What I don't understand is why it would be that important in the first place.

meow85 said:

Some of your goal fields might allow a bit of modification. How extreme, I don't know.
It definitely sounds like with your main concerns at the moment you might want to keep modifications to a minimum.

meow85 said:

It's as important to them as your image is to you.

How can you not understand their point of view? How can image matter so much to you, yet you can't understand how someone can want an image for their company? Why should they have to sacrifice their image for you? If you want to take their job and their money, shouldn't you be the one to do the changing? As I said before, there are plenty of other people they can employ.

meow85 said:

Are you kidding?

Working with kids not only requires but DEMANDS that you shouldn't only alter your appearance but in some cases, your personality as well

Yeah it sucks, but its reality. No matter how liberal or open-minded parents come across, they're not ready for the questions that kids flood them with and as much as they rely on outsiders to teach their kids, they don't want them to be influenced by them, even if its a contradiction. Mind you, not ALL parents,,,but a chunk of them do.

I worked with my cousin at some point in a summer course for the kids in NY, my cousin caught ALOT of flack for wearing hijab,,,,,some parents even said flatly that they didn't want their kids to be exposed to anything remotely associated with "terrorism"

This is NYC,,,not some rural town in the outskirts of some midwestern state

I think these rules are made to protect us from the headache some of these dumb fucks give us. At least, thats how I look at it.

I said above this isn't about image for me. I've altered my appearance to the point I no longer feel comfortable. People don't just dress to make a statement or rebel or whatever it is people assume I'm doing, people dress in ways that make them feel comfortable.

What I want to know is how a corporation's image is so fragile it can be damaged by nose rings?

Maybe I should start bringing in "before" photos of myself to potential employers to show much I've already changed myself for their overly-fussy asses. "See? You think I look "rebellious" or whatever shit problem you have with me now,,,"

Good grief! This again...

Girl, your only other option is to move to Berkeley (or a reasonable facsimile thereof...)

Join us, you'll fit right in and find a TON of work...

meow85 said:

I understand that but you also have to dress appropriately sometimes too. I'm comfortable in jeans and t-shirt but sometimes, when I've worked in an office, I've had to wear a shirt and tie. Would I rather not dress in shirt and tie? Sure, but then I wouldn't have the job and get paid.

meow85 said:

You'd have to ask them that, but then you'd seem confrontational and a trouble maker, so you wouldn't get the job. Is it fair? No, it's life.

I'm not talking about physical comfort...

Harlepolis said:

Unnecessarily comformist AND racist. Delightful.

meow85 said:

I know you're joking here, and I agree that the whole issue is silly, but from the point of view of an employer, they want to know how easy you will be to work with & how much you will get on board with the team.

Questioning their motives, rules, biases, etc. won't win you any points with them. It immediately shows them you are going to be difficult or contrary. What about when they ask you to do _____? How will you respond to that when you "couldn't even take out your eyebrow piercing for your interview?" Again I do not support it, I only know this is how most employers think, and they are the ones with the money to pay you!

With some exceptions, many jobs want someone who is not going to make waves. Work quietly & efficiently, be easy to get along with, not scare or offend customers, etc etc blah blah

Man, I hate having to look presentable for work. I couldn't care less LOL (Iam not after a managers job, and I know I wont get one with that attitude).

I hate having to shave and make sure my shirts are ironed blah blah blah. But thats the way of the world or whatever.

How backwards and uninformed does someone have to be to actually believe that that an eyebrow ring precludes someone from being an efficient, capable, cooperative worker?

I've done interviews in the past where everything runs smoothly until, toward the end, the interviewer asks if I would feel comfortable removing my jewelry for the job. I never know how to respond, to be honest. My internal answer is always going to be an emphatic, "NO I WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT!" but, not being entirely stupid, of course I always tell them yes. But I suck at lying, and IMO it's clear they know I'm not telling the truth. I've attempted to take out the jewelry before interviews as well, but then they just stare at the empty holes in my face the whole time.

NDRU said:

How backwards and uninformed does someone have to be to actually believe that that an eyebrow ring precludes someone from being an efficient, capable, cooperative worker?

RenHoek said:

Sir, I live in Vancouver, arguably one of the most liberal cities up here. My appearance is not extreme. It never was, and it certainly isn't now. I've already made drastic changes to my dress to fit in. I got a haircut, took the color out, don't wear other jewelry, either don't wear makeup or keep it minimal, bought clothes with money I don't actually have that would be considered more professional (can ANYONE actually define that term for me?)

It's not about style or image or any other such narcissistic bullshit. I actually do not feel comfortable anymore.

I've been applying for jobs mostly in retail, most of which I am actually overqualified for.

At what point do I get to draw the line? Most of my lack of success has been simple bad luck more than issues with appearance, but that's an issue that does pop up from time to time.

thesexofit said:

That's not even close to what I'm talking about.

Expecting staff to be tidy and well-groomed is reasonable.

meow85 said:

They believe their customers are backward & uninformed! You think these people want to wear suits to work & shave & shower?

Everything is to make money.

NDRU said:

Basic hygiene is a must, workplace or no. What I'm talking about is not in the same league.


Again, 60% of young Canadians have visible body modifications. That is a huge pool of potential employees to be ignoring, and it hurts companies as much as individuals to do so. Why would anyone with any amount of reason deliberately discount two thirds of potential staff?

meow85 said:

then I don't get it either, I've seen your pics and you're very attractive, if you had an eye for color, design or window fashions and I was hiring you'da been on my payroll...

what about letters of recommendation? would those help?

and lay off the Sir stuff, I feel old enough as it is...

thesexofit said:

That's not even close to what I'm talking about.

Expecting staff to be tidy and well-groomed is reasonable.

meow85 said:

I'm not arguing with you, I'm saying this line of thought will not help you get a job.

NDRU said:

But it would help certain companies hire and retain qualified staff...

True story: in 2005 I applied for a management position at a store in a clothing retail chain. I'm qualified, competent, and experienced, and the interviewer said as much. But, she informed me, sadly they couldn't hire me because of my nose ring. They did this, I learned later, to several applicants.

Less than a year later the store was forced to shut down because they still didn't have any managers.

Can somebody -anybody -explain to me the logic behind such actions? Refusing to hire not one, but several applicants, for a position due to strict adherence to an arbitrary dress code rule, then having to shut down because they had no one to fill that role? What kind of thinking justifies closing a business down instead of employing someone with body jewelry?

True story: in 2005 I applied for a management position at a store in a clothing retail chain. I'm qualified, competent, and experienced, and the interviewer said as much. But, she informed me, sadly they couldn't hire me because of my nose ring. They did this, I learned later, to several applicants.

Less than a year later the store was forced to shut down because they still didn't have any managers.

Can somebody -anybody -explain to me the logic behind such actions? Refusing to hire not one, but several applicants, for a position due to strict adherence to an arbitrary dress code rule, then having to shut down because they had no one to fill that role? What kind of thinking justifies closing a business down instead of employing someone with body jewelry?