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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think tattoos don’t hold you back professionally?

149 replies

Fluffysparks · 05/11/2017 16:31

... But the people who get them are more likely to be less qualified?

Aware that I’m about to get flamed here, and probably have to NC. Also, I am aware this is a MASSIVE generalisation based on the evidence of one thread.

But, reading another thread earlier, I couldn’t help but realise the grammar of those who claimed to have tattoos was (disclaimer: in general ) much poorer than people who didn’t. It just made me wonder, that’s all, as most of the employers said that a tattoo wouldn’t put them off.

OP posts:

Fekko · 05/11/2017 17:27

I was at an event last week and think I was the only one without one or piercings. It was an arts/entertainment industry event.

TheBestMamaEver · 05/11/2017 17:28

What has a bit of ink on your skim got to do with your ability to perform a certain job role?

Does the ink travel through your blood and make you thick?

Nomoretears56 · 05/11/2017 17:29

It's fine if the dress code states it, my son is in the navy and he's not allowed to have tattoos that show below his shirt cuff, he has a full arm sleeve that stops on his cuff, it in no way impacts on his ability to protect his country and he knew the rules before he signed up and compromised accordingly.

Nomoretears56 · 05/11/2017 17:31

TheBestMamaEver

What has a bit of ink on your skim got to do with your ability to perform a certain job role?

Does the ink travel through your blood and make you thick?

Exactly!!!

BeanCalledPickle · 05/11/2017 17:32

Senior lawyer for government here. Big back tattoo and a large rose on ankle. Often have meetings with ministers and never think to hide by wearing sleeves or black tights, though arguably not in your face visible. Wouldn’t say has ever held me back or been a thing and if I was interviewing someone with tattoos visible I’d probably be more predisposed towards them! I did clock my boss looking suprised when he saw my ankle the first time though!

I think though that doing what I do it is probably sensible to have the ability to cover them. I don’t think hand or neck tattoos would go down well. Whether fairly or not I suspect the Secretary of State may be less inclined to take a lawyer seriously if she had something tattooed on her neck:)

hotmilkandcrunchynuts · 05/11/2017 17:33

What has a bit of ink on your skim got to do with your ability to perform a certain job role?

It can say something about your ability to forward plan, and your impulse control, and your self awareness.
For example face, neck, hand tattoos, inappropriate visible tattoos....they make others think you may not be the brightest spark.

PericardiumOne · 05/11/2017 17:34

Oxbridge postgrad here with a senior role in finance. Big tattoo on my back.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 05/11/2017 17:36

Hmm -I work in a very staid area which involves post grad qualifications. (I’m an actuary -the profession for those that find accountancy too exciting. )

I work with a lot of other actuaries and I can’t think of a single one with a visible tattoo. Presumably some have less visible tattoos but my interest in the issue is not enough to investigate!

Madbengalmum · 05/11/2017 17:36

Industry type plays massive part in this, loads of ink in art industry might be seen as acceptable, but not in other industries. Also public sector and private sector varies massively.

Nomoretears56 · 05/11/2017 17:37

hotmilkandcrunchynuts

What has a bit of ink on your skim got to do with your ability to perform a certain job role?

If we all went to through life with this attitude we'd never leave the house. Life is for living, we're not all the same and that should be respected and rejoiced

TheBestMamaEver · 05/11/2017 17:37

your ability to forward plan, and your impulse control, and your self awareness.
For example face, neck, hand tattoos, inappropriate visible tattoos....they make others think you may not be the brightest spark

You could say the same about someone who is overweight, has dreadlocks, a woman who refuses to straighten her kinky hair perhaps?

TiredMumToTwo · 05/11/2017 17:38

Graduate from red brick university with professional qualifications, earn approx £80k a year in Financial Services managerial role. Have 8 tattoos, two visible in the office.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 05/11/2017 17:39

It can say something about your ability to forward plan, and your impulse control, and your self awareness

I might be tempted to agree with self awareness

But nit the others, dh planned his for months...most people I know do

stevie69 · 05/11/2017 17:39

I'm not of the opinion that people with tattoos are 'less educated' than those without. In order to have that opinion, I'd need to have some evidence. And I haven't!

