conservative in their outlook and expectations and there is a dress code once employed there. I don't object to them personally but employers it seems do.

somethingwitty82 · 30/07/2011 23:14

Personally i would never employ someone who uses the word "literally" when meaning the exact opposite

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