I find tattooing traditions very much deserving of respect, and there are artists and wearers out there who carry forward those traditions with what seems to be a real reverence for the discernment and execution that go with truly beautiful body art. But both in ubiquity and lack of real artistry, today's commercial tat culture strikes me as pretty darned vacuous.

Even for very inspired ink, too, there is a place. And unfortunately the aesthetic of a visibly tatted-up body is incompatible with most professional places outside of the creative sector, I suspect.. Do I have some visibly inked friends with great non-creative jobs? Absolutely. Do I think, all things being equal, that their ink generally serves more as liability than asset or something neutral? Absolutely.

[Edited 7/14/13 9:37am]

Efan said:

I don't know about arm tattoos, but I can definitely see how hand (and neck and face) tattoos can hinder a job search. Not everybody is accepting.

If I were in a position to hire someone, I would most certainly discriminate against anyone with a giant hole in his or her ears or nose. I don't care how qualified they were.

That's pretty shallow, most people I've met with tunnels are intelligent and capable people, so you'd be missing out really.

PurpleJedi said:

It depends on the job of course.

In the corporate world, there's little room for tattoos & piercings all over the place.

In fact...when hiring my assistant, we had 2 serious candidates. Both equally qualified...same age...same education and same (lack of) experience.

Both interviewed in shirt & tie. One was clean-cut...the other had those big O-rings in his ears, a nose piercing, and tats peeking out from under his collar.

Can you guess which one I hired?

I have to meet with clients at jobsites and present a professional demeanor. Even though the laborers at the jobsites are all tattooed & pierced, the people PAYING them and handling the project management ($$$) usually aren't.

So yeah...it can make a difference...depending on the type of job is being applied for.

I have 3 tattoos, two on my lower back and one on my leg. I work in an office environment and thus far, the tattoo on my leg has not hindered me from getting a job. I think there's leeway in the corporate world as far as tattoos go, I've seen some managers with tatts on their arms but the whole arm wasn't covered with tatts. It depends on the industry, the office environment and the image of the company you work for. I had a supervisor once in corporate who had a nose piercing, however, the nose ring she had was really small and was barely noticable. I think you get my drift. Less is better (when it comes to corporate at least).

tinaz said:

Shyra said:Like many have said, it depends on the type of job, the company standards, etc. Personally, I don't like tattos on anybody. I have seen very few that actually look good. I don't undertand the appeal. People who have 75% of their bodies covered in tattoss must "have issues." No to mention the girls with those "skank stamps." But if a woman has a tramp stamp, at least that one would generally be hidden from public view unless the bearer is a a true tramp. Any fool who tattoo his face deserves to be ostrasized. .............................1st, Why are they considered a tramp stamp? its just another place to get a tattoo, why is that skanky??... And, What if the girl has one, but it can only be seen in a bikini?? AND, Some of us are NOT tramps..

Okay. I see you point. Not all women who have coccyx tattooers are tramps. It's just that the ones that I have seen are viewed while the bearer is bent over with her ass in the air and her pants pulled down to the nether region.

if a woman is attractive most men dont care whats on her she getting the job

missfee said:

PurpleJedi said:

It depends on the job of course.

In the corporate world, there's little room for tattoos & piercings all over the place.

In fact...when hiring my assistant, we had 2 serious candidates. Both equally qualified...same age...same education and same (lack of) experience.

Both interviewed in shirt & tie. One was clean-cut...the other had those big O-rings in his ears, a nose piercing, and tats peeking out from under his collar.

Can you guess which one I hired?

I have to meet with clients at jobsites and present a professional demeanor. Even though the laborers at the jobsites are all tattooed & pierced, the people PAYING them and handling the project management ($$$) usually aren't.

So yeah...it can make a difference...depending on the type of job is being applied for.

I have 3 tattoos, two on my lower back and one on my leg. I work in an office environment and thus far, the tattoo on my leg has not hindered me from getting a job. I think there's leeway in the corporate world as far as tattoos go, I've seen some managers with tatts on their arms but the whole arm wasn't covered with tatts. It depends on the industry, the office environment and the image of the company you work for. I had a supervisor once in corporate who had a nose piercing, however, the nose ring she had was really small and was barely noticable. I think you get my drift. Less is better (when it comes to corporate at least).