Would it put you off hiring a nanny if s/he was very heavily pierced?

[brotherhoodofwoman]

As an employer, would you find it off-putting if a potential nanny candidate was very visibly pierced or tattooed?

yes it would put me off. i have interviewed nannies who dressed like tarts (sorry), you know, mini mini mini skirts, heavy cleavage, tonns of makeup etc. it put me off big time. it's all part of forming a general impression of a person. don't feel bad about it, if you are not a tattoo and piercing person you will find hard to relate to her instinctively- that counts. and i don't think it's discriminating- this person chooses to do something with their appearance, they make a statement about themselves which you may not "get".

No not at all.

Well unless they were wonky infected piercings and tattoos of naked women - then that would be a different matter!

yes - they would have to be absoulutely amazing - with fantasic refernces, be trained in teaching and medicine and know how to cut childrens hair, make perfect chilrens birthday cakes and be able to throw together a brilliant fancy dress costume for me to hire them. Oh and they would have to be very sweert and gentle too, with just the right amount of firmness.

i think it depends what you regard as "heavily" pierced...to me that would mean maybe 3 in each ear, nose, eyebrow maybe,...that would be ok...any more and no.

with tattoos..again really depends how many and what they were.

Don't know how old your kids are, but I wouldn't want my baby or toddler trying to pull at piercings/potentially swallowing them.

Well that's different. I would not offer a job to a nanny who thought approrpriate work/interview attire was a short mini skirt with norks on display.

But as a non-fan of tattoos or piercings myself, I definitely have no trouble relating to people who happen to have them. I relate to people because of what they say and do, their manner, their approach, their demeanour, not because of whether they have a hole in their eyebrow or not.

appropriate

I think maybe "heavily pierced" needs to be defined. daftpunk's idea of heavily would to be be a not unusual or remarkable amount of piercing!

I was thinking of heavily as when people have the spikes through their lips and cheeks...

I think it depends on what she is like as a person too. It probably would slightly put me off BUT it wouldn't stop me hiring them if they were good with the kids etc.

I'm a nanny/governess and have 3 holes in one ear, 4 in another, used to have my nose and eyebrow done and have 2 more which aren't visible. Does that mean I'm heavily pierced?

I have to say it's never stopped me getting work.

While on the topic of things that put you off hiring a nanny, would you hire someone that is too fat? (and my apologies for the hijack)
The reason I am asking is that I was shown my reference letter from the agency recently and it referred to me as 'full figured woman'. Now I found this somewhat annoying because my size does not make me a better or worse nanny (yes I know there are some really fat people out there who cannot run around after LO's). Would you take the full figured comment into consideration????

Tricky one that.

I think it makes a difference if someone's weight affects their ability to run after a child.
it's very odd that that comment is on your file. it is obviously considered important then. Would they put" a person of small stature" on a skinny person's file?

I'm a fat pierced and tattooed nanny who has recently been given her notice due to the credit crunch... maybe I should just give up the job hunt now eh?

I interviewed an obese nanny once and we didn't hire her, firstly because she was a bit lacking in initiative, but secondly because she was incredibly sedentary, and my kids aren't. On the other hand, we had a temp nanny once who was obese and very good with the kids, much more active. In other words, it surely depends how good a nanny someone is and whether they are capable of doing what is required?

I'm intrigued to know what counts as obese lol

In this house, a likely BMI over about 33-34 ish, likely size 20+ clothes

I think obese it actually less than that Virgin, I think that is more like morbidly obese.

No it would't put me off.

But I wonder how many of your that say a definite no have worked with people/employed people (are perhaps even friends) who have ^hidden" tattooes or piercings

obesity chart. For example my height of 5.5, I would be obese at 12.8. That would put me in roughly a size 16.

I know, but I am a bit more accepting. I think a size 16-18 is within tolerance for the job.

I'm sorry to say it would put me off. I shouldn't be so judgemental but it is a bit of a pet hate of mine. I just don't like the look.

I have a tattoo (small and rarely on show) myself and most of my friends have piercings and tattoos etc. The odd nose stud or belly bar would be fine, however a 'heavily pierced' nanny would be unlikely to be hired by me.

say a nanny has one facial piercing and maybe a couple of big ear piercings and has quite a few tattoos, but some of which are covered up at the interview... would feel lied too?

One facial piercing - fine.
Couple of big ear piercing - do you mean where the hole is stretched with disks? not particularly keen on that look but normal ear piercings are ok as long as it is not more than maybe 3 or 4 each side.

I wouldn't feel lied to if the tattoos were just covered by standard clothing - lots of people have tattoos that are not generally on show.
If she ticked all the boxes in terms of ability and experience, some tattoos would not necessarily be a deal breaker for me.

I wouldnt hire anyone with facial piercings, sorry. They make me feel physically sick, if I am honest.

AussiLou, I would be furious to find that on a reference about me.
there was a previous thread about a year ago or more, about overweight nannies. I did once get rid of a temp nanny, because she seemed to have food issues (very overweight herself, but denied food to my 4 yr old dd2, leaving her hungry.) But that isnt really a fat issue, more just general weirdness.