Job searching with tattoos and piercings

I'm actually really not because I've been doing all of my applications online and haven't been getting called for interviews so they don't even see what I look like. But I know there's always the possibility of getting an interview and being told to take out my jewelry or cover my ink. All but one of my five tattoos are easily hidden (three on my back, one on my calf and one on my wrist) but I have my lip pierced and purple hair and I keep thinking I want to get my nose pierced. I have a 16g piercing in my lip with a 3mm bead; if I changed it from purple to fleshy or light pink it probably would be less noticeable than the hole left when I take it out. And whatever I got in my nose would be super tiny. I really have trouble understanding what the problem is. Maybe ten years ago, or even five but I saw on a tattoo documentary thing on television that the percentage of Americans with visible tattoos rose from 32% to 46% in a year (recently, although I can't remember now when, maybe 2009 to 2010?). I would imagine, if it rose that much that year, by now we have surely taken over the majority. There is a petition (on one of those petition sites, Change.org or something) to get body modifications included as part of the Equal Opportunity act. It probably won't do any good but it's out there. Good luck with your job search.

I had that problem for a while when I was initially searching for a job (my first job) - I had a monroe piercing, a nose piercing, and a lip piercing. Of course I wore studs in them at the time (normally I might wear a hoop in my lip), but it was tough. Of course it depends on what kind of job you're looking for. I guess I can understand it to an EXTENT, when you are applying for an in-person customer service type job. That's like me, I work at a dry cleaners (in customer service/counter work) and I guess some employers believe it to be "unprofessional". Which, I can understand. At my interview for my current job, I took out my piercings. Now I wear my lip and tongue ring at work all the time. My bosses don't really care, but I'm guessing it MIGHT have prevented me from getting the job in the first place if I would have worn them. Which is kind of sad. But "professionalism" is generally seen as not having facial piercings, being groomed, not having anything "too crazy" - because gosh forbid we express ourselves through our appearances while we are representing their company, right? God forbid we actually have personalities that show on the outside and are individuals who don't fit the standard mold of what they think is "professional". grr. I know how frustrating that is though, it's like appearance matters more than experience & skills. Which it totally shouldn't. Now, some jobs on the other hand, that don't have you constantly dealing with customers face-to-face don't care. Sure, they have a dress code, but aren't strict about tattoos or piercings. My sister, who has a few piercings (she doesn't really wear them) about literally 25 tattoos all over her body (most of which ARE visible - on her arms, wrists, upper chest, etc) - works at a bank in home mortgage and they are totally fine with tattoos and piercings. But she doesn't work directly with customers, she does paperwork for loans and some customer service on the phones. So I guess it depends on what kind of job you are looking for. Maybe you can keep looking and I hope you find something eventually! It's sad that we have to compromise this huge part of ourselves just to make employers happy with our appearance. It's almost like discrimination of some sort. Anyway, best of luck to you... I am sure something will come up eventually.

That is the way you wanted for your body to have some tattoos and piercings that do not pass my taste because I just wanted to be myself no self improvements cause I do not want my body to be having some stain or cuts. I want it smooth and clean.I just admire someone with a beautifully drawn tattoos yet I hate body piercings in any form,even if it was done with a taste of glamor.

I so love this discussion already, I for one have tattoos, and do note am planning on getting my eyebrow re-pierced. I too had many troubles with job searching. I even have 3 years of experience for deli/culinary arts and I too get looks of disapproval and never get calls back even with me calling on a daily basis and me being told we will get a hold of you. Although in my town I have found 2 places that don't seem to care about tattoos that is pizza places but even at that I never get any calls . I use to work for Salvation Army here in my town and at the time I had to have my eyebrow ring covered and my tattoos hidden. But I went back and volunteered and they now allow the tattoos and piercings to be seen as long as they are not way out there like representing racism or putting down religious cultures. But even at this it is hard to find places that will follow through reading your applications thoroughly. To me it is way unfair because the way I see it is that people like you and I can be very qualified for the job but they will deny us just because we rather show our art on our bodies compared to others that could have no qualifications and yet they get hired just because they prefer to keep their bodies plain with no art. I feel that this is very unfair to us as we can do just as a good job as others or maybe even better and yet we are overlooked and put to the side just because of our preference of showing our art to the world!

Hi there, i always wanted to have a tattoo hehehe but i don't have any yet, but i have a belly piercing hehe. but yeah anyway, it is lie that here in our country. they think differently once they see you have a tattoo and piercings. but i don't understand how come it is a big deal there that you are even in the US and i know people don't really care about that, well i have friends there that got a lot of tattoos and they are even nurses and in the medical field. have you had your interview yet? you know what, just keep looking for a job and show them that you are a good employee. maybe those aren't for you and something better is going your way anytime soon. i am going to be looking for a job too soon after i finish my school papers. good luck

I think in a job interview, one should cover the tattoos and take out some piercings. It also depends on what the job description is and the company's portfolio or objectives.