As to whether they hold you back professionally, well ...... that's a completely different issue. In my profession (accountancy), they very well might. I do know that many of the professional accountancy practices do not permit visible tattoos or facial piercings (apart from an ear lobe piercing) for employees. So ..... if you want to keep your options open as a chartered accountant then it may be prudent (see what I did there, fellow accountants? ) to think before you ink. Or puncture!

I have a couple of facial piercings but ...... I don't work in professional practice at present. Should I wish to, I may well have to remove them.

Should they hold you back? In my opinion, absolutely not. Do they? Yes, to a certain degree. Just that way it is for now.

Nomoretears56 · 05/11/2017 17:40

TheBestMamaEver

Sister from another mister

Elphame · 05/11/2017 17:44

I have a couple of facial piercings but ...... I don't work in professional practice at present. Should I wish to, I may well have to remove them

I meant to remove my nose stud for an interview with a very stuffy firm but forgot until half way through which was of course far too late. I was convinced I'd blown it but nope got the job.

I wore my stud everyday and it was never mentioned.

JacquesHammer · 05/11/2017 17:46

It can say something about your ability to forward plan, and your impulse control

I don't know anyone who has a tattoo who has got them without months of planning. That isn't of course to say people don't get them on a whim; it absolutely shouldn't be an assumption

isawahatonce · 05/11/2017 17:47

I don't know, I don't think tattoos hold you back as much as they perhaps once did - a discrete tattoo that can be easily covered is probably ok in most jobs but someone with a large tattoo on somewhere highly visible (e.g. neck) is highly unlikely to get employed in a high-up working-with-clients types job, regardless of how qualified they are.
Also, I think a lot of employers are going to make assumptions based on appearance, and tattoos come in to that.
But I suppose more 'educated' people are less likely to get big, easily visible tattoos as they know it's likely to hold them back in the sort of careers they want to go into? So I think it's likely there is a link, but only because people know there is prejudice.

Coffeemachine · 05/11/2017 17:48

postgraduate degree (have left well paid job for a low paid part time role as I have a severely disabled DC). I don't have a tattoo but majority of my friends and (ex) colleagues do. a lot of them with good qualifications in very good roles. it appears to be the norm to be inked for those in my age group (40ish). I am certainly in the minority in my circle of friends.

Nomoretears56 · 05/11/2017 17:50

Mine were all well thought out, I visited the tattoo artist several times for each one to see if they'd work, imo I'll have them for a lifetime and they had to be right, they are also not cheap so had to to be saved for. Other people buy designer handbags, I buy body art.

stevie69 · 05/11/2017 17:52

I meant to remove my nose stud for an interview with a very stuffy firm but forgot until half way through which was of course far too late. I was convinced I'd blown it but nope got the job.

I wore my stud everyday and it was never mentioned.

Lovely . It's great to know that there are some forward thinking forms out there. Glad you got the job and it hasn't been an issue. To be fair, my nose stud is quite sweet. However, my Medusa stud is larger, more prominent and does tend to make people 'wince' a little as they seem to be under the impression that it must hurt which, of course, it doesn't.

Anyhow for me, my industrial language is probably a more significant factor in keeping me out of professional practice

hotmilkandcrunchynuts · 05/11/2017 17:57

But nit the others, dh planned his for months...most people I know do

yeah, I didnt mean plan the tattoo! Not the same thing as planning your life, like as in realising the tattoo you thought a great idea as a 20 year old student is not as good a look on a 45 year old accountant.

Xuli · 05/11/2017 17:57

I have a very 'public' job in a proper corporate environment. I have 3 hidden tattoos. Just got a 4th visible one on my wrist. No one has said anything but how nice it is. Times are changing. I know that sometimes a very large visible tattoo may make people react somehow, but that's their problem.

moomookachu · 05/11/2017 17:58

Good evening

I have just landed myself a job within the Department for Work & Pensions.

I have 13 tattoos, which include 2 full sleeves and a chest tattoo.

I also have a 2:1 degree in English & Media Writing.

#justsaying

RavingRoo · 05/11/2017 18:02

Intelligent people will often choose to hide or display their tattoos based on the culture of the organisation they work for, and so will earn a lot more than the thickos who display their tattoos without taking it into account.

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