BY: Savanna Pruitt
According to History of Tattoos, 36% of Americans between the age of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo, and 30% of all college graduates in the United States. have tattoos. Of those who have tattoos, 70% have more than one tattoo and 20% have more than five. These numbers make it clear that tattoos are fairly popular overall among Americans. Does having a tattoo impact your ability to get a good job, though?
As time goes on and our society becomes more progressive, tattoos are actually becoming more acceptable in the workplace. According to the Harvard Business Review, “Michael T. French of the University of Miami and colleagues surveyed more than 2,000 people in the United States and found that those with tattoos were no less likely to be employed than their uninked counterparts…” Another survey conducted by Accountemps in 2019 showed “one-third of companies now see no problem with employees donning visible tattoos (35%), casual attire (34%) and non-traditional hair colors (34%).”
Why are tattoos becoming more acceptable in the workplace than before, though? One explanation is that younger employees are starting to move into management and hiring positions. Naturally, someone who grew up in a time during which tattoos were becoming less taboo and may even have a few tattoos themselves is less likely to deny a job applicant just because that applicant has visible tattoos. However, that does not mean you are guaranteed to land a job in the industry or career field of their dreams if you do have visible tattoos. Laura Berlinsky-Schine with Fairygodboss explains, “No states currently have anti-discrimination laws prohibiting companies factoring body art into their hiring decisions or practices.”
Unfortunately, there is always a chance that having visible tattoos could get in the way of landing a job. When it comes to applying for jobs if you have tattoos, there are a few things to consider. The location and nature of the tattoo could absolutely have an impact on employability. For example, a hiring manager may hesitate to hire a customer-facing employee who has a face tattoo or a visible tattoo containing expletives. Conversely, a tattoo that is either easily covered or generally inoffensive is less likely to prevent someone from getting a job.
Additionally, certain job fields are much more flexible and lenient with their tattoo policies than others. It may be difficult for someone with visible tattoos to find a customer-facing position or a job in the corporate world or government. The Job Network explains, “When hiring managers staff customer-facing positions, they’ll try to avoid hiring anyone who might make customers uncomfortable or come across as unprofessional.” On the other hand, there are several industries and career fields in which it is perfectly acceptable to have tattoos. For example, most military members are allowed to have tattoos as long as they are not located on the face, neck, or hands, with a single tattooed wedding band being the one exception.
If you are searching for jobs in a creative field such as design or writing, you will likely not be denied employment solely because of your tattoos. Actually, The Job Network suggests that “for certain types of positions, hiring managers might even have a bias in favor of tattoos. If you’re applying to be a social media manager or a graphic designer, tattoos might help you look the part even if the company has a clean-cut, business suit vibe.”
The general consensus is that, in most cases, having a visible tattoo will not automatically disqualify you from a job that you are otherwise qualified to hold. It is important to consider your career goals before getting a tattoo or additional tattoos, though. Even if you are considering a career in a more relaxed or creative field, you may want to consider getting your tattoos in locations that are easily covered by normal clothing just to be safe. As younger professionals continue moving into management and executive positions, we will likely see the workplace become even more accepting and lenient concerning employees having visible tattoos.
Sources:
- http://www.historyoftattoos.net/tattoo-facts/tattoo-statistics/
- https://rh-us.mediaroom.com/2019-12-18-Office-Etiquette-Survey-Bad-Language-Pets-Political-Decor-Remain-Biggest-Offenses
- https://fairygodboss.com/career-topics/tattoos-in-the-workplace-industries
- https://hbr.org/2018/11/a-tattoo-wont-hurt-your-job-prospects
- https://www.thejobnetwork.com/tattoos-in-the-workplace-accepted/
